020327-N-9312L-114. At sea with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Mar. 27, 2002 -- A Navy rescue swimmer from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eight (HS-8) prepares to rescue a sailor that fell overboard from the U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73). John C. Stennis and its battle group are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Tina Lamb. (RELEASED)

020327-N-9312L-112 At sea with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Mar. 27, 2002 -- A rescued Sailor that fell overboard from the U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) is hoisted into a rescue helicopter from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eight (HS-8). John C. Stennis and its battle group are deployed conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Tina Lamb. (RELEASED)

011013-N-2383B-501 At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) (Oct. 13, 2001) -- A Sailor stands a security watch on the ship's flight deck during a Suez Canal transit. Visable throught the haze is the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). The Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group is on a scheduled deployment and will join other carrier battle groups in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate Chief Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED)

991013-N-0000C-001 At sea aboard USS Viksburg (CG 69) Oct. 13, 1999 -- Boatswains Mate Seaman Scott Henderson of Stanhope, IA, directs an SH-60B "Seahawk" helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Light Squadron Four Four (HSL-44) safely off the deck of the Guided Missile Cruiser. Vicksburg is one of five U.S. Navy ships that participated in the multi-national coalition exercise featuring 23 ships from six countries and is operating off the coast of Brazil during the first Atlantic Phase of Operation UNITAS 99. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Leland Comer. (RELEASED)

020304-N-6492H-601 Suez Canal (Mar. 4, 2002) -- The Los Angeles class attack submarine, USS Boise (SSN 764) leads the fast combat support ship, USS Seattle (AOE 3) and the guided missile cruiser, USS Hue City (CG 66) as the ships of USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Battle Group transit the Suez Canal. The Kennedy battle group is arriving to relieve USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 1st Class Jim Hampshire. (RELEASED)

020304-N-2003S-003 At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Mar. 4, 2002 -- A HH-60H, left, and a SH-60F, right, Seahawk helicopters assigned to the "Dragonslayers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron One One (HS-11) along with USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) participate in an "Air Power" demonstration for the crewmembers of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. The Dragonslayers are part of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1). The guided missile cruiser and aircraft carrier are part of Command Carrier Group Eight (CCG-8) and are en route to their homeport of Norfolk, VA. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Jason Scarborough. (RELEASED)

020304-N-1056R-001 At sea with USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) Mar. 4, 2002 -- USS Vella Gulf steams off the starboard side of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during an "Air Power" demonstration. The guided missile cruiser and aircraft carrier are part of Command Carrier Group Eight (CCG-8) and are en route to their homeport of Norfolk, VA. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 3rd Class Travis Ross. (RELEASED)

020228-N-0872M-501 At sea aboard USS Yorktown (CG 48) Feb. 27, 2002 -- The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Yorktown fires her 5 inch gun at a target drone during a gunnery exercise. Yorktown is underway in the Caribbean Sea participating in the 43rd annual UNITAS exercise. UNITAS is the largest multi-national naval exercise conducted with naval forces from the U.S., the Caribbean Sea, and South and Central America. The exercises focus on building multinational coalitions while promoting hemispheric defense and mutual cooperation. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Martin E. Maddock. (RELEASED)

020227-N-0872M-510 At sea aboard USS Yorktown (CG 48) Feb. 27, 2002 -- Ensign Kristy Nistler from Nekoosa, WI, scans the horizon for surface contacts. The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Yorktown is underway in the Caribbean Sea participating in the 43rd annual UNITAS exercise. UNITAS is the largest multi-national naval exercise conducted with naval forces from the U.S., the Caribbean Sea, and South and Central America. The exercises focus on building multinational coalitions while promoting hemispheric defense and mutual cooperation. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Martin E. Maddock. (RELEASED)

020226-N-0872M-501 At sea aboard USS Yorktown (CG 48) Feb. 26, 2002 -- Chief Warrant Officer Bill Dunn from Mena, AR, sights a simulated small boat carrying contraband and reports its position to the bridge while Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Remon Peterson from Lakeland, FL, stands by on a .50 caliber machine gun. Both Dunn and Peterson are assigned to the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Yorktown and are participating in the 43rd annual UNITAS exercise. UNITAS is the largest multi-national naval exercise conducted with naval forces from the U.S., the Caribbean Sea, and South and Central America. The exercises focus on building multinational coalitions while promoting hemispheric defense and mutual cooperation. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Martin E. Maddock. (RELEASED)

020225-N-0872M-504 At sea with USS Doyle (FFG 39) Feb. 25, 2002 -- Engineman Fireman Justin Hollis from Fall River, MA, mans a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) as acting boat engineer during a passenger transfer between the U.S. Navy frigate USS Doyle and guided missile cruiser USS Yorktown (CG 48). The ships and their crew are participating in the 43rd annual UNITAS exercise. UNITAS is the largest multi-national naval exercise conducted with naval forces from the U.S., the Caribbean Sea, and South and Central America. The exercises focus on building multinational coalitions, while promoting hemispheric defense and mutual cooperation. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Martin E. Maddock. (RELEASED)

020223-N-3911W-002 At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Feb. 23, 2002 -- The U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) passes off the starboard side of the aircraft carrier, during ammunition off-load operations between the Roosevelt and the Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship USNS Flint (T-AE 32). The Theodore Roosevelt battle group is conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate Luke Williams. (RELEASED)

020223-N-2722F-021 At sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Feb. 22, 2002 -- The U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) operates as the ships "plane guard" astern of the ships flight deck, as an E-2C "Hawkeye" and other aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) line-up as they prepare to make arrested landings aboard ship. John C. Stennis its battle group are conducting combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class James Farrally II. (RELEASED)

020202-N-7813S-001 Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Feb. 2, 2002 -- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Francisco Solorzano (center) from Hollywood, CA, Michael Camacho (left) of the CNMI Police Department and and Riang Yosino, also from the CNMI Police Department, rescued four local people whose dive boat had capsized in Saipan Harbor . Petty Officer Solorzano is assigned to the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63). U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Melody D. Scalfone. (RELEASED)

020124-N-6626D-502 Operation Enduring Freedom (Jan. 24, 2002) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) pulls along side USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Guided missile cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships are multi-mission surface combatants capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, or while operating independently, serve as flagships for surface action groups. Due to their extensive combat capability, these ships have been designated as Battle Force Capable (BFC) units. The cruisers are equipped with "Tomahawk" long range strike mission capability. The Vella Gulf is part of the Roosevelt Battle Group deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Amy DelaTorres. (RELEASED)

020125-N-0000X-001 At sea aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70) Jan. 25, 2002 -- A Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) leaves the ships vertical launch system (VLS) during a combined Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy flight test, conducted in the continuing development of a Sea-Based Midcourse (SMD) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Test involved the launch of a developmental Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) equipped with a kinetic warhead (KW) interceptor controlled from the Aegis Cruiser, and an Aries target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The SM-3 acquired, tracked, and diverted toward the target, successfully demonstrating the SM-3 fourth-stage Kinetic Warhead (KW) guidance, navigation and control. U.S. Navy Photo (RELEASED)

011006-N-2383B-501 At sea aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) Oct. 6, 2001 -- Quartermaster 1st Class William Pomeroy (right) plots the ship's course as Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Derek Robinson (left) stands by to assist. Both members of the navigation team are wearing flash gear and gas masks during a general quarters (GQ) Battle Stations drill. The guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf is on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, and will be conducting additional missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED)

020102-N-9312L-028 At sea with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Jan. 2, 2002 -- USS Port Royal (CG 73) sails in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The guided-missile cruiser is part of the USS John C. Stennis Battle Group. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Tina Lamb. (RELEASED)

971215-N-9785M-462 ABOARD USS NIMITZ (Dec 15, 1997)--The guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) (left), and the nuclear powered submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) steam in formation with the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz battle group is currently deployed to the North Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Matthew J. Magee (Released)

971205-N-7578S-004 Persian Gulf (December 5th, 1997) On board the cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). . . .Lieutenant Junior Grade Kristen Herr, from Pensacola, Florida, monitors helicopter landing operations from the bubble, an enclosed flight deck control station on USS Normandy. Normandy is currently conducting operations in the Persian Gulf with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) battle group. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate Airman Joseph Strevel (Released)