Nearly five years after the Taliban were driven from power in Afghanistan, the United States continues air strikes there. The Navy Newsstand reported Oct. 12 that on Oct. 7, the Carrier Air Wing stationed aboard the USS Enterprise in the North Arabian Sea carried out its second heaviest day of air attacks.
The USS Enterprise and its supporting ships are flying F/A-18F Super Hornets. The strikes were carried out by the "Checkmates" of Strike Fighter Squadron 211, F/A-18C Hornets from the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86and F/A-18C Hornets from VFA-136 "Knighthawks."
The aircraft participated in strikes near Kandahar and used Guided Bomb Unit munitions — the GBU-12, which is a sophisticated laser-guided 500-pound air-to-ground bomb.
The USS Enterprise attacks were the 36th day of support operations against Taliban positions near Kandahar in eastern Afghanistan. USS Enterprise aircraft have been flying support missions for the last 17 days to provide close air support to International Security Assistance Force troops.
Since Sept. 20, USS Enterprise-based aircraft have flown nearly 200 close air support missions against Taliban elements near Kandahar. USS Enterprise fighters have repeatedly utilized their M61A1 20mm Gatling guns and delivered 30 GBU-12 air-to-ground bombs in their attacks against Taliban positions in Kandahar.
CVW-1 commander Capt. Mark Wralstad said: "Our mission is to protect the coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. As ISAF continues to pressurize Taliban elements in Afghanistan, our aircraft will continue to provide substantial air cover and strike power in support of their mission."
USS Enterprise-based aircraft began flying their support missions Sept. 3 and has since flown more than 450 sorties, dropping more than 100 precision weapons in this struggle against the Taliban extremists in support of Operations Medusa and Mountain Fury.
Other participating squadrons from the USS Enterprise strike force include Marine Strike Fighter VMFA 251 Squadron, the VAQ 137 Electronic Attack Squadron Sea Control Squadron VS 32, Carrier Logistics Support VRC 40 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron HS 11.
The USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group includes the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, destroyer USS McFaul, frigate USS Nicholas attack submarine USS Alexandria and the fast-combat supply ship USNS Supply.
The nuclear-powered USS Enterprise departed Norfolk May 2 for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Source: United Press International
