The joint deployment of aircraft carriers of Spain and the United States in the Ionian Sea

@DefAviation ES 9·29·2022 · 21:30 0

The Spanish and US navies have participated in a deployment in Turkish waters within the framework of the Dynamic Mariner 22 exercise organized by NATO.

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Spain contributed three ships to this exercise: the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, the amphibious assault ship "Castilla" L-52 and the frigate "Navarra" F-85. The deployment has included forces from the Spanish Marine Infantry embarked on the first two ships, with a total of 600 soldiers and 90 amphibious vehicles, as well as assault ships and landing craft. The Spanish Navy Aircraft Fleet also participated in the exercise, with Harrier II Plus fighters and SH-60 Seahawk and AB-212 helicopters.

As for the US Navy, its combat group has been led by the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), of the Nimitz class. This aircraft carrier and the US Navy, via the multimedia portal DVIDShub. net, have published some spectacular photos of this exercise, carried out in the waters of the Ionian Sea, one of the arms of the Mediterranean Sea.

From left to right, the amphibious assault ship "Castilla" L-52, the frigate "Navarra" F-85 and the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, flagship of the Navy Española, during this deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.

A sailor from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush taking a photo of "Juan Carlos I".

A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet refueling a Spanish Navy Harrier II Plus in flight.

Two other images of this resupply operation. This is the first time I have seen such an operation with Spanish Navy fighters.

From left to right, the destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103), the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, the frigate "Navarra" F-85 and the amphibious assault ship "Castilla" L-52 sailing together in the Ionian Sea on 27 of September.

The five ships in the previous photo, sailing with the aircraft carriers in front.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush accompanied by some aircraft. On both sides of the aircraft carrier are two US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and above left is a formation led by a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and three Super Hornets of the US Navy, accompanied by two Harrier II Plus of the Spanish Navy.

A US Navy intelligence specialist on the island of "Juan Carlos I", observing the takeoff of a Harrier II Plus.

A Harrier II Plus of the 9th Squadron of the Spanish Navy preparing to take off from the flight deck of the "Juan Carlos I".

Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar Rodríguez, Commander-in-Chief of the Amphibious and Projection Group of the Spanish Navy (he is the third from the left and wears a protective helmet marked "L-61") observes the air operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.

Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar Rodríguez, of the Spanish Navy, greeted by flight deck personnel from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush upon his departure from this ship on September 26.

Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar Rodríguez signing the guest book of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during his visit to this ship on September 26.

Flight deck personnel from the USS George H.W. Bush taking photos of "Juan Carlos I" as they sailed together in the Ionian Sea on September 27.

A Grumman E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and three Super Hornets from the US Navy, accompanied by two Harrier II Plus from the Spanish Navy in a formation flight.

The formation of aircraft that we just saw, flying over the Spanish and American ships in the waters of the Ionian Sea on September 27.

The Medical Captain assigned to the "Juan Carlos I" speaking with two US Navy sailors in the medical facilities of the flagship of the Spanish Navy.

Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar Rodríguez speaking with a US flight deck officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.

A Spanish Navy officer poses with a US Navy MH-60R pilot belonging to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46, during his visit to "Juan Carlos I".