HEADING HOME

By Humphrey Carter THE United States Navy's amphibious landing ship USS Nassau dropped anchor in the Bay of Palma yesterday at the start of a five day Easter visit. The USS Nassau is, according to the American media, on her way home with other Norfolk, Virgina-based ships from the USS Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, after more than four months of serving in the Middle East combating piracy and working alongside Iraq's military forces. The Expeditionary Strike Group made up of five ships and one submarine was deployed in November and officially ended its deployment last week when it passed through the Suez Canal. During her mission, the USS Nassau delivered nearly 2000 U.S. marines to Iraq and the Strike Group, which includes a guided missile cruiser the USS Cape St. George, a guided missile destroyer , the USS Winston S. Churchill and the USS Austin amphibious transport ship, has been helping the Iraqi navy secure oil terminals while fighting piracy. The Nassau is no stranger to active duty. She has had a long and distinguished career since she was commissioned in 1979 as the fourth of the U.S. Navy's TARAWA-class general purpose assault ships. The USS Nassau played key roles in both Iraq Wars. In recognition of her great service during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the USS Nassau was honoured during her deployment with a visit from President George H. W Bush who selected the Nassau as the site of a special Thanskgiving Day meal with sailors and marines. In between the first and second Iraq War, USS Nassau has operated all over the world, primarily in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives but also participating in United States and allied training exercises. Due to the design of the general-purpose TARAWA-Class amphibious assault ships, they can be deployed on very short notice. Despite standing over 20 storeys high, measuring 820 feet in length and displacing some 40'000 tons when fully loaded, they can carry out a wide range of roles. In May 2003, the Nassau completed the longest deployment in her history. Having returned to the Mediterranean in 2001 post the September 11 attacks for two training exercises, the Nassau then spent 2002 preparing for her deployment to the Middle East in August. Not long after the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first bombing raids on Baghdad began on March 30, 2004, the Nassau was due to return to the United States. However, she remained on active duty in theatre to support U.S. operations and did not finally return home to Norfolk until May 20 ending a 277-day deployment. The Nassau has since undergone a major refit and is on her fourth visit to Palma with, what would appear to be, a fully loaded flight deck which, depending on the mission, carries Harrier attack planes, SuperCobra attack, Sea Knight, Sea Stallion and Huey helicopters.