The aging (laid down 7 April 1987) Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), sailing 61,000 nautical miles while serving as the air defense commander for the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) on a tense Med cruise, just returned to her homeport in Norfolk after 8 months underway.
The “Vanguard of Victory” chalked up some interesting numbers while deployed.
From NS Norfolk PAO:
Over the course of 262 days, Normandy’s crew conducted over 40 replenishments-at-sea, and manned flight quarters 670 times. Normandy’s embarked air detachment, the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, flew 393 sorties, totaling 1,132 hours flown.
Over the course of 262 days, Normandy’s crew conducted over 40 replenishments-at-sea, and manned flight quarters 670 times. Normandy’s embarked air detachment, the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, flew 393 sorties, totaling 1,132 hours flown.
Normandy’s culinary team prepared and served over 388,500 meals, which included over 68,619 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables, 4,382 lbs. of steak, 10,520 hot dogs, 3,207 lbs. of bacon, 89,000 individual eggs, and 800 lbs. of coffee.
You know when they broke out those steaks, the crew knew what was up.
Sadly, this may be Normandy’s final deployment, as she is slated for mothballs next year.