Posted on: Saturday, November 17, 2001

The September 11th attack
Pearl-based cruiser heading to Middle East

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

The Pearl Harbor-based cruiser Port Royal will leave today for deployment with the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier battle group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Navy said.

The Stennis left Coronado, Calif., on Nov. 12 and is sailing to waters near Afghanistan to replace the USS Carl Vinson, which is returning to Bremerton, Wash., from the Arabian Sea.

The Aegis-class Port Royal has a crew of more than 400, and carries Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.

Aboard the Port Royal are two SH 60B helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 from Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe, the Navy said.

The carrier Stennis is the centerpiece of a 10-ship battle group that includes six warships, two submarines and one supply vessel. The Port Royal will meet up with the carrier en route to the Middle East. The battle group had been scheduled to head to the Persian Gulf area in January, but its departure was moved up.