With the likelihood of a military strike against Syria growing, the U.S. Navy has positioned the USS Nimitz and the other ships in her carrier strike group in the Red Sea. Although a strike against the forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in retaliation for their alleged use of chemical weapons against rebels is likely to be carried out primarily by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the four Navy destroyers positioned in the eastern Mediterranean, the Nimitz and her aircraft give the U.S. more options. These options might become necessary amidst reports last week that the Pentagon was asked by the Obama Administration to expand the target list in Syria. The Nimitz was on her way home from the Arabian Sea after a months-long deployment that saw her air group flying missions over Afghanistan. As the debate continues regarding the authorization of the use of military force in Syria, the Nimitz stands ready.
USS Nimitz Flight Operations in the Red Sea l Photos
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transits the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Souvannason
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Death Rattlers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz (CVN 68), Sept. 7, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric M. Butler
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 prepares to launch off the flight deck of the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An aviation boatswain’s mate (Handling) directs Capt. Kevin Mannix, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Capt. Rob Osterhoudt, deputy commander, CVW 11, in an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 to the catapult for take off from the Nimitz. Osterhoudt completed his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, or "trap", aboard Nimitz Aug. 28. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Raul Moreno Jr.
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Blue Diamonds of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 recovers aboard the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 is lowered from the flight deck to the hangar bay of the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
U.S. Navy sailors and Marines conduct flight operations on the flight deck of the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 bolters after failing to catch the arresting gear wire on the flight deck of the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft assigned to the Gray Wolves of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 prepares to launch from the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
The view from a porthole during flight operations aboard Nimitz, in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kole E. Carpenter
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Terence Emanuel directs an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Gray Wolves of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 on the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, configured for air-to-air refueling of other aircraft from the Nimitz carrier air wing, lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Phil Ladouceur
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 moves across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 prepares to launch from the flight deck, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan R. McDonald
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to the Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 is catapulted from the Nimitz), Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan R. McDonald
A VFA-147 F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares to launch, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transits the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Souvannason
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Death Rattlers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz (CVN 68), Sept. 7, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric M. Butler
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 prepares to launch off the flight deck of the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An aviation boatswain’s mate (Handling) directs Capt. Kevin Mannix, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Capt. Rob Osterhoudt, deputy commander, CVW 11, in an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 to the catapult for take off from the Nimitz. Osterhoudt completed his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, or "trap", aboard Nimitz Aug. 28. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Raul Moreno Jr.
An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Blue Diamonds of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 recovers aboard the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 is lowered from the flight deck to the hangar bay of the Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
U.S. Navy sailors and Marines conduct flight operations on the flight deck of the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 bolters after failing to catch the arresting gear wire on the flight deck of the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft assigned to the Gray Wolves of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 prepares to launch from the Nimitz in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
The view from a porthole during flight operations aboard Nimitz, in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kole E. Carpenter
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Terence Emanuel directs an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Gray Wolves of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 on the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, configured for air-to-air refueling of other aircraft from the Nimitz carrier air wing, lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Phil Ladouceur
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 moves across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Bartlett
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 prepares to launch from the flight deck, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan R. McDonald
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to the Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Argonauts of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 is catapulted from the Nimitz), Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan R. McDonald
A VFA-147 F/A-18E Super Hornet prepares to launch, Sept. 3, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kelly M. Agee
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transits the Red Sea, Sept. 4, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samuel Souvannason
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