The departure of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington was delayed Friday due to mechanical issues and will be rescheduled in a few days, according to the Navy.
One of three aircraft carriers being swapped with other home ports, the GW was based in Japan for seven years before it came to San Diego last month. After it leaves, the flattop will take part in exercises with the navies of South American countries, and then sail around the tip of the southern continent and head up to Virginia, where its nuclear power plant will undergo a lengthy refueling, Navy officials said.
The USS Ronald Reagan, based in San Diego for 11 years, also is a part of the swap. It left Monday for Japan.
Replacing the Reagan, the USS Theodore Roosevelt will dock in San Diego after it finishes its service in the Middle East.
Around two-thirds of the sailors from each of the three ships will remain stationed at their home base, and Navy officials estimate that keeping most of the sailors where they are could save $41 million in personnel transfer costs.
Most of the George Washington crew, for example, are sailing the Reagan to Japan, while Reagan sailors will take the GW to Virginia. The Reagan sailors will later swap places with sailors aboard the “Big Stick” when the Roosevelt arrives in San Diego.
About one-third of each crew — mostly command personnel and nuclear power specialists — will stay with their vessels.
—City News Service
