Busy times for Naval Station Norfolk

Mark Brighton

With two conflicts currently placing military servicemen and women in high demand, it may be no surprise that several installations across the country are gearing up to do their parts in the war effort. One base doing their part for the good of the country is Naval Station Norfolk, who is deploying three ships in four days to help support ground forces overseas.

Early Friday morning sailors departed the Virginia installation aboard the U.S.S. Vella Gulf and the U.S.S. Kauffman.

Boasting a crew of 350, the Vella Gulf is a multi-mission ship with anti-air, anti-submarine and anti Surface warfare capabilities, and is the first of five war ships featuring a state-of-the-art Ballistic Missile Defense system that will make it a force to be reckoned with in the Mediterranean. It will be used as a staging ground for military actions in the Middle East, as well as a terrorist deterrent along the European coast.

The Kauffman is a guided missile frigate and will deploy its 250 sailors to engage in counter piracy exercises in Northern Africa, according to WTKR.com.

Wavy.com is also reporting that a crew of 1,100 sailors and 500 embarked Marines hitting the high seas early next week aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship the U.S.S. Iwo Jima.

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