KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy carrier USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, the nucleus of a carrier strike group, is supporting operations in Afghanistan.
The Enterprise embarked Carrier Air Wing 1 and departed Naval Station Norfolk May 2 for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment supporting the global war on terrorism.
The USS Enterprise is the flagship in the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which includes the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, destroyer USS McFaul, frigate USS Nicholas, the attack submarine USS Alexandria and the fast-combat supply ship USNS Supply.
The Naval News Stand reported Sept. 21 that USS Enterprise Carrier Air Wing aircraft continued their support of International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from Sept. 12 through Sept. 19.
The use of carrier-based aircraft in aerial operations against Taliban and al-Qaida forces is the first deployment of naval aircraft there since Taliban operations began intensifying in the spring, leading to some of the toughest fighting in the country since the overthrow of the Taliban five years ago.
Carrier Air Wing 1 commander, Carrier Air Wing 1 Capt. Mark Wralstad, said: "The strength of the Enterprise Strike Group team has been clearly demonstrated over the skies of Afghanistan during the last 19 days. Whether we fly attack missions against known Taliban locations or investigate potential sources of hostile fire aimed against coalition troops on the ground, our aircraft are inflicting significant damage against those trying to destabilize the region."
