25 Feb 1991: Nimitz departed from Bremerton for a scheduled three weeks of training, putting in to North Island on the 28th...popeye went aboard Nimitz on the 28th of January 1991.
5 Mar 1991: Due to Gulf War I, however, she received orders to deploy early and came about for the Western Pacific. The E-2C + made its maiden deployment on board Nimitz during this cruise. Foul weather pounded the ship during the first few days, causing pitching deck conditions that rendered flight operations extremely hazardous.
6 Mar 1991: Aggression is defeated. The war is over, reported President George W. Bush to a joint session of the Congress. The news caused relief for many men on board, though speculation ran through Nimitz regarding her potential operations. The crew nonetheless prepared diligently for possible contingencies while en route to the Western Pacific.
17 Mar 1991: Nimitz entered the Seventh Fleets area of responsibility...Nimitz also enjoied a 6 day port call at Subic Bay RP.
48 Apr 1991: Nimitz anchored at Singapore for liberty, following which she entered the Indian Ocean for operations through the 15th.
16 Apr 1991: Nimitz entered Central Commands area of responsibility.
18-19 Apr 1991: Nimitz sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, entered the Arabian Gulf and overnight relieved aircraft carrier Ranger (CV-61) during Operations Desert Storm/Sabre.
20 Apr 1991: Nimitz commenced flight operations in support of Operations Desert Storm/Sabre. CVW-9 flew primarily air superiority and combat air patrol missions over Iraq , which lay ravaged and burning following the Iraqi retreat. The ship assumed the role of Commander, Task Force 154, with Nimitz's Carrier Battle Group Bravo being the only remaining such group in the Gulf. Fires produced by burning oil fields created a haze that normally dropped visibility down to below five miles, generating additional dangers for air operations. Confronted with the threat of chemical and biological weapons, men trained by donning protective exposure suits and gas masks, demonstrating a macabre and surrealistic appearance to onlookers. Aircrew flew a daily average of 75 sorties for upward of 20 days per month, a demanding schedule on men and machines. Hornet aircrew flew exhausting five hour missions usually requiring two aerial refuelings from USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. Combat commanders of all services relied especially on Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (TARPS) equipped Tomcats to provide accurate real time intelligence on Iraqi troop movements. Aircrew often flew these missions at lower altitudes and speeds to improve accuracy, though this made them more vulnerable to ground fire and surface to air missiles. Nimitz launched a total of 31 TARPS missions between 22 April24 May. Two helo crews flew daily sweeps of Nimitzs operating box (her area of operations) searching for floating mines, which posed a deadly risk to the carrier and forced the crew to secure all hatches on the 2nd deck and below. Two HH-60H crews (HS-2) flew strike rescue missions in the event that the Iraqis shot down fixed wing aircrew. Also during this period a number of Iraqi revolts erupted against the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, beginning in late February when the Shiites, who lived primarily in the south, rose, followed by a Kurdish uprising in Kurdistan to the north. The shaken Iraqi regime brutally suppressed the revolts, and Iraqi security forces and troops ruthlessly crushed the Kurds. Almost a million Kurdish refugees fled in late March and into April to escape the atrocities, and the U.S. responded with OperationProvide Comfort: international humanitarian relief efforts for the victims of Saddams crimes. Aircrew from the ship flew a variety of missions supporting Provide Comfort, including airborne early warning to monitor refugee movements and Iraqi attacks against people, as well as protecting crews, including Marines and SEALs, assisting victims by delivering supplies by air and on the ground and by evacuating Kurds requiring medical attention.
24 Apr 1991: An SH-60F crew (HS-2) spotted a mine 30 nautical miles south of Nimitz but drifting toward her and destroyed it with the assistance of the ships explosive ordnance disposal team.
27 Apr 1991: Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA)-147 sent a detachment of three Hornets, four officers and 26 enlisted sailors to Al Dhafra AB in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they participated in the first air combat training exercise between the ship and the UAE. VFA-147 gained the opportunity to pit their skills against Dassault Mirage 2000s.
7-9 May 1991: Nimitz anchored at Dubai, UAE.
13 May 1991: While the Allied Joint Command prohibited further Hornet overflights over Iraq, F/A-18s continued to fly combat air patrols over Kuwait and the Gulf.
21-22 May 1991: Two Iranian speedboats manned by the Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Engelab-e Eslami [Revolutionary Guard Corps, usually known simply as the Pasdaran], a volatile mix of lawless elements and militant students, attackedcommand ship La Salle (AGF-3), flagship of the Middle East Force, as she steamed in the central Arabian Gulf, from 20240021. La Salle s crew fought back fiercely, firing 178 .50 caliber machine gun rounds from the port side of the bridge and keeping the Iranians at a range varying between 3,0005,000 yards. The command ship radioed Nimitz, steaming approximately 300 nautical miles to the northwest, for assistance. The carrier responded by scrambling a pair of ready Hornets within 20 minutes. The F/A-18s streaked to the area to intercept the Iranians, but the Pasdaran came about and fled. Following this episode the ship and her crew treated all Iranian vessels with extreme caution as contacts of interest, observing them carefully for threatening intentions.
25-29 May 1991: Nimitz anchored at Dubai.
30 May-7 Jun 1991: Nimitz sailed through the Strait of Hormuz eastbound to participate in exercise Beacon Flash 91 with the Omanis, before returning to the Gulf for additional operations against the Iraqis.
7 Jun 1991: SN Mark Esparza, the aft lookout, spotted a blue light in the water, signifying a probable man overboard, near the end of the mid watch at 0356. The ship called away man overboard and lowered her port motor whaleboat, commanded by LT(JG) G. Paul Skentzos, whose crew recovered AM3 Donald A. Ochab of VF-211, who fell overboard while working on a Tomcat. When I walked back, Ochab quipped of his brush with death, I ran out of deck. Skentzos and Esparza each received the Navy Achievement Medal for their quick actions.
Jul 1991: While performing maintenance on arresting gear constant run-out valves, the Sailors of the ships V-2 Division discovered excessive wear on the camhousing and stanchion body bolts. Subsequent modifications to all of the Navy's carriers avoided future accidents and probably saved lives.
12 Jul 1991: By this date aircrew flew 934 sorties over Iraq , Kuwait and the Gulf. During a combat air patrol mission over Kuwait, however, an F/A-18C (VFA-146), sustained probe damage and experienced airspeed problems while tanking with a Stratotanker. Upon his return to the carrier at 2200 the pilot slammed into the ramp but miraculously caught the No. 3 arrester wire while in full afterburner. The man ejected, landing on the flight deck with minor abrasions. The crew began applying foam to the fire within 23 seconds, though the crash destroyed the aircraft. ABH2 James A. Gilley, a member of V-1s Crash and Salvage Crew, courageously entered the Hornets cockpit and secured the engines, which remained in full afterburner. Gilley later received the Navy Achievement Medal for his heroic action during the blaze.
16 Jul 1991: Nimitz turned over to aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
