Independence Joins Force in Arabian Sea

The Independence, a San Diego-based aircraft carrier, and its six-ship battle group were steaming across the Indian Ocean on Friday en route to the northern Arabian Sea, an area just outside the Persian Gulf and about 550 miles southeast of Kuwait.

Navy spokesmen say the ships’ movements were not related to the invasion of Kuwait by neighboring Iraq, and friends and relatives of those on board should not be overly concerned.

The vessel has a crew of about 5,000 and carries about 80 aircraft, including fighters, attack jets, bombers, support planes and helicopters.

“There is no need for alarm based on the present course the ship has undertaken because it is a regularly scheduled route,” said Senior Chief Bob Howard, a spokesman for the Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet.

“The ship’s presence in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea is very much standard. . . . We routinely operate carriers in that area,” he added.

The Independence, which Howard said entered the Indian Ocean earlier this week, will not sail into the Persian Gulf because the waterway is too small and congested for carrier operations.

“The battle group could (enter the Gulf) if need be, but there are no plans for that right now,” Howard said.

The Independence’s carrier battle group includes one destroyer, two cruisers, two frigates and an ammunition ship.

In addition, an eight-ship Navy task force headed by the command ship LaSalle is now operating in the gulf. The task force includes one cruiser, one destroyer and five frigates.

Navy spokesmen would not identify any of the ships sailing with the LaSalle or the Independence and would not say which of these vessels--if any--are based in San Diego.