U.S. Navy Moves Dozens of Ships in Various Stages of Construction Out of Hurricane Irene’s Path

With powerful Hurricane Irene still on a weekend collision course with the Navy sortied 27 ships and subs out of the huge Norfolk naval complex Thursday and, far to the north, took the rare step of sending four subs to sea from berths in Groton, Conn. The sorties reflect the Navy’s concern about the striking power and track of the storm, a major hurricane forecast to lash the southern coast of North Carolina with tropical storm-force winds beginning late Friday, followed by hurricane-force winds. A hurricane warning is posted for an area stretching from the North Carolina coast to the Virginia border.

A total of 38 local ships, including the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, got underway from Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek or remained at sea in order to avoid the storm, according to Rear Adm. Clifford Sharpe, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, the sortie commander.

“Getting underway is the safest place for ships, particularly where we have a scenario where we have high winds and the surge that would put the ships at risk pierside,” Sharpe said via a conference call with reporters from aboard the Eisenhower.

“By getting out ahead of the storm … we’re able to proceed to sea to where we know that we’ll have a safe area to operate” 2nd Fleet commander Vice Adm. Daniel Holloway said winds of at least 57.5 mph and a storm surge of 5 feet to 7 feet are expected in Hampton Roads, based on Irene’s current track.

Sharpe said the ships would make an initial rendezvous “several hundred” miles out to sea that gets the sortie group “well to the east” of the storm. Ultimately, it will swing around and coming back behind the storm. The ships’ return date will be determined after the storm passes, he said.

The Groton attack submarines, based at Naval Submarine Base New London, were sent out early enough “to allow them to reach deep water where they can safely submerge” and remain prior to expected high winds and heavy seas in the northeast, said Lt. Jennifer Cragg, spokeswoman for Submarine Group Two.

It’s only the third time a hurricane has forced sorties out of Groton since 1938, Cragg said. The last such sortie was in 1991 during Hurricane Bob​; in 1938, submarines were forced to sortie in the face of an unnamed hurricane that packed 120 mph winds, she said.

Three submarines in various stages of overhaul will remain at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, said deputy public affairs officer Danna Eddy. Two are in drydock while one, the attack submarine San Juan, is pierside.

Another 28 ships were moved to safe havens in the Hampton Roads area, 2nd Fleet spokeswoman Cmdr. Elissa Smith said. Safe havens are predesignated piers that offer better protection against weather than a general pier. This group includes the Navy’s oldest carrier, the Enterprise, which has been undergoing pierside maintenance.

Enterprise was moved to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., according to Naval Air Force Atlantic. Two other carriers, the Harry S. Truman and the Theodore Roosevelt​, are undergoing long-term maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Newport News Shipbuilding​, respectively.

Officials said shore-based personnel along the Eastern seaboard continue working to secure hazards, remove loose debris and sandbag low-lying areas.

Irene remains a Category 3 storm, according to the National Weather Service​. With maximum sustained winds near 115 mph and higher gusts, it is now considered a major hurricane. The service said that “some strengthening” is forecast is forecast for Thursday night and Friday.

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Source: navytimes, August 26, 2011; Image:NOAA