USS George Washington and Four Other Vessels from Carrier Strike Group 5 Arrive at Busan Naval Base

According to the Republic of Korea Navy, Carrier Strike Group 5 (CSG 5), including the USN aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), entered Busan Naval Base for resupply and crew rest.
On the 5th, the Navy stated that CSG 5, which arrived that day, will enhance cooperation and exchange between the Republic of Korea Navy and the United States Navy during its stay, further solidifying the combined defense posture. In addition to the USS George Washington, the visiting vessels include the USS Robert Smalls, USS Milius, and USS Shoup, making a total of four ships.
As a key asset of the USN Seventh Fleet, the USS George Washington is the sixth ship of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and was commissioned in 1992. Since August 2008, it has been stationed at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan, conducting operations not only in Japanese waters but also around the Korean Peninsula.
The USS George Washington is a supercarrier with a displacement of approximately 98,000 tons, a length of 333 meters, a width of 78 meters, and a height of 74 meters. For comparison, the largest vessel in the Republic of Korea Navy, ROKS Dokdo, has a displacement of about 18,000 tons. The carrier features a 18,000-square-meter flight deck and hangar, accommodating around 80 advanced aircraft. Four elevators, each covering 360 square meters, transport aircraft between the flight deck and hangar. The ship can carry more than 6,000 crew members, is equipped with four distillation plants that supply 1.5 million liters of fresh water daily, and its galley serves up to 18,000 meals per day. The maximum speed is 30 knots (approximately 56 km/h), and its operational range extends up to 1,000 kilometers.
Typically, when the USN enters an operational area, a full Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is formed. A CSG is centered around one aircraft carrier and generally includes one or two Aegis destroyers, two to five additional destroyers, at least one logistics support ship, and one or two nuclear-powered attack submarines.

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yoon Reporter