empties

For the first time since 1920, when the United States had its single aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1) plying the world’s oceans, today sees only the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) [Note: CV designates aircraft carrier/CVN designated nuclear aircraft carrier] sailing in the waters of the Middle East in the North Arabian Sea—but whose mission is now ended after President Trump ordered an end to the air war in Syria, and whose next stop will be its home port in Washington State—thus creating an historical first that will see the world’s oceans emptied of all 11 of America’s aircraft carrier strike groups—that are formidable weapons composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft. […]