Bonhomme Richard Departs 5th Fleet, Begins Transit Home

. Bonhomme Richard Departs 5th Fleet, Begins Transit Home

By Chief Journalist (SW) Jon E. McMillan, USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At sea (NNS) -- After more than three months in the Arabian Gulf and after launching more than 800 sorties - including 547 combat launches - USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) has chopped out of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility and is heading home.

"It's nice knowing that we're actually going home," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Bobbi Mooney, from Bonhomme Richard's deck department. "[Being on station in the Gulf] was a lot of hard work, but knowing that a lot of what was accomplished on shore wouldn't have been possible without us is very rewarding."

Bonhomme Richard played two significant roles in Operation Iraqi Freedom. First, it offloaded more than 1,000 Marines and gear from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines into Kuwait. Then, it took up position just miles off the coast of Kuwait and became one of two Harrier Carriers in the Arabian Gulf - launching AV-8B Harrier strike aircraft into Iraq.

Pilots from Marine Attack Squadrons 211 and 311, embarked aboard Bonhomme Richard, expended more than 175,000 pounds of ordnance, providing close air support to the Marines on the ground and during predetermined strikes in Iraq.

"Everybody did a great job," said Capt. Jon Berg-Johnsen, Bonhomme Richard's commanding officer. "The cooperation and coordination to pull all of it together safely and successfully was incredible."

To ensure the ship stayed within its pre-designated operating box, had enough wind across the bow to launch the Harriers, and stayed clear of navigational hazards, the ship's bridge team and combat information center had to work together closely.

"Navigation was challenging and maneuvering the ship was difficult," said Berg-Johnsen. "We had limited space, and it was crowded with ships and potential navigational hazards - shallow water and oil wells, some unmarked. The TAO (Tactical Action Officer) and OOD (Officer of the Deck) worked closely verifying the picture around the ship."

In addition to the limited maneuvering space, the ship's watchstanders had to be alert to the numerous mine-like items that often floated by the ship, to erratically shifting weather patterns, including dust storms, and when the combat operations slowed, to mentally shift from a wartime mindset to a post-war mindset.

"[Outchopping from 5th Fleet] was a sense of relief," said Senior Chief Hull Maintenance Technician (SW/AW) Nancy Kolstelny. "The best part was to bring the Marines back aboard, so they could get some rest."

Bonhomme Richard and more than 2,000 Sailors and Marines aboard are now in the Indian Ocean and are scheduled to make three port visits while in the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Bonhomme Richard is scheduled to return to its homeport of San Diego in late July.

For related news, visit the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/lhd6.