The 1994–95 Deployment

Six months, two oceans, and a line period in the Arabian Gulf — the cruise this book was made to remember.

Constellation's deployment carried her from the cold exercises off Korea to the heat of the Persian Gulf. Her seven-ship battle group included the guided-missile cruisers Chosin and Lake Erie, the destroyer Kinkaid, the ammunition ship Kiska, the oiler Cimarron, and the attack submarine Topeka. From 11 January 1995, her aircraft patrolled the no-fly zone over southern Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Summer 1994

Participated in RIMPAC exercises off Hawaii with Carrier Air Wing Two, working up for deployment.

10 November 1994

Departed San Diego for the Western Pacific — her first extended deployment in six years, with Carrier Air Wing Two embarked.

December 1994

Operated in the Western Pacific, with exercises off Okinawa and in the Korea region as the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis drew the world's attention.

5 December 1994

Change of command aboard ship — America's Flagship changed commanding officers underway.

11 January 1995

Entered the Arabian Gulf with her seven-ship battle group and took station for Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the U.N. no-fly zone over southern Iraq and conducting Maritime Interception Operations.

21 March 1995

Secretary of Defense William J. Perry came aboard in the Gulf.

23 March 1995

Departed the Persian Gulf, homeward bound.

10 May 1995

Home to San Diego — roughly 183 days after she left.

See the deployment in the cruise book →

Questions & Answers

When did USS Constellation’s 1994–95 deployment begin and end?

USS Constellation (CV-64) departed San Diego on 10 November 1994 and returned on 10 May 1995 — roughly 183 days, her first extended deployment in six years.

What ships made up the USS Constellation battle group in 1994–95?

Her battle group included the Aegis guided-missile cruisers USS Chosin (CG-65) and USS Lake Erie (CG-70), the destroyer USS Kinkaid (DD-965), the ammunition ship USS Kiska (AE-35), the fleet oiler USS Cimarron (AO-177), and the attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN-754).

What operations did USS Constellation support in the Persian Gulf in 1995?

From 11 January 1995 her air wing flew Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the U.N. no-fly zone over southern Iraq, while the battle group conducted Maritime Interception Operations enforcing U.N. sanctions in the northern Gulf.

Which squadrons deployed aboard USS Constellation in 1994–95?

Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) embarked ten squadrons: VF-2 (F-14 Tomcat); VFA-137, VFA-151, and Marine VMFA-323 (F/A-18 Hornet); VAQ-131 (EA-6B Prowler); VAW-116 (E-2C Hawkeye); VS-38 (S-3 Viking); HS-2 (SH-60 Seahawk); VQ-5 (ES-3A Shadow); and VRC-30 (C-2 Greyhound).