EA-6B Prowler squadron commander is relieved of command

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, April 17, 2007



The commander of the EA-6B Prowler squadron aboard the aircraft carrier
USS Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf was relieved of his command Monday
amid an investigation, Navy officials said.

Capt. Scott Stearney, commander of Carrier Air Wing 7, relieved Cmdr.
Christopher Rankin, commander of Electronic Attack Squadron 140, "due to
a loss of confidence in his ability to command," said Lt. Denise Garcia,
a spokeswoman with the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain.

While Garcia declined to provide details of the ongoing investigation
surrounding Rankin, she said it was not the result of a mishap or
accident involving the squadron's radar-jamming aircraft.

The investigation began Thursday, Garcia said. Rankin assumed command on
April 7, only five days before.

He was the squadron's executive officer for the previous 15 months,
Garcia said.

Cmdr. Timothy Murphy, the squadron's executive officer, has stepped in
as acting commander, Garcia said.

Typically, executive officers assume the leadership role when commanders
leave during normal rotational cycles, but Navy leaders have yet to
decide whether Murphy will remain as the squadron's commander, she said.

Rankin temporarily is assigned to Carrier Strike Group 8, based in
Norfolk, Va., while officials investigate the matter.

The squadron is based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.,
and currently attached to the Eisenhower, which has been in the Arabian
Sea and Persian Gulf regions since Oct. 30.

The EA-6B Prowler is the Navy and Marine Corps' principal electronic
warfare aircraft and is used to protect ships by jamming enemy radar and
communications.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=45146

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul finally home after tragedy-filled deployment.


A Norfolk-based submarine returns home for the first time, since a
deadly accident 3 months ago.

On December 29th, five sailors were swept overboard as the sub left
England. Two died, including Senior Chief Thomas Higgins of Chesapeake.
The sub's commander was then relieved of duty.

Tuesday, the crew of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul finally returned
home after an emotional deployment.

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=6321412&nav=menu45_2_1

US Nuclear Sub forced to leave Persian Gulf
Global Research, April 15, 2007
Fars News Agency - 2007-04-10





The damaged US nuclear submarine 'Newport News' which polluted the
Persian Gulf waters with radioactive and chemical materials after it
collided with a Japanese super tanker in the Straits of Hormuz was
forced to leave the Persian Gulf following strong protests by Iranian
officials.

Newport News, which accompanied USS Eisenhower, sustained heavy
damages after it collided with the Japanese super tanker Mogamigava east
of the Hormuz Straits at 22:15 hours local time (18:45 GMT) on January
8, 2007, as a result of which its captain Mathew Vinegar was dismissed.

Following the collision and when the submarine was transferred to a
port in Bahrain to undergo repair works, chemical and radioactive
materials started leaking into the Persian Gulf waters.

Subsequently, the commander of Iran's naval force voiced his deep
concern over the pollution of the Persian Gulf region and its negative
impacts on the environment, following which the Iranian parliament's
Environment Commission pursued the case through correspondence and
exchange of views with different world authorities and bodies.

As per the objections made in this regard coupled with the United
States' fear from the consequences and aftermaths of the case, the
nuclear submarine was transferred from the Persian Gulf for overhaul.


http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070415&articleId=5393