Hello, great to hear from you again!


Mike Weeks wrote:
wrote:

VFA-82 (to be deactivated soon) is now surge-deployed with
CVW-2/Lincoln team, and VFA-15 is going to replace it in CVW-1.

Since this was observed just recently, I'd guess 136 has moved from
CVW-7 to CVW-1. Since GW has just gone into the yards for a 10-11
month upgrade, CVW-7 is also in flux.

"VFA-136:

F/A-18C: AB-300, AB-302, AB-305, AB-307, AB-313, 164214/AG-310*"

That sounds VERY reasonable: then VFA-15 would go to CVW-1 AFTER its
upgrade to F/A-18E in FY2006, as planned.

Finally, VFA-136 might not return to CVW-7, but could be switched to
UDP or disbanded, allowing one of Marine squadrons to appear in its
place.

The nearest joint deployment of VF-31 along with VF-213 in CVW-8
reportedly was put under question by the guys from the Black Lions (the
info from "Aircraft Illustrated"), what could give a chance for
VMFA-251 to get back to the CVW, but it looks like only rumors...


VIKING
Only one operational squadron reamins in PACFLT (in CVW-9), and in
LANTFLT CVW-7 is going to lose their S-3Bs first.

As is CVW-17 (VS-30) - look for both VS-31 (CVW-7) & -30 to
deactivate
around the same period.

Negative. According to the officially released S-3B squadrons
deactivation plan - NANews Jul/Aug 2004
http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/back.../ja/viking.pdf :
VS-30 (now in CVW-17) is to be deactivated in 2005, but VS-31 (CVW-7)
not!

I'd rather suppose that VS-31 switches from CVW-7 (going to have two
Super Hornet squadrons) to CVW-17 (with no F/A-18E unit until FY2008).

On the West Coast only those CVWs which received a full set of Super
Hornets had their Viking squadrons deactivated. Otherwise, to many
"Super Bugs" per a squadron would have to be sacrified to a tanker
role...


As an added note, start looking for a HSL SH-60B outfit to be
assigned
to CVWs, as HSL-47 (NH70x) is currently w/ CVW-2; then it'll get real
messy as the SH-60R/S enter and we see the merging of HSLs & HSs in
the
strike groups.

Yeah. And HSL-51 integrated with CVW-5, and same things expected in
LANTFLT...

Best regards,

Jacek