Carrier Strike Group Ten 2004 – 09 operations Carrier Strike Group Ten was involved in a number of operations between 2004 – 2009 . Carrier Strike Group Ten was a U . S . Navy carrier strike group . In 2004 - 09 it was based at Naval Station Norfolk . In those five years it made two Middle East providing air and naval support for the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan , as well as Operation Vigilant Resolve , and Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 ( JTFEX 05 - 2 ) . In 2004 - 09 the group ' s flagship was the " Nimitz " - class nuclear - powered aircraft carrier . 2004 - 2006 Operations . 2004 MED deployment . The strike group departed Norfolk on 13 October 2004 for an extended deployment under the command of Rear Admiral Michael C . Tracy . The strike group participates in the Joint Maritime Course ( JMC - 043 ) north of Scotland between 25 – 28 October 2004 . JMC - 043 included strike , surface , and submarine warfare exercises with a multi - national force . CARSTRKGRU 10 subsequently paid by a port visit to Souda Bay , Crete , between 5 – 8 November 2004 . Despite plans to cross the equator and visited South Africa , diplomatic issues caused the strike group to transit the Suez Canal , stopping in Portsmouth , England , prior to returning to the United States on 19 April 2005 . Fifth Fleet operations . Carrier Strike Group Ten transited the Suez Canal on 11 November 2004 and relieved the carrier strike group on 20 November 2004 . " Truman " and Carrier Air Wing 3 launched 2 , 577 sorties , totaling nearly 13 , 000 flight hours , in support of OIF and maritime security operations ( MSO ) before being relieved by the Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005 . One major air operation involved a VAW - 126 detachment of two E - 2C Hawkeyes that operated out of Kandahar Air Base , Afghanistan , from 4 – 13 December 2004 . The detachment ' s mission was to provide airborne command and control for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai , Afghanistan ' s first democratically elected president . This event was attended by an entourage led by Richard B . Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald H . Rumsfeld . Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 ( JTFEX 05 - 2 ) , Operation Brewing Storm . The aircraft carrier " Harry S . Truman " was re - assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Ten , and the " Theodore Roosevelt " was re - assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Two . The group then participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 ( JTFEX 05 - 2 ) , Operation Brewing Storm , between 14 – 22 July 2005 . The operation involved warships from four navies , and it presented U . S . and coalition forces with realistic and dynamic exercise threats that closely replicate operational challenges military forces routinely encounter around the world . It was designed to provide quality , realistic training to prepare U . S . forces for joint and combined operations . In addition to CARSTRKGRU 10 , Operation Brewing Storm also included Carrier Strike Group Two ( CSG - 2 ) , led by the , the Spanish frigate " Álvaro de Bazán " , and the Peruvian submarine " Antofagasta " . " Truman " ( CVN 75 ) and Carrier Air Wing 3 ( CVW - 3 ) also completed sustainment training 19 July under the U . S . Navy ’ s Fleet Response Training Plan ( FRTP ) during Commander , U . S . 2nd Fleet ’ s Joint Task Force Exercise ( JTFEX 05 - 2 ) , which included general quarters drills , strike warfare , close air support , and air defense . USS " Harry S . Truman " maintenance cycle . USS " Harry S . Truman " ( CVN - 74 ) entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a Docked Planned Incremental Availability ( DPIA ) in January 2006 . The ship received many system upgrades , and underwent preventative maintenance to repair minor weld defects originating from the initial construction of the reactor plants . On 4 August 2006 , the " Truman " left dry - dock and transited to Norfolk Naval Shipyard ’ s Pier 5 to complete the last stages of its DPIA and continued preparations for its surge beginning in April 2007 . 2007 – 2009 Operations . 2007 – 2008 MED deployment . Following humanitarian assistance and disaster response operation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 , the " Truman " underwent an extended yard period at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia . On 5 November 2007 , following the yard period and training exercises , Carrier Strike Group 10 departed Norfolk under the command Rear Admiral William E . Gortneyfor an extended deployment to the U . S . Fifth Fleet ' s area of responsibility ( AOR ) . Carrier Strike Group 10 completed its seven - month overseas deployment , returning to Norfolk on 6 June 2008 . The task group supported maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf as well as provided close air support for ground forces serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom . Carrier air operations . Carrier Air Wing 3 ( CVW - 3 ) aircraft flew more than 26 , 500 hours during 9 , 500 sorties , including 2 , 459 combat sorties directly in support of coalition forces operating on the ground in Iraq . CVW - 3 flew almost 14 , 000 combat hours and expended 77 , 500 pounds of ordnance during 228 troops - in - contact events , as well as providing defense to the Iraqi oil platforms . Additionally , the carrier air wing provided logistical support to the American Embassy in Lebanon . CVW - 3 aircraft also carried out a variety of security cooperation exercises with five countries within the Sixth Fleet and Fifth Fleet areas of responsibilities to enhance allied cooperation and interoperability . Maritime security operations . Surface warships of Destroyer Squadron 26 ( DESRON - 26 ) operated with over 50 coalition warships from 11 countries supporting combat operations in Iraq , carrying Maritime Security Operations ( MSO ) in the Persian Gulf , and conducting seven exercises throughout the Middle East . DESRON - 26 warships made 1 , 021 approach - and - assist visits with local fishermen and merchants to encourage them to contact coalition warships as first responders against Persian Gulf piracy and smuggling . They also conducted visit , board , search , and seizures ( VBSS ) operations , searching for vessels that could support international terrorist organizations by transferring personnel , drugs , and weapons . Finally , DESRON - 26 warships provided security patrols northern Persian Gulf to protect the vital Khor Al - Amaya and Al - Basra oil terminals from possible terrorist attacks . USS " Harry S . Truman " maintenance cycle . USS " Truman " ( CVN - 74 ) completed sea trials following its nearly seven - month Planned Incremental Availability ( PIA ) at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia , on 14 February 2009 . On 5 August 2009 , EA - 18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 ( VAQ - 129 ) and Electronic Attack Squadron 132 ( VAQ - 132 ) completed their first at - sea carrier - arrested landing ( trap ) aboard " Harry S . Truman " .