Posted on 06/08/2005 11:47:01 AM PDT by pabianice
Commander, Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet has announced that Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (VQ-2) will relocate from NAS Rota, Spain, to NAS Whidbey Island, WA, effective Sept. 1. The relocation of VQ-2's six aircraft and 450 Sailors to the United States "is in keeping with the Navy's ongoing transformation of forces in Europe, and will help reduce costs and eliminate redundancies throughout its force structure worldwide."
The move will co-locate the squadron with VQ-1, already based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The stated reasons are for increased efficiency of operation of the aging aircraft, economy of scale regarding maintenance and support, and in keeping with the DOD's ongoing effort to save money. Unofficially, the US is likely to also be making a statement about its disappointment in most of Europe -- including Spain -- in caving to terrorists' threats in the past several years. The Navy had already sharply decreased the use of Rota as a forward base for other aviation communities, including its P-3C patrol (VP) squadrons.
VQ-2, established in 1955, has been operating out of Rota since 1960, and was at the forefront of the Navy's reconnaissance operations for the majority of the Cold War. The squadron was instrumental in providing reconnaissance collection for NATO operations in the Balkans in the 1990s, and operated alongside VQ-1 to enforce no-fly zones with operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch during the same period. More recently, VQ-2 deployed to support both operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in the Middle East.
Until 1991, VQ-2 flew both the EA-3 "Whale" and the EP-3 "Aries" long-range electronic reconnaissance airframes. The last "Whale" retired from active service in September 1991. Additionally, the squadron completely upgraded its EP-3 inventory from 1991 to 1995 with the more modern and capable EP-3E "Aries-II" aircraft...
May I be there first here to say "Welcome to Whidbey Island".
Good move, maybe they could relocate to Ellsworth base in South Dakota, they need something new.
At the rate that Spain is selling Hugo Chavez modern warships, these aircraft may get an opportunity to go into action against Spanish corvettes.
Have the Spanish socialists started whining yet?
Description: Four-engine turboprop signals intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft.
Features: The EP-3E ARIES II (Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System II) is the Navy's only land-based signals intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft. The 11 aircraft in the Navy's inventory are based on the Orion P-3 airframe and provide fleet and theater commanders worldwide with near real-time tactical SIGINT. With sensitive receivers and high-gain dish antennas, the EP-3E exploits a wide range of electronic emissions from deep within targeted territory.
Background: During the 1990s twelve P-3Cs were converted to EP3-E ARIES II to replace older versions of the aircraft. The original ARIES I aircraft were converted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The last EP-3E ARIES II aircraft was delivered in 1997. EP-3Es have been heavily engaged in reconnaissance in support of NATO forces in Bosnia, joint forces in Korea and in Operation Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and Allied Force.
Point of Contact:
Naval Air Systems Command
Public Affairs Department
47123 Buse Road, Unit IPT
Bldg. 2272, Suite 075
Patuxent River, MD 20670-5440
(301)757-1487
Primary Function: Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company
Unit Cost: $36 million
Propulsion: Four Allison T-56-A-14 turboprop engines (4,900 shaft horsepower each)
Length: 116 feet 7 inches (35.57 meters)
Wingspan: 99 feet 6 inches (30.36 meters)
Height: 33 feet 7 inches (10.27 meters)
Weight: Max gross take-off: 139,760 pounds (63,394.1 kg)
Speed: maximum - 411 knots (466 mph, 745 kmph); cruise - 328 knots (403 mph, 644 kmph)
Ceiling: 28,300 feet (8,625.84 meters)
Range:Maximum mission range - 2,380 nautical miles (2,738.9 miles);
for three hours on station @1,500 feet - 1,346 nautical miles (1,548.97 miles)
Crew: 22+
Shame they're closing it....Rota was nice. Went there once and the Navy treated us very well. I hope these guys like their new duty station.
Most naval bases are nice, but Rota used to be a sweet assignment.
I don't think the base will be shut down completely since MAC has increased it's presence, and the NSGA will still be there.
Whoa I just read that NSGA will be shutdown. Those spanish landlords have a rude awakening coming.
What is NSGA?
The message delivery by President Bush is underway!
Now it's the Germans turn to get squeezed.
Just so we make sure that nothing of use to the Spanish that was built with American dollars is left on the base....to include plumbing and sidewalks!
Too bad the govt is giving more business to the heavily demoncRAT side of the blue state of WA where Whidbey Island is located.
Naval Security Group Activity.
Naval Security Group Activity
Farewell and adieu all ye fair Spanish madiens,
Farewell and adieu all ye ladies of Spain,
For we have received orders to fly off to Whidbey,
And soon ne'er more shall ye spend our dollars, again.
lol!
The two counties near Whidbey are RED I believe.
Thanks....
And goodbye to the Mediterranean
I'm all misty eyed here.
Spent more than a few dets at NAS Rota.
Too many memoreys of the Hard Rock Cafe, and walking the beaches.
*wipes eyes with sleeve*
The Russians would rip up even the concrete.
Rota was one of the trans-Atlantic abort sites for the Space Shuttle. Will NASA still use it as such, or have they been shut down there, too?
Whoa! I just got one heckuva security alert protocal when I opened this!
Me too, after two tours there I'm happy to have a functioning liver.
Ellsworth needs to disappear. Sorry. Born and raised there.
Is it still an overpriced tourist trap? (I'll bet it's worse now.)
Awww. I guess it's a good move to reposition ourselves out of ungrateful nations. There was a detachment of VQ-2 at my old base and they were all very nice, very professional Sailors.
Good.
Now Seabee battalions will be sending the bulk of their deployed forces to Kuwait instead of Rota.
Calling up reserves to go to the M.E. while you send the main body of an active battalion to Rota doesn't make sense to me, grandiose armchair admiral that I am.
So did I...three times.
It's OK!
Good to hear. I've been watching my front door from the corner of my eye expecting some Naval security to kick down my door.
Good!
Don't tell them you were once a DemonicRat!!!
Not with plyers on my finger...not with hot needles shoved under my toe...not with acid drops to my eyes...Well, I'll hold out as long as I can before giving up that information. :-)
Bad, bad storms all week so for. Be back when it passes over us.
A move to add resources to the Pacific theatre.
These guys will probabably do training rotations to Japan and practice around Taiwan and NK.
I also received a Security Alert when I opened this. What's up?
Just a small point, but MAC (Military Airlift Command) changed its name to Air Mobility Command (AMC) in the early 90's.
At least I got the correct letters...
No idea, but when I marked the "continue box" it stopped showing up...
Ping!
There is a current multi-million dollar refurbishing program at Naval Station Rota that I haven't read/heard has been cancelled.
At the far end of the base, the Seabees have their base, and therefore, the Hospital, PX and other facilities, including the schools, were being remodeled.
I worked at building 333 inside the HFDF ring (Bullring) back in early eighties, and there is nothing like being stationed at Rota. Cadiz, Chipiona, Sevilla, Jerez - all that Sherry, all that good ice cream, ferias every weekend in some nearby town -I was very sad when they told me they had shut down the OSIS/OBU node and closed the building.
Yep, and everyone hung out together due to the lack of TV and phones. Tapas mmmmm....
Yupper. And I still remember the FOSIF ROTA clipboard with all the best places to go "tapa hopping" in Cadiz.
Ahhh, the memories.
Just moved - gotta go find my Sherry stash. Yeah, I still have some. I break open one bottle a year and remember.
Yo recuerdo mucho. Todo bueno. 'ta luego!
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