NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Thousands of sailors from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deployed Wednesday.
Nearly 6,500 are on board the deploying ships which include USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW), the USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and USS Farragut (DDG 99).
The Sachsen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) also is operating as part of the strike group during the first half of the deployment.
U.S. Navy officials said the Hessen is the only type of ship in the Western world with three kinds of surface-to-air missiles. Its radar has a detection range of more than 200 nautical miles for air targets. The U.S. military often trains and deploys with NATO allies and other partner nations.
Guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) are slated to deploy from their homeports and rejoin the strike group at a future date.
The strike group will operate in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts alongside allies and partners. That are covers the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, Europe, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
PHOTOS: USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deploys
The Associated Press contributed to this report.