Rescue Ops

There appears to be a rescue operation underway.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was ordered Wednesday to make "best speed" to assist an injured sailor onboard a U.S. Navy submarine conducting operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mayport, Fla.-based USS Boone was also dispatched to aid the submariner.

The Bush was scheduled to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Wednesday after conducting training operations off the eastern coast of the U.S., while the Boone is already underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Navy says the sailor has a head injury and, according to the last medical assessment, appears to be stable.

According to one news report I read, a party for 2000 sailors had to be canceled as a result of this change. There is clearly an OPSEC issue involved here with the location of the submarine, but because we know USS Stout (DDG 55) deployed Wednesday morning for the Med, the Navy basically tells the whole world the submarine was operating in the South Atlantic off the west coast of Africa.

If we assume reasonable positions for the submarine and where USS Boone (FFG 28) was training, and both the frigate and submarine are making good speed, they will likely meet up in less than 2 days. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) could arrive about a day later, or sooner, depending upon how much they push the carrier.

Based on the information provided of a head injury and the reaction of the Navy to race two warships to the scene, while the sailor is in stable condition right now it does sound like the injury must be serious. Keep the anonymous sailor in your prayers tonight, based on what we can extrapolate from the information provided - it looks like the sailor could use those prayers.