NORFOLK, Va. — The USNS Kanawha is returning home to Naval Station Norfolk on Wednesday morning after a nine-month deployment, officials said.
According to the Navy, the Combat Logistics Force (CLF) vessel operated in the United State's 5th and 6th Fleets' area of operations during its deployment.
"Steaming 55,539 nautical miles over the course of 264 days, Kanawha served as the sole replenishment oiler responsible for providing underway replenishment services to aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) Carrier Strike Group, which led the Navy's response against Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden," the Navy wrote in a news release.
The ship is scheduled to return at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Navy said.
The Kanawha is among the ships making up the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group that had its deployment extended multiple times. The Ike itself has not yet returned home, but last week the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason, another vessel in the carrier strike group, returned to its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.