USS George Washington crosses into Chilean waters

[Judi Lynn]

Wednesday, June 5th 2024 - 09:34 UTC

Chile's Navy confirmed Tuesday through a posting on X that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington had crossed the Strait of Magellan into Pacific Ocean waters and was on her way to Valparaíso. Accompanying the vessel were the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) and the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet tanker USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189).

“The frigate Almirante Blanco Encalada carried out a Rendez Vous in the Strait of Magellan, with Carrier Strike Group No. 10, of the United States Navy, composed of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, the tanker USNS John Lenthall and the destroyer USS Porter,” wrote the Chilean Navy.

The M-class multipurpose frigate (FF-15) of the South American country was to escort the visiting convoy on their journey north for the joint Southern Seas 2024 maneuvers. The USS George Washington is due at Valparaíso on June 11, it was also reported.

The tenth version of the drill brings the US vessel through cooperation engagements with naval forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom, during which US officers get acquainted with the region while receiving instruction from US Naval War College professors aboard the carrier.

More:
https://en.mercopress.com/2024/06/05/uss-george-washington-crosses-into-chilean-waters

[captain queeg]

1. I was going to say I doubt a nuclear carrier passed thru those waters very often

Then I remember the big US carriers won’t fit thru the Panama Canal so it’s probably not that rare.