Following the announcement that the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will conduct a final deployment to South America, the possibility has emerged that the Argentine Navy may repeat the combined exercise Gringo–Gaucho in the coming months. The American warship will circumnavigate the American continent after departing from Naval Base Kitsap–Bremerton, Washington, bound for Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
During this voyage, the last for the aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68) may visit several ports in the region and carry out combined training with the navies of partner countries, repeating what was done by USS George Washington (CVN-73) during the Southern Seas 2024 deployment.
According to information reported by Stars and Stripes, a spokesperson for USS Nimitz explained that “…Nimitz will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility this spring as part of the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment…”. Lt. Cmdr. Peter Pagano added that the details of the new deployment, such as participating units and destinations, are still being developed.
Exercise Gringo–Gaucho
With the deployment of USS Nimitz to the waters of the South Atlantic, the possibility opens for the Argentine and U.S. navies to carry out a new edition of the Gringo–Gaucho exercise. The last time a U.S. capital ship trained in Argentine waters was in 2024, when the aircraft carrier USS George Washington took part.
The most recent Gringo–Gaucho exercise took place as part of Southern Seas 2024, the circumnavigation carried out by USS George Washington during its deployment to Japan, its new operational homeport. During the activities conducted with the Argentine Navy, the carrier participated with a reduced air wing composed of fifth-generation F-35C Lightning II fighters from squadron VFA-147 “Argonauts,” F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers from squadron VFA-103 “Jolly Rogers,” E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft from squadron VAW-116 “Sun Kings,” EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft from squadron VAQ-140 “Patriots,” as well as MH-60R Seahawk multi-purpose helicopters from squadron HSM-46 “Grandmasters” and MH-60S helicopters from squadron HSC-5 “Nightdippers.”
The carrier was accompanied by the Arleigh Burke Flight II-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) and a Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet oiler, specifically USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189).
In addition to the surface units, an aeronaval component also took part, with personnel and assets from the 1st Naval Helicopter Squadron (AS-555SN Fennec), the 2nd Naval Helicopter Squadron (SH/UH-3 Sea King), and the Naval Maritime Surveillance Squadron (B-200).
The Gringo–Gaucho exercise has been conducted on several occasions, taking advantage of the occasional transit of U.S. aircraft carriers through the South Atlantic. In 1990, the Argentine Navy trained twice with U.S. Navy carriers: in March with USS Constellation (CV-64), and in October with USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). In 1991 it was the turn of USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), while in 1993 the exercise was repeated with USS Constellation.
It would take 11 years before another U.S. Navy aircraft carrier trained with the Argentine Navy in the South Atlantic, when USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) did so in 2004. Four years later, USS George Washington (CVN-73) repeated the exercise. In 2010 it was the turn of USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The most recent edition took place in 2024 with the participation of USS George Washington.
USS Nimitz, the most veteran aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the first ship of the class that bears its name, which consists of ten vessels. Commissioned in May 1975 (and reclassified as CVN in June of that year), Nimitz became one of the largest warships in the world thanks to its displacement of more than 100,000 tons.
Throughout its 50 years of operational service, Nimitz has taken part in numerous deployments, supporting various conflicts in which the United States has been involved. In 2001 it underwent a major refueling and mid-life overhaul. Until a few weeks ago, Carrier Air Wing 17 operated from its flight deck, a unit that has since been reassigned to USS Ronald Reagan.
USS Nimitz is part of the living history of the U.S. Navy, having completed its 50 years of service within one of the most active naval forces in the world. Just months before beginning the decommissioning process, the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy is preparing for a new and final operational deployment, during which it will sail through the waters of the South Atlantic alongside ships of the Argentine Navy.
Illustrative cover image.
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