Gonzo Station
| Gulf of Oman Naval Zone of Operations | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1979-1990 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Part of | Commander, Middle East Force |
Gonzo Station was a U.S. Navy acronym for "Gulf of Oman Naval Zone of Operations" or "Gulf of Oman Northern Zone."[1] It was used to designate an area of carrier-based naval operations by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in the Indian Ocean during the 1979-1981 Iranian Hostage Crisis and the so-called Tanker War between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Multiple aircraft carriers, their associated air wings and carrier battle groups, and associated sea-based and land-based task forces and task groups served on Gonzo Station. The USS Midway (CV-41) initiated the longest at-sea record for any U.S. warship since World War II by being at-sea for 93 consecutive days. It was the first on-scene carrier at the beginning of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, followed shortly thereafter by USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), with both carriers executing simultaneous air operations and carrier presence in the vicinity of one another off the southern coast of Iran and for which the crews of both carriers (ship's company, air wing, carrier group staff) received the Navy Expeditionary Medal.
USS Nimitz (CV-68) exceeded the USS Midway's record at sea days in May 1980 with 144 days at sea – for which the crew also received the Navy Expeditionary Medal. In 1984 the USS Midway was on station for 111 days. Subsequent deployments by other carriers (USS America (CV-66), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), et al.) dwindled the earlier records with over 180 days, or 6 months on-station.
Several U.S. Navy carriers from both the Atlantic Fleet and Pacific Fleet served repeated deployments to/on Gonzo Station, including the USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Midway (CV-41), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS America (CV-66), USS Independence (CV-62), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Constellation (CV-64), USS Coral Sea (CV-43), USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). While replenishment ships normally rotated on and off line in order to resupply, USS Roanoke (AOR-7) served in formation 180 days, and USS Shasta (AE-33) served in formation for 78 days.
In 1980, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) served 315 days of deployed sea time with a consecutive 154-day line period (Jul 1980 - Dec 1980). This was the largest American Fleet dispatched to the Indian Ocean since World War II.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles that Shaped American History," Symonds, Craig L., Oxford Univ Press; New York, NY; c2005, p.275
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