Mom Follows the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

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"Bully the Moose" (Sagamore), TR Mascot
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71); Stock file photo (USN) undated.
The US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is nothing short of a floating airport, capable of launching four war planes every minute from its 4.5 acre flight deck.
None of the air strikes on Afghanistan would be happening without in-flight refuelling.

US Navy jets have a limited range. The "combat radius" of even the latest version of the F/A-18, for instance, is only about 450 miles (720 km) with four 1,000 lb (453 kg) bombs, the standard two Sidewinder missiles for self-defence, navigation and targeting equipment and two 480 gallon (400 imperial, 1,818 litre) external tanks.
The nearest targets in Afghanistan might be at least 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away from the US Navy aircraft carriers. The F-14 and F/A-18 planes are in the air for seven or eight hours and need refuelling at least four times during every sortie.

Land-based fighter-bombers have similar limitations.
Even for the long-range bombers, refuelling is essential. A big B-52 has a nominal range of well over 8,000 miles (12,870 km) - but once it is carrying a bomb load this reduces dramatically.
So bombers flying from the United States to attack Afghanistan also have to refuel several times on the way out and back.
 The bizarre, jagged-triangle shape of the new B-2 long-range bomber is part of its "stealth" design, which uses various technologies to minimise its appearance to enemy radar.
Where previously bomber crews have had to train to fly very low to try to evade enemy radar detection, the idea behind the four-engine B-2 is that its stealth allows it to operate at high altitude.
FILE - A B-2 Spirit is seen during a training exercise near McGuire Airforce Base, N.J., in this March 23, 2001 file photo. The U.S.-led bombing campaign in Afghanistan, scaled back slightly on Monday in a second round of air-and sea-launched attacks, has been at least modestly successful against its first set of targets, senior Pentagon officials said Monday, Oct. 8, 2001. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Gary Ell)
The B-1B - the original B-1A project was cancelled - went into operational use in the mid-1980s but was not used in anger until December 1998, against Iraq.
Each of the 51 aircraft in active military service cost more than $200m to build.
FILE--B-1B Lancer's soar over Wyoming in this undated file photo. The U.S.-led bombing campaign in Afghanistan,scaled back slightly on Monday, Oct. 8, 2001 in a second round of air-and sea-launched attacks, has been at least modestly successful against its first set of targets, senior Pentagon officials said Monday. Ten long-range bombers,including B-2 stealth bombers and B-1B's, joined strike planes launched from aircraft carriers in the Arabian Sea.
(Tue Oct 9,12:33 AM ET AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Steve Thurow,HO)
FILE--A B-1B Lancer drops cluster munitions in this undated file photo, location unknown. The U.S.-led bombing campaign in Afghanistan, scaled back slightly on Monday, Oct. 8, 2001 in a second round of air- and sea-launched attacks, has been at least modestly successful against its first set of targets, senior Pentagon officials said Monday. Ten long-range bombers, including B-2 stealth bombers and B-1B's, joined strike planes launched from aircraft carriers in the Arabian Sea. (Tue Oct 9,12:30 AM ET AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, HO)
In the early morning mist of October 13, 2001, the USS aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt sails through the Suez Canal heading south into the Red Sea on its way to the Persian Gulf. The carrier is part of the United States' largest military buildup since the Gulf War. (Aladin Abdel Naby/Reuters)

The U.S. Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is seen slowly transiting the Suez Canal, in this October 13, 2001 photo, after leaving the Mediterranean Sea. Roosevelt currently on a scheduled deployment is slated to replace the USS Enterprise currently supporting strikes into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. REUTERS/Brad Garner/U.S. Navy/HO

Aviation Ordnancemen prepare AIM 9 "Sidewinder" short range, and AIM 7 "Sparrow" medium range air-to-air missiles for transfer from the ships hanger bay to the flight deck above on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) October 14, 2001. Roosevelt and her embarked carrier air wing have joined other Navy carrier battle groups to support Operation Enduring Freedom. REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Jason Scarborough

An aviation ordnanceman pushes a 2,000 pound GBU-10 laser-guided bomb through the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt October 17, 2001. The Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier airwing are conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Johnny Bivera/US Navy via Reuters)

In this handout photo from the U.S. Navy made available Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001, aircraft stand ready for missions over Afghanistan on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Jason Scarborough
EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--U.S. Navy ordnance men attach ordnance to an F/A-18 fighter, Friday, Oct. 19, 2001, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. Aircraft from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have flown numerous missions over Afghanistan and are ready to support ground troops, according to the ship's captain. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS-- A Navy security officer uses a monitoring device to check mail for Anthrax and explosives Friday, Oct. 19, 2001, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the ships involved in the attacks in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

A page layout for a newly edited Pearson Education textbook is shown Oct. 19, 2001, at Pearson's facility in Upper Saddle River, N.J., featuring an Associated Press photo made by Thomas E. Franklin, of The Record, showing firefighters raising an American flag Sept. 11 at the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Since Sept. 11, textbook publishers have scrambled to revise their books to include references to the terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/David Bergeland)
RETRANSMITTED TO CORRECT DATE OF PHOTO FROM SAT. OCT 21 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 21; EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Flight deck crewman of the USS Theodore Roosevelt look on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, as attacks are launched against targets in Afghanistan. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is one of the many American ships operating in the Arabian Sea in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom." (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

RETRANSMITTED TO CORRECT DATE OF PHOTO FROM SAT. OCT 21 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 21; EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Ammunition is loaded into a U.S. Navy F/A18 plane during flight deck operations Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, aboard the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
The Hornet is the US Navy's main carrier-borne strike aircraft - and is flown by the Blue Angels display squadron.
It was designed from the outset to be capable of multiple roles - as an air-to-air fighter, or for ground attack or reconnaissance. A key goal was "big R little m" - high reliability and low maintenance.

--EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--U.S. Navy Capt. Richard, right, chats with other officers from the bridge of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001. The Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier, is one of the ships involved in the attacks in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Seaman Estrada, of Augusta, Ga., stands watch aboard the American aircraft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, in the Arabian Sea. Estrada, a single mother, said she misses her 2-year-old daughter but is proud to work as a deckhand, responsible for some of the Navy's most menial jobs, including painting, cleaning and maintaining the ship. The military prohibits crew members on the ships involved in the attacks on Afghanistan from using their full names, a measure it says is meant to protect their families from possible retaliation back home.(AP Photo/David Longstreath)

RETRANSMITTED TO CORRECT DATE OF PHOTO FROM SAT. OCT 21 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 21--EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--A U.S. Navy Ordnance man attaches a 2000 pound bomb to an F/A18 plane Saturday Oct. 21, 2001, aboard the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

RETRANSMITTED TO CORRECT DATE OF PHOTO FROM SAT. OCT 21 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 21; EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--U.S. Navy ordnance handlers move a 2000 pound bomb on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, in preparation for a strike against targets in Afghanistan. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

RETRANSMITTED TO CORRECT DATE OF PHOTO FROM SAT. OCT 21 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 21; EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS-A U.S. Navy Ordinance man checks a 2000 pound bomb as it is fitted to an F/A18 warplane Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, aboard the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Two unidentified U.S. Navy pilots talk after landing on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea Monday, Oct. 22, 2001. The pilots were returning from a strike mission in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--An F14 takes off from the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Monday, Oct. 22, 2001. The Roosevelt is one of many American warships operating in the Arabian Sea in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom." (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Steam rises from the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as an F14 is prepared for launch Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of many American warships involved in the attacks in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--A U.S. Navy flightdeck plane handler sits atop an F/A18 during flight deck operations Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

--EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--Two U.S. Navy flightdeck crewmembers relay information during operations Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, aboard the American aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--A U.S. Navy E2C Hawkeye prepares to land on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, in the Arabian Sea. The Roosevelt is one of the many ships involved in the attacks in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

EDS NOTE: PICTURE MAY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AS IT WAS SENT VIA NAVY COMMUNICATIONS--U.S. Navy Ordnance men transport weapons Monday, Oct. 22, 2001, during flight deck operations aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
(AP Digital)  October 22, 2001 - A photograph left behind by 100 U.S. Army Rangers and special forces operatives during a weekend raid in Afghanistan -- showing three weary, dust-covered firefighters raising the American flag over the World Trade Center wreckage -- appears to be one taken by a photographer for The Record of Hackensack, N.J., the day of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Jet prepares to land on USS Theodore Roosevelt
Photo: U.S. Navy
F-14 Tomcat prepares to land on USS Theodore Roosevelt
Photo: Courtesy U.S. Navy
Theodore Roosevelt crew defending America's interests
Oct. 23, 2001
Walk softly and carry a big stick, the man once said.
The pilots from USS Theodore Roosevelt have done just that. Night after night after night since arriving last week in the Arabian Sea.
The terrorist attacks against America are never far from their minds.
"I felt as a man who spent his whole life protecting his country, that I had failed somewhere along the line and not doing it and that caused me a lot of pain. But yes, I think we're doing the right thing and I'm feeling very good about getting an opportunity to strike back," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Squeeze.
"I can't really do anything to bring those people back, but we are getting to participate in striking against the people who are responsible for doing that. So that's a good feeling," noted F-14 Tomcat pilot Lt. Matt.
As if the chilling images from September 11 attacks didn't provide enough motivation, perhaps some words from the ship's namesake will. President Roosevelt said, "We are face to face with destiny and we must meet it with high and resolute courage."
Despite some criticism that the air strikes are hurting innocent civilians in Afghanistan, the aviators say they're doing their best to limit collateral damage. "We just need to be extremely careful what you're aiming for. One night, I elected not to drop anything just because we couldn't be sure where the target was. So we just brought everything back," said F/A 18 pilot Capt. Simon.
"We do our best to manage the risk, but there's always risk inherent when you go to war," said RADM Mark Fitzgerald, TR Battle Group Commander.
For now, the air strikes continue with no let up in sight. Secretary of State Colin Powell is suggesting U.S. military operations could continue through the Muslim holy days of Ramadan, which start in mid-November.