2001 War in Afghanistan

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

USS Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, operated in the Arabian Sea at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and launched carrier aircraft into Afghanistan during the opening U.S. strikes.

Weapon profileNimitz-class aircraft carrier
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleLong-Range StrikeReconnaissance & SurveillanceMobility & Logistics
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: Nimitz Flight Deck

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
USS Carl Vinson was operating in the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Enduring Freedom while launching aircraft for strikes in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.

Sources: DVIDS Carl Vinson Afghanistan Airstrike Image

VF-213, embarked on USS Carl Vinson, led first strikes into Afghanistan against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces on October 7, 2001.

Sources: VFA-213 Command History

VF-213's ten-week OEF period from USS Carl Vinson included sustained combat sorties, ordnance delivery, and TARPS reconnaissance.

Sources: VFA-213 Command History

The opening Operation Enduring Freedom air campaign included Navy strike aircraft from carriers attacking targets in Afghanistan.

Sources: Air Force OEF Five Years

Timeline

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. VF-213 embarks on USS Carl Vinson

    VF-213 embarked on USS Carl Vinson for a Western Pacific deployment before the September 11 attacks redirected the carrier toward Afghanistan-related operations.

    Sources: VFA-213 Command History

  2. Carrier aircraft join the opening Afghanistan strikes

    DVIDS identifies an F/A-18C Hornet prepared for launch from USS Carl Vinson in a strike against al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan.

    Sources: DVIDS Carl Vinson Afghanistan Airstrike Image

  3. VF-213 leads first strikes into Afghanistan

    The VFA-213 command history says the Blacklions led the first strikes into Afghanistan against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.

    Sources: VFA-213 Command History

  4. Ten-week combat period from USS Carl Vinson

    During ten weeks of OEF support, VF-213 flew more than 500 combat sorties and more than 2,600 combat flight hours, expended more than 400,000 pounds of ordnance, and provided TARPS reconnaissance.

    Sources: VFA-213 Command History

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, was documented operating in the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Enduring Freedom when an F/A-18C Hornet was prepared for launch from the carrier in an October 7, 2001 strike against al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan.

The Navy history for Strike Fighter Squadron 213 states that VF-213 had embarked on USS Carl Vinson in July 2001 and then led the first strikes into Afghanistan against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces on October 7, 2001. That record ties the Nimitz-class carrier deck to early strike, reconnaissance, and ordnance-delivery operations in the conflict.

Sources: DVIDS Carl Vinson Afghanistan Airstrike Image, VFA-213 Command History

Timeline

On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces opened Operation Enduring Freedom. Air Force reporting describes land-based bombers and Navy strike aircraft from carriers beginning attacks on al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military bases in Afghanistan shortly after 12:30 a.m. Eastern time.

During the following ten weeks, VF-213 flew from USS Carl Vinson in Operation Enduring Freedom. The squadron history credits it with more than 500 combat sorties, more than 2,600 combat flight hours, more than 400,000 pounds of ordnance expended, and reconnaissance support using TARPS pods.

Sources: Air Force OEF Five Years, VFA-213 Command History

Operational role

In the opening phase of the 2001 War in Afghanistan, the Nimitz-class contribution was a sea-based airfield role rather than a shore deployment. USS Carl Vinson supplied the launch-and-recovery platform for carrier aircraft striking targets in Afghanistan from the Arabian Sea, allowing U.S. naval aviation to participate in the first phase of the air campaign.

The directly documented aircraft and squadron records show several roles attached to the carrier: strike aircraft launched against Taliban and al-Qaeda military targets, VF-213 flew sustained combat sorties from the ship, and the squadron provided reconnaissance to theater commanders with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System missions.

Sources: DVIDS Carl Vinson Afghanistan Airstrike Image, VFA-213 Command History, Air Force OEF Five Years

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Sources