USS Enterprise to deploy without ex-commander

January 13, 2011 at 9:48a.m.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The new commander of the USS Enterprise says his crew is ready to deploy despite the abrupt firing of the aircraft carrier’s former commander.

Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne spoke to reporters Thursday less than two hours before the nuclear-powered Enterprise was to leave Norfolk for deployment to support troops in Afghanistan.

Mewbourne says he talked to the crew about the Enterprise’s former commander, Capt. Owen Honors. He says they didn’t like the circumstances of the change in command but they’re now focused on the future.

The Navy is investigating bawdy, sexually themed videos Honors produced and showed to crew members in 2006 and 2007.