USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 8, 2018

January 8, 2018 1:09 PM
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The USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker is sponsored by CNA.
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 8, 2018, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the map reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:

280

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
38 7 45

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 1 3 20 13 58 95

In the Eastern Pacific

U.S. Navy Sailors aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) man the rails as the ship departs its homeport of San Diego on Jan. 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed the West Coast on Jan. 4 for a deployment to the Western Pacific, with this being the strike group’s second consecutive WESTPAC deployment under U.S. 3rd Fleet command.

The Navy began a 3rd Fleet Forward deployment concept in 2016, where the ships would remain under 3rd Fleet command and control during the entire deployment instead of switching to U.S. 7th Fleet command after crossing the international dateline. The idea was to allow 7th Fleet to focus on ships in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Japan – with a particular eye on potential missions near the Korean Peninsula – while 3rd Fleet controlled partnership-building exercises, humanitarian assistance missions and other missions elsewhere in the Pacific.

Carrier Strike Group 1

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 flies by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Nov. 12, 2017. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier:
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-71), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 2

CVW 2 is embarked aboard Carl Vinson and includes nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 2 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34 from Naval Air Station Oceania, Va.
  • The “Kestrels” of VFA-137 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Black Eagles” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
  • The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 78) from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 1
The leadership of DESRON 1 is embarked aboard Carl Vinson and commands the CSG’s guided-missile destroyers.

  • USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), homeported in San Diego, Calif.
  • USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Guided-missile Cruiser
USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

In the Western Pacific

Aerographers Mate Airman Benjamin Hawley takes a windage reading from a handheld anemometer aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on Jan. 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

USS Bonhomme Richard is in Sasebo, Japan.

The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) – which deployed July 10, 2017, from San Diego – is in Guam, among its final stops before returning home from its maiden deployment.

The ARG includes amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) and amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD-22).

Sailors assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) heave around a mooring line in preparation to get underway from Singapore on Jan. 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

USS Wasp (LHD-1) has now chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet. Wasp is transiting to Sasebo, Japan, to conduct a homeport shift with USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) as the flagship of amphibious forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. When Wasp joins the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Japan, the big-deck will be the first FDNF ship capable of operating the Marine variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

In the Persian Gulf

Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) Airman Apprentice Timothy McDaniel cleans the inside of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the Mighty Shrikes of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 94, in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Jan. 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is conducting air strikes in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The U.S. airstrikes also intend to maintain pressure on the Taliban throughout the winter period in Afghanistan.

Carrier Strike Group 9

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Nathan Herbert signals to raise an aircraft elevator to the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Jan. 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier:
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 17
CVW 17 is embarked aboard Theodore Roosevelt and includes nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Stingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA-94 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Redcocks” of VFA-22 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Checkerboards” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
  • The “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Sun Kings” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
  • The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Battlecats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 23
The leadership of DESRON 23 is embarked aboard Theodore Roosevelt and commands the CSG’s guided-missile destroyers.

  • USS Sampson (DDG-102), homeported in Everett, Wash.
  • USS Preble (DDG-88), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
  • USS Halsey (DDG-97), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Guided-missile Cruiser
USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are thousands of others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Coast Guard cutters and more serving throughout the globe.

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