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. 16, 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

Ships Deployed by Fleet

In the Eastern Pacific

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is headed west after completing final air wing qualifications in the Southern California operating areas. The Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 were delayed in getting aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-71) from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., due to severe weather in Hampton Roads in early January.

Vinson departed the West Coast on Jan. 4 for a deployment to the Western Pacific – the strike group’s second consecutive Western Pacific 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.

Some press reports indicate the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group will operate in the vicinity of Korea for the Winter Olympics.

Carrier Strike Group 1

Aircraft carrier:
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), 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.

Amphibious warship USS Essex (LHD-2) is underway for training off the coast of Southern California.

In the Western Pacific

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) – which deployed on July 10 from San Diego, Calif. – is headed east from Hawaii for the final push home.

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

USS Wasp (LHD-1) “arrived in Japan on Sunday after a 28,400 mile journey that started in Norfolk in late August,” according to WTKR.
“Wasp left Norfolk on Aug. 30 to become the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in the 7th Fleet, relieving USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).”

Bonhomme Richard is underway off Japan. Now that Wasp is in Japan, Bonhomme Richard is expected to depart soon to return to the Unites States.

In the Persian Gulf

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

Carrier Strike Group 9

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 the Western Atlantic

USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78) has been underway since Jan. 10 conducting training off the East Coast in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas.

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.