USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 5, 2018

February 5, 2018 11:52 AM - Updated: February 6, 2018 5:26 AM
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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 Feb. 5, 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 34 72

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 5 0 20 14 54 93

In San Diego

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jesse Soto holds his newborn child for the first time during the homecoming of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Feb. 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) – which deployed July 10, 2017, from San Diego – returned home on Friday.

U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned home from deployment aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton on Jan. 31, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

“USS America (LHA-6), leading the 4,500-member, three-ship America Amphibious Ready Group, pulled into its berth at San Diego Naval Base on a sun-splashed morning,” reported USNI News.
“The America ARG included amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD-22) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52), both based in San Diego, along with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 and detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1 and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11.”

In the Western Pacific

Lt. j.g. Matt Vega, assigned to the “Black Eagles” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, performs in-flight equipment checks aboard an E-2C Hawkeye 2000 on Jan. 27, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet. The strike group just visited Guam.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is in the Western Pacific at a time the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), is moored in its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, for a planned maintenance period Navy officials say is expected to last a couple of months.

Plans are in works for a U.S. aircraft carrier to make a port call in Vietnam for the first time since end of the Vietnam War.

Carrier Strike Group 1

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulls into Apra Harbor, Guam for a port visit on Jan. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

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.

Carrier Ronald Reagan is in port in Yokosuka, Japan, for a maintenance availability.

USS Wasp (LHD-1) is pierside in Sasebo, Japan.

Marine Sgt. Dakota Moist, assigned to the “Gunfighters” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369, removes a tow wheel from an UH-1Y Huey helicopter on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on Jan. 30, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is underway for a regularly scheduled patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The Bonhomme Richard ESG is expected to take part in exercise Cobra Gold 2018 in Thailand.

In the Persian Gulf

Seaman Gabriel Fox directs other Sailors on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during a fueling-at-sea on Feb. 1, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the Persian Gulf. The CSG has been 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.

Carrier Strike Group 9

A Bahrain coast guard vessel assists sailors assigned to Commander, Task Group (TG) 56.7, in high-value asset protection of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) as it transits to Khalifa Bin Salman port, Bahrain on Jan. 26, 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 the Western Atlantic

Sailors assigned to the “Knighthawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 conduct maintenance on an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the “Fighting Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211, in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Feb. 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Truman Carrier Strike Group got underway on Thursday for a major pre-deployment exercise. The composite training unit exercise, known as COMPTUEX, is a month-long exercise designed to integrate the units of the strike group, while testing their ability to carry out combat operations at sea. Ships and air squadrons will be tested in areas such as air warfare, strait transits, as well as responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks.

“COMPTUEX tests our ability to combine all units and capabilities within the strike group into a cohesive, multi-mission fighting force that can perform sustained combat operations at sea,” Rear Adm. Gene Black, commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, said in a statement. “Performing this critical evolution now, before deployment, allows our strike group to find out its strengths, but more importantly to pinpoint where we can better integrate as a team.”

COMPTUEX is the final stage of pre-deployment workups for the strike group.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) departs Naval Station Norfolk on Jan. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

Carrier:

  • USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Air Wing:
Carrier Air Wing One

Staffs
Carrier Strike Group 8 and Destroyer Squadron 28

Guided-missile destroyers: 

  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51)
  • USS Bulkeley (DDG 84)
  • USS The Sullivans (DDG-68)
  • USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)
  • USS Farragut (DDG-99)
  • USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109)
  • USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98)

Guided-missile cruiser: 

  • USS Normandy (CG-60) homeported in Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Allied Ships

  • Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F 311)
  • German Navy frigate FGS Hessen (F 221)
An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the “Dragon Whales” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 prepares to take off as an F/A-18F Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Jan. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is underway – operating in the Virginia Capes.

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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