USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 22, 2018

February 22, 2018 11:04 AM - Updated: February 27, 2018 1:36 PM
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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. 22, 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
39 41 70

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 5 1 20 16 52 94

In the Western Pacific

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Phillip Woods roves the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) as it arrives in Manila, the Philippines on Feb. 16, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the South China Sea. The Carl Vinson Strike Group departed Manila, Philippines, Feb. 20, completing a four-day port call.

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 that 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 the end of the Vietnam War.

Carrier Strike Group 1

An E-2C Hawkeye from the “Black Eagles” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 prepares to make an arrested landing aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Feb. 13, 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.

The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is underway for a regularly scheduled patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Bonhomme Richard ESG is in Thailand to conduct exercise Cobra Gold 18.

In the Middle Pacific

Sailors assigned to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG-105) render honors as the ship comes alongside the USS Pearl Harbor Memorial on Feb. 16, 2018. US Navy

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG-104) and USS Dewey (DDG-105) and their embarked helicopter detachments arrived in Pearl Harbor for a routine port visit, Feb. 16.

The destroyers are on a scheduled deployment to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region and will support the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) to advance U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Up-Gunned expeditionary strike group action group concept. USS Wasp (LHD-1), forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, has the capability to land and launch the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, a key element to the Up-Gunned ESG concept. Both destroyers are homeported in San Diego, Calif.

In the Persian Gulf

An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Cougars of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Feb. 21, 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

Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Benjamin Hochanadel, assigned to the Indians of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, adjusts the trim tabs of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Feb. 18, 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 Middle Atlantic

Lance Cpl. Christopher Lang, assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit during a live-fire exercise on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). Feb. 19, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are now in the middle Atlantic and have chopped into U.S. 6th Fleet and European Command Area of Responsibility deployed on Feb. 7 from Mayport, Florida. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) includes amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD-21), dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 and FST-4, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, components of Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 and the embarked staff of Amphibious Squadron 4.

In the Western Atlantic

An M240B machine gun shoots tracer rounds at a target during a live fire exercise aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Feb. 17, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Truman Carrier Strike Group is underway Feb. 3 for composite training unit exercise, known as COMPTUEX, a month-long exercise designed to integrate the units of the strike group and test their ability to carry out combat operations at sea. Ships and air squadrons will be tested in areas such as air warfare, strait transits, and responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks.

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

Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F 311), right, and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) transit the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. US Navy Photo

Carrier:

  • USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Air Wing:
Carrier Air Wing One, embarked on Harry S. Truman

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)

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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