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 March 26, 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:
282
Ships Underway
Deployed Ships Underway | Non-deployed Ships Underway | Total Ships Underway |
57 | 29 | 86 |
Ships Deployed by Fleet
Fleet Forces | 3rd Fleet | 4th Fleet | 5th Fleet | 6th Fleet | 7th Fleet | Total |
0 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 18 | 51 | 97 |
In the Western Pacific
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group continues operations in the Sea of Japan.
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.
Carrier Strike Group 1
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.
Ronald Reagan is in port in Yokosuka, Japan, for a maintenance availability that began in January.
Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) with Marines and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked is preparing to begin Exercise Foal Eagle starting on April 1.
The 31st MEU is the first Marine unit to be operationally deployed with F-35B short take-off/vertical landing jets. The aircraft, with the Green Knights of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 are currently deployed with the Wasp ARG.
Wasp, USS Ashland (LSD-48) and USS Green Bay (LPD-20) make up the core Wasp ARG.
USS Sterett (DDG-104) and USS Dewey (DDG-105) are on a scheduled deployment to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region. They will also support the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in order to advance U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Up-Gunned ESG concept and will train with forward-deployed amphibious ships across all mission areas.
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) made a port call in White Beach, Okinawa, on March 22.
As part of Pacific Partnership 2018, USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) made a brief stop in Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands, which are part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
In the North Arabian Sea
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group just conducted a southbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz and is now in the North Arabian Sea.
“Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier strike group are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region,” read a statement from the service.
USNI News visited the strike group earlier this month and learned how the CSG is training for a high-end conflict as part of its deployment.
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 Mediterranean Sea
USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is in port in Limassol, Cyprus. USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) visited Batumi, Georgia, from March 17 to 20 has now departed the Black Sea.
The ARG which deployed on Feb. 7 from Mayport, Fla., 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
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are both underway 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.