USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 11, 2018

June 11, 2018 11:39 AM - Updated: July 3, 2018 10:27 AM
USNI News Graphic

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 June 11, 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:

283

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
45 18 63

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
1 1 0 15 24 47 88

In the Mediterranean Sea

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jason Maginess inspects ordnance prior to launch of an F/A-18 Super Hornet aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on June 10, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has resumed strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, launching fighters from the Mediterranean Sea, the Navy announced on Monday.

“Bringing the Harry S. Truman strike group back into the fight against ISIS sends a powerful message to our partners that we are committed to peace and security in the region, and anywhere threatened by international terrorism,” Rear Adm. Gene Black, commander of the Harry S. Truman CSG, said in a Monday statement.
“Once again we demonstrate the incredible flexibility and capabilities of a carrier strike group; we are combat-proven and ready to answer the call anytime and anywhere to carry out any mission we are directed.”

Last week, elements of Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) supported the ongoing BALTOPs exercise in the Baltic Sea.

Flight operations over Europe from the Adriatic Sea “represented the first instance that U.S. carrier aircraft have participated in the exercise, which began in 1972 and is now in its 46th year,” according to a U.S. 6th Fleet statement.
“F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter aircraft and E/A-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft joined aircraft from Poland, Spain and U.S. Air Forces Europe to demonstrate the ability to perform combined air operations while communicating and coordinating effectively.”

Carrier Strike Group 8

Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Christian Rivera, left, and Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Justin Swager, assigned to the “Knighthawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, conduct maintenance on an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on June 6, 2018. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier:
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

An EA-18G Growler assigned to the “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2018 on June 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

CVW 1 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and includes nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Checkmates” of VFA-211 from Naval Air Station Oceania, Va.
  • The “Sunliners” of VFA-81 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Knighthawks” of VFA-136 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Seahawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Dragon Slayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 72) from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Destroyer Squadron 28

The leadership of DESRON 28 is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and commands the CSG’s guided-missile destroyers.

  • USS Farragut (DDG-99), homeported in Mayport, Fla.
  • USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

The Sachsen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) is also operating as part of the strike group during the first half of the deployment.

USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) deployed from Mayport, Fla., on May 26 and fired a Standard Missile (SM-2) for training on May 28 in the Virginia CapesThe Sullivans and USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) will join the Truman CSG in theater.

Guided-missile Cruiser
USS Normandy (CG-60), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

In the Baltic Sea

Thirty maritime unit ships from 12 nations maneuver in close formation for a photo exercise during Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2018 in the Baltic Sea on June 9, 2018. US Navy Photo

Dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) and components of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are participating in BALTOPS 2018. U.S. 6th Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) is also part of the 46th annual iteration of the exercise.

Running until June 15
, “BALTOPS is an annual joint, multinational maritime-focused exercise. It is designed to improve training value for participants enhance flexibility and interoperability, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner forces in defending the Baltic Sea region,” according to the Navy.
“The exercise will involve maritime, ground, and air forces so as to strengthen combined response capabilities necessary to ensure regional stability.”

Participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S.

Members of the Romanian 307th Naval Infantry Regiment carry a combat rubber raiding craft into the well deck of the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) during a joint personnel recovery exercise for exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2018 on June 8. US Navy Photo

More than 60 aircraft, 42 ships and a submarine, and a combined amphibious landing force are scheduled to participate in BALTOPS 2018.

In Japan

USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) arrives in Yokosuka, Japan as part of goodwill port visit on June 10, 2018. US Navy Photo

Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, on June 10.

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

Midshipmen observe flight operations on the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), during their summer cruise on June 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is participating in Malabar 2018 exercise.

“This is the first year Guam is hosting the annual exercise in which participants will practice surface and anti-submarine warfare operations, combined carrier strike group operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations, and visit, board, search, and seizure operations,” according to a Navy statement.

USNI News reported last week, that, “while not mentioned in any public statements released by the Malabar participants, the recent activities of China, notably its program of building artificial islands in the South China Sea and sending submarines into the Indian Ocean, loom over the exercise.”

The Reagan CSG departed Yokosuka, Japan, on May 29.

Carrier Strike Group 5

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) transits the Philippine Sea during a routine patrol on June 2, 2018. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier:
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan

Carrier Air Wing 5

Sailors receive pallets on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) during a replenishment-at-sea with the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) on June 4, 2018. US Navy Photo

CVW 5, based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan, is embarked aboard Ronald Reagan and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Royal Maces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Diamondbacks” of VFA-102 from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Eagles” of VFA-115 from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Dambusters” of VFA-195 from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Tiger Tails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  • The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan
  • The “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan
  • The “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan

Destroyer Squadron 15

Seaman Bethany Paval, from Sacramento, Calif., fires a .50-caliber machine gun during a weapons qualification course aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89). US Navy Photo

DESRON 15 leadership is embarked aboard Ronald Reagan and commands the strike group’s guided-missile destroyers. Reagan is employing part of the squadron, which also deploys for other missions in the region.

  • USS Mustin (DDG-89), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan

Guided-missile Cruisers

  • USS Antietam (CG-54), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan
  • USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan

In the Gulf of Aden

Lt. Bond Robinson, aircraft commander of an MH-60S Knight Hawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) on June 8, 2018. US Navy Photo

The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is operating in the Gulf of Aden. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has been operating in a disaggregated manner in the last several weeks, with some units in the Mediterranean Sea, some in the Red Sea and some in the Baltic Sea. The ARG recently celebrated its halfway completion of deployment.

The Iwo Jima ARG with the 26th MEU deployed on Feb. 7 from Mayport, Fla. The ARG includes Iwo Jima, Oak Hill, amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD-21), 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 (PHIBRON) 4.

In the Western Atlantic

Sailors man a P-25 firetruck during night flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on June 6, 2018. US Navy Photo

USS George H. W. Bush  (CVN-77) is currently in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas for training.

USS Kearsarge (LHD-4) is at U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle located in Colts Neck, N.J. loading aboard ammunition ahead of a planned exercise.

Undated photo of NWS Earle’s finger piers. US Navy Photo

NWS Earle was commissioned in late 1943. The waterfront complex and the pier stretch almost three miles into the Sandy Hook Bay. The station’s pier complex is one of the longest “finger piers” in the world. At the junction of Piers 2, 3 and 4 a concrete platform supports the port operations building and a few other structures known as the “wye.”

In the Eastern Pacific

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller speaks to Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during a town hall aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) on June 9, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

The Essex ARG/13th MEU is underway for its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final exercise before the units’ upcoming deployment. This exercise validates the ARG/MEU team’s ability to adapt and execute missions in ever-changing, unknown environments. Upon completion of COMPTUEX, the 13th MEU and Essex ARG will be certified to deploy.

Last week, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller visited USS Essex (LHD-2) and addressed 13th MEU Marines.

Essex ARG and 13th MEU will conduct the first-ever West Coast deployment of the Marine variant of the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. In March, the Marine F-35Bs deployed from the Japan-based USS Wasp (LHD-1).

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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