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 25, 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:

284

Ships Underway

Ships Deployed by Fleet

In the Mediterranean Sea

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) arrived in Marseille, France, on June 21.
The Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has been operating in the Mediterranean since mid-April in support of anti-Islamic State airstrikes as part of the ongoing Operation Inherent Resolve.

Carrier Strike Group 8

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

Carrier Air Wing 1

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 USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) deployed from its Norfolk, Va., homeport on June 2. The two destroyers will join the Truman CSG in theater.

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

In the Baltic and Kiel, Germany

Three U.S. warships completed participation in the Kiel Week 2018 maritime festival last week.

Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) and guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and USS James E. Williams (DDG-95) joined in the event following the 2018 BALTOPS exercise that concluded earlier in June.

In the Persian Gulf

The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) entered the Persian Gulf in mid-June. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is operating in a disaggregated manner, with some units in the Baltic Sea, some in the Mediterranean Sea and some in the Persian Gulf. The ARG recently celebrated its halfway completion of deployment.

The Iwo Jima ARG with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (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

The Kearsarge ARG left last week to conduct a major training exercise overseen by the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC).

USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Arlington (LPD-24) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) are conducting the first East Coast ARG Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise.

“The training focuses on advanced tactics at sea to improve warfighting proficiency, lethality, and ship interoperability before entering the integrated phase of training, prior to deployment,” according to the Navy.
“The event typically takes place prior to full amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit integration training, known as PMINT. The exercise provides focused training in a number of specific warfare areas including anti-submarine warfare/surface warfare, integrated air and missile defense, amphibious warfare, mine warfare, and information warfare.”

The exercise participants include Amphibious Squadron 6, 22nd MEU, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 detachment 4 and Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21.

In the Western Pacific

Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) departed Japan on June 21. The departure marked the conclusion of Pacific Partnership 2018. Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

The Ronald Reagan CSG completed the Malabar 2018 exercise off of Guam on June 16 and is underway in the Philippine Sea. The CSG departed Yokosuka, Japan, on May 29.

Carrier Strike Group 5

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

Carrier Air Wing 5

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

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 Middle Pacific

Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) departed California on June 18 and is en route to Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 exercise.

“RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Participants this year include forces from Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam,” according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
“Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating for the first time.”

Last month, the Pentagon announced China would be disinvited to participate in the exercise over its actions in the South China Sea, reported USNI News.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 is embarked on Carl Vinson for the exercise and includes nine squadrons and detachments.

Carrier Air Wing 2

• The “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
• The “Kestrels” of VFA-137 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 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” Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 Detachment 2 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 HSM 78 – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

In the Eastern Pacific

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is underway for pre-deployment training.

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.