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 Aug. 6, 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 Japan

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is at its homeport in Sasebo, Japan. Vice Adm. Rich Brown, commander Navy Surface Forces, visited Wasp on Aug. 1. During his first visit to Sasebo since taking command of SURFOR, Brown met with sailors and leadership from Amphibious Force 7th Fleet (CTF 76), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7, USS Patriot (MCM-7), USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and Ship’s Repair Force (SRF) – Sasebo Detachment.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and its strike group returned home to Yokosuka July 24 after a two-month patrol of the South China Sea, East China Sea and the Philippine Sea.

In the Western Pacific

The three-ship Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) left San Diego, Calif., on July 10 for an expected Western Pacific and Middle East deployment.

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23) and dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) deployed with F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211. The deployment is the first for Marine F-35s from the U.S., following a short float of the Japan-based “Green Knights” of VMFA-121 on the forward-deployed amphibious warship USS Wasp in March.

In the Middle Pacific

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is returning from Hawaii after the Aug. 2 completion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 exercise.

Hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2018 was led by U.S. Vice Adm. John D. Alexander, commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, who served as the combined task force (CTF) commander. Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. Bob Auchterlonie served as deputy commander of the CTF, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Hideyuki Oban was the vice commander. Fleet Marine Force was led by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Mark Hashimoto. Other key leaders of the multinational force included Commodore Pablo Niemann of Armada de Chile, who commanded the maritime component, and Air Commodore Craig Heap of the Royal Australian Air Force, who commanded the air component.

RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Participants include Australia, 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.

Additionally, for the first time since RIMPAC 2002, U.S. 3rd Fleet’s Command Center relocated from San Diego to Pearl Harbor to support command and control of all 3rd Fleet forces in 3rd Fleet’s area of responsibility, to include forces operating forward in the Western Pacific. The Fleet Command Center established at a deployable joint command and control on Hospital Point, Pearl Harbor, for the first part of the exercise

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.

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) with Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and embarked Marines participated in RIMPAC.

In the Eastern Pacific

USS Boxer (LHD-4) is underway in the Southern California Operating Area. USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), currently homeported in Bremerton, Wash., is in San Diego.

“Capt. Randall Peck relieved Capt. Gregory Huffman as commanding officer of the USS John C. Stennis Friday during a change of command ceremony in the aircraft carrier’s hangar bay while in port in San Diego,” read a report from The Kitsap Sun. “The Stennis is nearing the end of the carrier’s pre-deployment workup cycle. The carrier is expected to deploy some time this fall, but the Navy has not officially announced when the carrier will leave, where it will go or for how long it is expected to be underway.”

Following the deployment, the carrier will change homeports to San Diego.

In the Western Atlantic

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is underway conducting Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problems (TSTA/FEP). TSTA prepares the ship and crew for full integration into a carrier strike group through a wide range of mission-critical operations. USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) is underway in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas for routine readiness training.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to the United States and commenced offloading Marine squadrons and equipment of the 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) this past weekend in North Carolina. The Iwo Jima ARG, with the 26th MEU embarked, deployed Feb. 7 from Mayport, Fla. The ARG ships are expected to complete offloading 26th MEU Marines and equipment on Monday in Morehead City, N.C. and return to Mayport by the end of the week. The ARG includes USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7). USS New York (LPD-21), 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 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.