These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Oct. 29, 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:

286

Ships Deployed by Fleet

In the Western Pacific

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the Philippine Sea.
Carrier Air Wing 5 is embarked on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG-54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) are underway with Reagan, along with other ships with the U.S. Forward Deployed Naval Force in 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

The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is underway in the East China Sea. The ESG includes the amphibious warships USS Wasp (LHD-1), San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48).

In the Persian Gulf

The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is underway in the Persian Gulf. The ARG includes Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), USS Anchorage (LPD-23) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47), along with the embarked 13th MEU.

The ARG has been operating in a disaggregated fashion. Anchorage has been operating in the Mediterranean Sea in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, while Essex and Rushmore have been operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Last week, while underway on Essex, The Washington Post observed two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy small boats trailing the warship.

“Two fast attack boats under the command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps came within 300 yards of [Essex] during a visit by Gen. Joseph Votel, who commands U.S. forces in the Middle East. A reporter from The Washington Post observed the boats as they sped near the amphibious assault ship, currently the largest U.S. ship in the gulf,” reported the paper.

In the Eastern Pacific

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 embarked aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). The CSG is now off San Diego, where it is likely conducting a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) in the San Diego Operating Areas. JTFEX is usually the last step in the training cycle prior to deployment. Two other capital ships – big deck amphib USS Boxer (LHD-4) and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and its carrier strike group – are also underway off San Diego, creating the possibility for a high-end training opportunity prior to Stennis heading west across the Pacific.

Carrier Strike Group 3

Aircraft carrier
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) homeported in Bremerton, Wash. (shifting to Norfolk, Va., upon completion of deployment)

Carrier Air Wing 9

• The “Black Aces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Tophatters” of VFA-14 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Warhawks” of VFA-97 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Vigilantes” of VFA-151 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Wallbangers” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 from Naval Air Station Pt Mugu, CA
• The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
• The “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
• The “Raptors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 21

• USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported in San Diego, Calif.
• USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported in San Diego, Calif.
• USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Guided-missile Cruiser
USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

USS Boxer (LHD-4) is underway for training in the Southern California Operating Areas off of San Diego.

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the San Diego Operating Areas.

In the Norwegian Sea

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is operating off the coast of Norway as part of Exercise Trident Juncture. The exercise is taking place place in Norway and the surrounding areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 23. More than 50,000 participants will be involved in target training events, utilizing approximately 250 aircraft, 65 ships and more than 10,000 support vehicles.

“The U.S.’s 14,000-strong combined force will join participants from all 29 NATO member nations, as well as partners Sweden and Finland. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) will send aircraft from embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) to conduct sorties, both at-sea and on Norwegian land ranges, nearly every day while participating in TRJE18,” according to a statement from U.S. European Command.
“The HSTCSG has spent much of the past few weeks in the North Atlantic refining its skill sets and capabilities in preparation for the exercise. After sailing off the coasts of Iceland and in the North Sea, strike group ships crossed the Arctic Circle and began operations in the Norwegian Sea. For several days, the strike group also operated alongside Royal Norwegian Navy ships in the Vestfjorden – a sea area inside Norwegian territorial waters.”

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 guided-missile destroyers that are operating as part of the CSG.

• 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.

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

In the North Atlantic

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked departed Iceland and is now in the Norwegian Sea. The ARG includes USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS New York (LPD-21) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44).

Two of the three ships in the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group had to return to port in Reykjavik, Iceland, after heavy seas en route to Norway injured a few sailors and caused damage to one ship’s well deck, reported USNI News.

According to a Navy news release, “the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) experienced heavy seas during the evening of Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. As a result, the ship’s Landing Craft Utilities (LCU) and well deck experienced damage.  Gunston Hall is in port Reykjavik, Iceland for further assessment.”

New York also returned to port as a precautionary measure, according to the release. New York is now back underway, USNI News has learned.

In the Western Atlantic

The Kearsarge ARG departed Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 13 to conduct a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), according to the Navy.

COMPTUEX is the final pre-deployment exercise that certifies the ARG’s abilities to conduct military operations at sea and project power ashore with the embarked 22nd MEU through joint planning and execution of challenging and realistic training scenarios.

“The Kearsarge ARG consists of Amphibious Squadron 6, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD-24) and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43). The guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG-107) and USS McFaul (DDG-74) are also participating in the exercise,” the service said.

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.