USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 28, 2019

January 28, 2019 12:35 PM - Updated: January 29, 2019 7:46 AM

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 28, 2019, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:

287

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
50 45 95

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
2 3 0 17 15 58 95

In the Antarctic

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) off McMurdo Sound near McMurdo Station, a United States Antarctic research center in 2018. US Air Force Photo

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) arrived in Antarctica on Thursday as part of the Coast Guard’s annual mission to deliver supplies to the U.S. outpost on the continent. The heavy icebreaker cut through 18-miles of ice in McMurdo Sound, clearing the way for ship Ocean Giant to off-load 400 containers at the station. It continues its yearly mission to resupply America’s main outpost on the continent — McMurdo Sound.

In Yokosuka, Japan

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits through the East China Sea during patrol with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62). US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is in homeport in Yokosuka, Japan.

In the East China Sea

Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) during night flight operations in the Philippine Sea on Jan. 28, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is underway in the East China Sea.

In the Strait of Malacca

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kielthone Lim, a logistics specialist, assigned to the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) mans the rails aboard the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) on Jan. 23, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) and the 13th MEU conducted a port visit to Phuket, Jan. 24 to 28. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) comprises Wasp-class ship Essex, San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23) and Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47). The ARG and embarked 13th MEU deployed from San Diego on July 10.

In the Indian Ocean

Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Jacob Mahnke, from Milwaukee, inspects an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 23, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Stennis Carrier Strike Group is now operating in 7th Fleet area of operation and is underway in the Indian Ocean off of the coast of Sri Lanka.

Carrier Strike Group 3

Sailors transit the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 23, 2019. US Navy Photo

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

Carrier Air Wing 9

U.S. Sailors observe a C-2A Greyhound, assigned to Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron (VRC) 30, detachment 4, transit from the flight deck to the hangar bay on an aircraft elevator aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 24, 2019. US Navy Photo

CVW 9, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, is embarked aboard Stennis and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • 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

Ens. Gyneth Campbell, from Albany, N.Y., conducts a muster aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) during a general quarters drill in the Red Sea on Jan. 15, 2019. US Navy Photo

The leadership of DESRON 21 is embarked aboard Stennis and commands the guided-missile destroyers that are operating as part of the CSG.

  • 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) fires a Mark 45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

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

In the North Arabian Sea

Cpl. Justin Hollman assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires an M4A1 carbine during a live-fire exercise on the flight deck aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) on Jan. 27, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge ARG and embarked 22nd MEU is operating in the North Arabian Sea.

The ARG is led by USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and includes Norfolk-based USS Arlington (LPD-24) and Mayport, Fla.,-based USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43), according to the Navy.

Joining the 22nd MEU from Camp Lejeune, N.C., are Fleet Surgical Teams 2 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, and Naval Beach Group 2, according to the Navy.

In the Western Atlantic

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Va. on Jan. 25, 2019. US Navy Photo

Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 assets Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron 2, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) are conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off of the East Coast.

COMPTUEX is a training exercise designed to integrate all the assets of the strike group, test their ability to carry out maritime operations and assess their readiness to deploy.

Ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron 2 include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG-57), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Nitze (DDG-94).

The Álvaro de Bazán-class Spanish navy frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F-104) at Naval Station Norfolk. Méndez Núñez. U.S. Navy photo.

The Álvaro de Bazán-class Spanish navy frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F-104) will also participate in the exercises to improve the warfighting capabilities and partnership between the two NATO countries.

In the Eastern Pacific

Lance Cpl. Andrew Feldman, right, and Lance Cpl. Zachary Feciuch, assigned to 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, man the security combat action team (SCAT) aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) on Jan. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Boxer (LHD-4) is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas off of San Diego with elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.

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, Seabees, Coast Guard cutters, EOD Mobile Units, and more serving throughout the globe.

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