These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 4, 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

Ships Deployed by Fleet

In the Antarctic

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 scientific research station. Polar Star battled ice and material issues such as a damaged shaft seal and electrical outages during this year’s voyage to Antarctica.

In Yokosuka, Japan

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

In the Philippine Sea

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

Transiting through the Philippine islands

The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) and the 13th MEU are heading east, transiting the Philippine islands and heading toward the San Bernardino Strait. 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.

Joining the 13th MEU are the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 and detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 3 and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, according to the Navy.

In the Java Sea

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation and is underway off Indonesia in the Java Sea.

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

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

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), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

In the North Arabian Sea

The Kearsarge ARG and embarked 22nd MEU are 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. The more than 4,500 sailors and Marines left the East Coast on Dec. 17. The deployment will likely include operations in Europe and the Middle East.

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

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

When the sailors of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group leave Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for deployment this spring, some will be returning to Virginia at the deployment’s end and others won’t due to a homeport shift taking place following the deployment. The ship itself will be relocating to San Diego, along with part of the crew.

Before coming around to the East Coast for a mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul from March 2013 to May 2017, Abraham Lincoln had been a West Coast carrier. The Navy intended to bring the carrier back to the West Coast and eventually decided to follow the same model as its predecessor, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), which conducted all of its pre-deployment workups in Virginia, then deployed around the world before finishing up in her new homeport in San Diego, Calif.

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) will also participate in the COMPTUEX and the deployment to improve the warfighting capabilities and partnership between the two NATO countries.

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.