USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 8, 2019

April 8, 2019 11:08 AM
USNI News

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 7, 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:

289

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
53 24 77

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
4 1 2 21 19 54 101

In Yokosuka, Japan

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Recruit Nyle Strutton, left, from Longview, Texas, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Casey Hannor, from Montezuma, Ga., use needle guns to remove corrosion from the overhead in the hangar bay aboard the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). US Navy Photo

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

In the East China Sea

USS Wasp (LHD-1) makes a port visit to Subic Bay, Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 2019 on April 1, 2019. US Navy Photo

The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1), with embarked Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 4, led by the 4th Marine Regiment, arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, on March 30 in preparation for Exercise Balikatan. Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, including the “Green Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, are embarked aboard Wasp.

In the Gulf of Oman

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Chance Tsabetsaye, center, from Zunipueblo, NM, participates in a non-lethal weapons and Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray training course as Sailors observe on the fantail aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Persian Gulf on April 6, 2019. US Navy Photo

The John C. Stennis CSG is operating the Gulf of Oman after departing the Persian Gulf.

Carrier Strike Group 3

Sailors organize cargo in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Persian Gulf on April 3, 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

Aircraft, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and embarked on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), fly in formation on April 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

CVW 9, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., 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

Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Vincent Balla, from Lakeland, Tenn., fires a .50 caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) in the Gulf of Oman on April 4, 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

Chief Machinist Mate John Brown, from San Diego, Calif., inspects a low pressure air compressor in the main engine room aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo

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

In the Persian Gulf

Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit embark an MV-22 Osprey on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3). US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is in the Persian Gulf.

The ARG is led by Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and includes amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD-24) and dock landing ship 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.

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

In the Middle Atlantic

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airmen Chris Pudill and Austin Dingman move to keep the arresting gear wire in the landing area and on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on April 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln CSG deployed from Norfolk on April 1 and is headed east toward the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

Carrier Strike Group 12

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (handling) Airman Jonathan Evans inspects a sprinkler valve on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a countermeasure wash down test on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported in Norfolk, Va. (shifting to San Diego, Calif., upon completion of deployment)

Carrier Air Wing 7

Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) watch as an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 participates in a replenishment-at-sea with the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8) on April 4, 2019. US Navy Photo

CVW 7, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked aboard Lincoln and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Fist of the Fleet” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Sidewinders” of VFA-86 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121 from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Night Dippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Griffins” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 79 from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 2

Damage Controlman Fireman Garrett Paulson, from Houston, Texas, performs maintenance on an emergency breathing air compressor (EBAC) aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo

The leadership of DESRON 2 is embarked aboard Lincoln and commands the guided-missile destroyers that are operating as part of the CSG.

  • USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Mason (DDG-87), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Nitze (DDG-94), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104), Ferrol Naval Base, Spain (will join the strike group in the Eastern Atlantic).

Guided-missile Cruiser

An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 participates in a replenishment-at-sea with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8) on April 4, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

In the Western Atlantic

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Fighting Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 prepares to launch from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is underway in the Virginia Capes for sustainment training.

In the Eastern Pacific

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Kayla Bryant, from Middletown, Ohio, cleans a reversible bolt and socket station in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on April 4, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas.

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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