USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 3, 2019

June 3, 2019 9:41 AM - Updated: June 4, 2019 10:52 PM
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These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of June 3, 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
57 24 81

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 4 0 21 18 58 101

In Yokosuka, Japan

Sailors aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) man the rails returning from a four-month patrol on May 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

After four months underway, the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), has returned to Yokosuka, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

Air department sailors participate in a mass casualty drill on the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on May 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) got underway on May 22 from Yokosuka, Japan, for a Western Pacific patrol. From December through mid-May, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) had been undergoing maintenance and upgrades at Yokosuka. The strike group is operating south of Japan in the Philippine Sea.

Carrier Air Wing 5

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Airman Logan Brenner, from Philadelphia, displays aircraft weight on the flight deck on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) during flight operations on May 23, 2019. US Navy Photo

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

Typically, one guided-missile cruiser and three guided-missile destroyers are included in a carrier strike group. 7th Fleet has not announced the names of the escorts in the Reagan CSG.

Lt. j.g. Jennifer Nguyen, from Douglasville, Ga., and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Roxann Murray, from Kingston, Jamaica, participate in a general quarters drill aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on May 30, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group is underway and is operating in the vicinity of the Reagan Strike Group. Last week, President Donald Trump addressed the crew of the amphibious warship while it was in port in Yokosuka.

South China Sea

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is staged aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) on May 30, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked transited the Surigao Strait on June 1 and is now in the South China Sea.

Amphibious Squadron 5 (PHIBRON 5) is ARG commander. In addition to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4), the ARG also includes Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Harper’s Ferry (LSD-49) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26).

Marines assigned to 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) fast rope from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) to the hangar bay on June 1, 2019. US Navy Photo

The ARG includes the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 5, and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11.

The Camp Pendleton-based 11th MEU comprises Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Attack Squadron 214 equipped (with AV-8B Harrier); Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced); and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

In the Gulf of Oman

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Gulf of Oman. The Lincoln CSG operated with the Kearsarge ARG and U.S. Air Force aircraft on Saturday and Sunday.

Carrier Strike Group 12

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) transits the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on May 26, 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

Lt. Rob Morris, from Annapolis, Md., observes a F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Jolly Rogers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 land on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on May 30, 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

Operations Specialist Seaman Recruit Taleda Johnson, from District of Columbia, plots positions on a maneuvering board aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) on May 30, 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.

Guided-missile Cruiser

  • USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Cpl. Gregory Papineau, assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, removes a pressure plate from a CH-53E Super Stallion in the hangar bay aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) on May 30, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge ARG with embarked 22nd MEU continues to operate underway in the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea. The ARG exercised with the Abraham Lincoln CSG and U.S.Air Force this past weekend.

More than 4,500 sailors and Marines with the Kearsarge ARG/22nd MEU departed the East Coast on Dec. 17.

The Kearsarge ARG is commanded by Amphibious Squadron 6. In addition to USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), the ARG includes Norfolk-based USS Arlington (LPD-24) and Mayport, Fla.,-based USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43), according to the Navy.

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.

On the West Coast

An MH-60S Knight Hawk, assigned to the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on May 25, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group completed Exercise Northern Edge in the Gulf of Alaska on May 24. USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) returned to San Diego, Calif., late last week. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 and its squadrons returned to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and other home fields for its squadrons Naval Air Station Whidbey, Wash., Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif., Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. and Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. USS Russell (DDG-59) and USS John Finn (DDG-113) returned to San Diego. USS Kidd (DDG-100) returned to Everett, Wash.

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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