USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 10, 2019

June 10, 2019 10:58 AM
USNI News Graphic

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 10, 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
65 24 89

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 4 1 21 19 57 102

In the South China Sea

Sailors assigned to the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) conduct small boat operations on June 4, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently operating in the South China Sea. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) got underway on May 22 from Yokosuka, Japan, for a Western Pacific patrol.

Carrier Air Wing 5

A sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) watches as an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Royal Maces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 and an F/A 18-E Super Hornet from the ‘Eagles’ of VFA-115 fly in formation with two USAF F-15s of the 44th Fighter Squadron on June 5, 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.

In the Western Pacific

Sailors stand in formation during a frocking ceremony on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on June 7, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, led by USS Wasp (LHD-1), and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is underway and is operating in the Western Pacific.


On Friday, a Russian destroyer came within 100 feet of a U.S. cruiser operating in the Western Pacific in an incident the U.S. Navy is calling, “unsafe and unprofessional.”

USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) was attempting to recover a helicopter when it was approached by a Udaloy-class destroyer at about 11:45 a.m. local time, according to a Friday statement from 7th Fleet.

According to the Navy, “While Chancellorsville was recovering its helicopter on a steady course and speed when the Russian ship DD572 maneuvered from behind and to the right of Chancellorsville accelerated and closed to an unsafe distance of ~50-100 feet. This unsafe action forced Chancellorsville to execute all engines back full and to maneuver to avoid collision.”

In Phuket, Thailand

USS Boxer (LHD 4) transits the Andaman Sea with French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) during a photo exercise on June 7, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked, transited the Strait of Malacca on June 6 and arrived in Phuket, Thailand on June 8. The Boxer ARG and French Navy aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91), and its escort ships conducted drills while sailing through the Andaman Sea on June 7.

Joining Boxer and Charles de Gaulle were French anti-submarine destroyer FS Latouche Treville (D 646), anti-submarine frigate FS Provence (D 652) and underway replenishment tanker FS Marne (A 630).

The drills follow May’s La Perouse exercise and included formation sailing, combined flight operations and personnel transfers.

French sailors assigned to the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) operate a Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle during a tour aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) on June 7, 2019. US Navy Photo

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).

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 North Arabian Sea

The sun sets behind the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on June 3, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is operating in the North Arabian Sea – close to Fujairah, UAE.

Carrier Strike Group 12

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

Carrier Air Wing 7

An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the ‘Pukin’ Dogs’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on June 5, 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

Seaman Michael Hernandez, from Lawrence, Mass., stands the helm watch aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) on June 8, 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.

In the Gulf of Aden

U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit walk to a CH-53E Super Stallion on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) prior to departing for a simulated ship to ship raid on June 7, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge ARG with embarked 22nd MEU continues is now in the Gulf of Aden.

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.

In the Western Atlantic

Operations Specialist Seaman Jeffrey Ordonez stands watch on the weather decks during sea and anchor detail aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on June 9, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) are underway for training. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is currently in the basic phase of its work up to deploy after leaving a maintenance period in March.

Across the Fleet

Quartermaster Seaman Apprentice Jacob Wenzel, from Saginaw, Mich., walks away after raising the union jack aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) on June 4, 2019. US Navy Photo

Starting last week, the U.S. Navy returned to flying the traditional service union jack from the bow of its warships.

“At the stern is the national ensign, and at the bow flies the Navy jack. Traditionally, the Navy jack has been the inset of the national ensign—stars for each state on a field of blue. For the past 17 years, however, all U.S. Navy ships have flown the ‘First Navy Jack,’ a flag with 13 red and white stripes, a rattlesnake, and the words, ‘Don’t Tread on Me’,” wrote Cmdr. Joel Holwitt in Proceedings in February, who argued to restore the traditional U.S. jack.

Shortly after Holwitt’s piece, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson issued an instruction to return to the union jack on the 77th anniversary of the June 4 Battle of Midway.

“Make no mistake: we have entered a new era of competition. We must recommit to the core attributes that made us successful at Midway: integrity, accountability, initiative and toughness,” Richardson said in a February statement. “For more than 240 years, the union jack, flying proudly from jackstaffs aboard U.S. Navy warships, has symbolized these strengths.”

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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