USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019 11:45 AM
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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 July 1, 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:

290

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
61 20 81

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
1 1 2 22 19 56 101

In the Western Pacific

Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Colton Doyle, from Waxahachie, Texas, conducts a daily maintenance check on an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 on the flight deck of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on June 27, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is just north of the Bismarck Archipelago and moving south toward the Coral Sea. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) got underway on May 22 from Yokosuka, Japan, for a Western Pacific patrol. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 (TS 19) – a bilateral U.S.-Australian training exercise – will occur in the Coral Sea July 11 to 24. The exercise will include forces from New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan.

Carrier Air Wing 5

Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 attached to Commander Task Force 70 conduct helicopter visit, board search and seizure training operations aboard USS McCampbell (DDG-85) on June 25, 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. U.S. 7th Fleet has not announced the names of the escorts in the Reagan CSG.

In the Coral Sea

Lt. Keith Braddy, the chaplain of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1), from Newark, N.J., baptizes Lance Cpl. Adam Feske, from Thornton, Colorado, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, on the flight deck on June 30, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, led by USS Wasp (LHD-1), and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are underway and operating in the Coral Sea.

The ESG is also set to participate Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 this month.

In the Gulf of Aden

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darian Hubisz, from Lamarque, Texas, assembles a guided bomb unit aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) on June 28, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with 11th MEU embarked is in the Gulf of Aden.

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 Gulf of Oman

Seaman Allison Craven, from Princeton, Ind., stands lookout watch on the fantail of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on June 28, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln CSG is operating in the Gulf of Oman. The region has been a hotspot since attacks on petrochemical tankers and the shootdown of a Navy-owned RQ-4A maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle in June.

Carrier Strike Group 12

Capt. Putnam Browne, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) oversees a replenishment-at-sea with the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14) from the bridge of Abraham Lincoln on June 14, 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

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

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Carl Augustin, from Miami, Fla., stands watch aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87) on June 25, 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 Rota, Spain

Line handlers assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) stand by as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) arrives for a port visit at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain on June 30, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge ARG with embarked 22nd MEU is at the naval base in Rota, Spain. The naval base – which includes a port and an airfield – is used jointly by Spain and the United States. It remains under Spanish command. The U.S. pays for all the expenses and capital improvements of its extensive infrastructure there. Rota is an important NATO and U.S. logistical hub and is a homeport for Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Europe. FDNF Europe includes four ballistic missile defense capable guided-missile destroyers as part of the U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach to regional missile defense.

Forward Deployed Naval Forces Europe

  • Destroyer Squadron 60
  • USS Carney (DDG-64)
  • USS Ross (DDG-71)
  • USS Donald Cook (DDG-75)
  • USS Porter (DDG-78)
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight

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

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Ilya Bauer welds a crack on an exhaust pipe of a CH-53E Super Stallion aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) on June 26, 2019. US Navy Photo

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 Southern California Operating Areas

Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Mason Burke directs an MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter assigned to the ‘Indians’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). US Navy Photo

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is underway for basic phase training, and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is underway for training.

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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