USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Oct. 28, 2019

October 28, 2019 11:30 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 Oct. 28, 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
50 35 85

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 2 1 19 18 59 99

In the Philippine Sea

Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Steven Jones, from St. Charles, Missouri, performs pre-flight checks on an F/A-18E Super Hornet of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 on the flight deck aboard the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Oct. 25, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the Philippine Sea with Carrier Air Wing 5 embarked. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is operating just south of Japan. The CSG also includes forward-deployed Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron 15.

Carrier Air Wing 5

Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Brian Lofton-George, from Dallas, Alabama, signals to Airman Richard Avery, from Los Angeles, while performing pre-flight checks on an F/A-18E Super Hornet of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 on the flight deck aboard the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) on Oct. 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
  • The “Diamondbacks” of VFA-102 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Eagles” of VFA-115 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Dambusters” of VFA-195 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Tigertails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 Det 5 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 from Naval Station Atsugi, Japan
  • The “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 from Naval Air Station Atsugi
Sailors stand watch in the command control center aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) on Oct. 23, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked is in the Philippine Sea operating west of Guam. In U.S. 7th Fleet, the ARG operates under the command of Expeditionary Strike Group 7.

Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5 is the ARG Commander. In addition to amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4), the ARG also includes dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) and 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 is comprised of Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Attack Squadron 214 equipped with the AV-8B Harrier; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced); and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

In the North Arabian Sea

Sailors work on the flight deck as an F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the ‘Pukin’ Dogs’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 launches off the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Oct. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is in the North Arabian Sea.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) departed its previous homeport of Norfolk, Va., in April and will shift homeports to San Diego, Calif., upon completion of the deployment. That move will come later than expected, though; Lincoln will remain on station in the Middle East while its relief carrier is still undergoing unexpected repairs on the East Coast, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke told reporters on Friday.

“She’s just over eight months right now because, as always, the world gets a vote,” he said. “Every sailor knows the world gets a vote, and we’re going to stay and do the job until they’re properly relieved.”

Lincoln’s likely relief, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), is currently pierside undergoing repairs for extensive electrical problems that are likely to extend at least into November.

“We’re pretty close to finishing the work,” Naval Sea Systems Command commander Vice Adm. Tom Moore told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Carrier Strike Group 12

Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Justin Taylor verifies connections on a consolidated automated support system bench in the avionics ship center aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Oct. 23, 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

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Martin Koft Boateng Daaku directs an F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the ‘Sidewinders’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 as it launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Oct. 22, 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 Henry Gesenhues, from Ocala, Calif., stands a roving sentry watch aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) on Oct. 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 the Eastern Pacific

Fire Controlman 2rd Class Chuck Kiggins conducts a mount washdown on a close-in weapons system aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) on Oct. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Makin Island ARG is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas.

In the South Atlantic

Sailors observe the Andes Mountains from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as the ship transits the Strait of Magellan around the southernmost point of mainland South America on Oct. 24, 2019. US Navy Photo

USS Wasp (LHD-1) navigated the Strait of Magellan Oct. 24 to 25, while conducting a homeport shift to Norfolk, Va. The evolution took approximately 26 hours and covered just over 360 nautical miles, marking the completion of the Pacific Ocean portion of Wasp’s Southern Seas 2019 transit, according to the Navy.

In the Western Atlantic

USS Bataan (LHD-5) conducts a vertical replenishment on Oct. 23, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Bataan ARG remains underway in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas with the 26th MEU embarked. They are conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) – a key pre-deployment training milestone.

The ships in the ARG include USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS New York (LPD-21) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51).

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is pulled from its berth at the Huntington Ingalls Industries at Newport News Shipbuilding, Va; into the James River on Oct. 25, 2019. Ford is passingthe former USS Enterprise (CVN-65). USNI Photo by Mark D. Faram

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is underway in the Virginia Capes Operating Areas. The ship departed Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) on Friday after completing its 15-month post-shakedown availability (PSA), USNI News reported.

“The PSA included combat systems installations, throttle control system improvements, propulsion train component repairs, and corrections to discrepancies identified during prior testing, and completion of 304 berthing spaces. The HII-NNS team also completed construction of four advanced weapon elevators (AWE), upgraded advanced arresting gear (AAG) water twisters, and fully outfitted all galley spaces,” according to the Navy.

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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