USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Nov. 30, 2020

November 30, 2020 9:59 AM - Updated: December 1, 2020 5:33 AM
USNI News Graph

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Nov. 30, 2020, 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:

296

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
49 4 53

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 1 6 20 16 57 100

In Japan

An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the ‘Black Ravens’ of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, taxis off the flight line at Misawa Air Base, Japan on Nov. 30, 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

Reagan, which is the service’s forward-deployed carrier, pulled into its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, on Nov. 14, the Navy said in a news release. Reagan had been on patrol for 159 days, the longest patrol for a Japan-based carrier since 1999. In 1999, then Forward Deployed Naval Force-based carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) was on patrol for 176 days in the Middle East and the Western Pacific, according to USNI News carrier deployment data.

Japan-based U.S. carriers typically make two shorter patrols every year, with a maintenance period in Yokosuka.

USS America (LHA-6) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Western Pacific

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Khalil Turner passes information over the ship’s 1MC announcement system aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) on Nov. 16, 2020. US Navy Photo

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked is now operating in the Western Pacific – in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

The 15th MEU Marines and sailors have been embarked aboard USS Makin Island (LHD-8), USS Somerset (LPD-25) and USS San Diego (LPD-22) for more than a month while conducting their final pre-deployment training and certification. Certifications completed Nov. 20 off of Hawaii. This back-to-back training and certification, with immediate follow-on deployment, reduces crew and MEU movements to and from the ship and helps mitigate COVID-19 spread.

In the Arabian Sea

An MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter, from the ‘Screamin’ Indians’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, conducts flight control checks on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on Nov. 25, 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group are now operating in the Arabian Sea – back U.S. 5th Fleet after operating with the Indian Navy as part of the Malabar 2020 exercise series in U.S. 7th Fleet.

Carrier Strike Group 11

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) celebrates Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 2020. US Navy Photo

San Diego-based CSG 11 commands the Nimitz CSG and is embarked on the carrier.

Aircraft carrier
USS Nimitz (CVN-68), homeported in Bremerton, Wash.

Carrier Air Wing 17

Sailors standby as an E/A-18G Growler, from the ‘Cougars’ of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on Nov. 27, 2020. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing 17, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., is embarked on Nimitz and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Redcocks” of VFA 22 – Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) F/A-18F Super Hornet – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Kestrels” of VFA137 F/A-18 E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA 94 F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Death Rattlers” of VMFA-323 F/A-18C – from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar San Diego, Calif.
  • The “Cougars” of VAQ-139 – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) EA-18G Growlers – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island – Wash.
  • The “Sun Kings” of VAW-116 –Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) E2C Hawkeye – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
  • The “Providers” of VRC-30 – Detachment – Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) C-2 – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Screamin’ Indians” of HSC-6 – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) MH-60S– from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Battlecats” of HSM-73 – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Cruiser

Retail Services Specialist 2nd Class Shawnar Miller, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, communicates with members of the damage control team during a general quarters drill aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59), in the Indian Ocean on Nov. 25., 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Princeton (CG-59), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 9

USS Sterett (DDG-104) operates with Australian and Indian warships as fixed-wing aircraft from the Indian and U.S. navies conduct a flyover during Malabar 2020 on Nov. 20, 2020. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 9 is based at Naval Station Everett, Wash. The DESRON commodore and staff are embarked on Nimitz.

  • USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
  • USS Sterett (DDG-104), homeported in San Diego, Calif.
  • USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), homeported in 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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