USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug 9, 2021

August 9, 2021 11:22 AM - Updated: August 10, 2021 6:06 AM

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Aug. 9, 2021, 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
59 39 98

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 13 3 21 15 54 106

In the North Arabian Sea

From right, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Talitha Miller speaks to Royal Australian Air Force Air Commodore Nathan Christie, Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) director, in the forecastle of aircraft carrier USS Ronald Regan (CVN-76), during a visit to the ship in the Arabian Sea on Aug. 7, 2021. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is in the North Arabian Sea. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG-67) and guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG-97) arrived in U.S. 5th Fleet on June 25.

Aircraft carrier
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

Carrier Air Wing 5

From left, Lt. Rodney Wagstaff, U.S. Air Force Maj. Fernando Suito Acuna, CAOC combat plans lead, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gregory Hartman, executive assistant, Royal Australian Air Force Air Commodore Nathan Christie, Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) director, and Capt. Michael Sweeney, deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, observe an E-2D Hawkeye reconnaissance plane, attached to the ‘Tiger Tails’ of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, landing on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in the Arabian Sea, Aug. 6, 2021. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, is embarked aboard Ronald Reagan and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Royal Maces” of VFA-27 – Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) – 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 VAQ-141 – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Tigertails” of VAW-125 – Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Providers” of VRC-30 – Detachment 5 – Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) – from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
  • The “Golden Falcons” of HSC-5 – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Facility Atsugi, Japan
  • The “Saberhawks” of HSM-77 – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan

Cruiser
USS Shiloh (CG-67), homeported in Yokosuka.

Destroyer Squadron 15

USS Halsey (DDG-97) transits the Gulf of Aden on July 12, 2021. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 15 is based in Yokosuka, Japan, and is embarked on the carrier. U.S. 7th Fleet has not fully specified the escorts accompanying Reagan on its patrol, but the CSG includes:

  • USS Halsey (DDG-97), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In the Gulf of Oman

An AV-8 Harrier, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced), takes off from the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) on Aug. 8, 2021. US Navy Photo

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf on July 26. The ARG made a Suez transit and entered 5th Fleet on June 1.

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) and amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD-17) make up the ARG. Embarked detachments for the Iwo Jima ARG include Amphibious Squadron Four, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Six, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, Naval Beach Group (NBG) Two, Beach Master Unit (BMU) Two, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) Two and Four, and Sailors from Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) Two.

The 24th MEU, which is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., consists of a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8, a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 24, and an Aviation Combat Element, Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron (VMM) 162 Reinforced. The 24th MEU also includes a Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment.

In Guam

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) sits along the pier at U.S. Naval Base Guam following its arrival for a port visit as part of United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific region on Aug. 6, 2021. US Navy Photo

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and the U.K. Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group are in Guam.

The U.K. Carrier Strike Group includes: Type 23 anti-submarine frigates HMS Richmond (F239) and HMS Kent (F78); Type 45 guided-missile destroyers HMS Defender (D36) and HMS Diamond (D34); Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring; U.S. destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805); and the nuclear attack boat HMS Artful (S121).” The Wake Island Avengers” of U.S. Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 are embarked and integrated with Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, “The Dambusters.”

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH-155) receives fuel from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) during a fueling-at-sea on Aug. 6, 2021. US Navy Photo

The Japan-based America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in port in Guam, arriving on Aug. 8 following the Talisman Sabre 21 exercise off Australia.

According to the Navy, the America Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) concluded Talisman Sabre 21 on July 31. During Talisman Sabre 21, the America ARG and the Marines embarked integrated with the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy.

Talisman Saber is a multinational field training exercise hosted by Australia in odd-numbered years in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The ARG consists of USS America (LHA-6), USS New Orleans (LPD-18) and USS Germantown (LSD-42) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.

The 31st MEU is currently comprised of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) as the Amphibious Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines as the Ground Combat Element and Combat Logistics Battalion 31 as the Logistics Combat Element.

In the Eastern Pacific

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) leaves San Diego, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2021. US Navy Photo

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group deployed on Aug. 2 and is headed west. This is the first U.S. Navy deployment of F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and the Navy’s new CMV-22B carrier onboard delivery aircraft.

Aircraft carrier
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 2

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, flies over the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Aug. 3, 2021. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, is embarked aboard Carl Vinson and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Argonauts” of VFA-147 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F-35Cs from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Stingers” of VFA-113 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Gauntlets” of VAQ-136 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Black Eagles” of VAW-113 – E-2D — Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
  • The “Titans” of VRM-30 – CMV-22B – Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Black Knights” of HSC-4 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station North Island.
  • The “Blue Hawks” of HSM-78 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser
USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 1

USS Higgins (DDG 76) approaches Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea, July 20, 2021. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 1 is based in San Diego and is embarked on the carrier.

  • USS Dewey (DDG-105), homeported in San Diego, Calif.
  • USS Higgins (DDG-76), homeported in San Diego.
  • USS O’Kane (DDG-77), homeported in San Diego.
  • USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • USS Chafee (DDG-90), homeported in Pearl Harbor.
  • USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported in San Diego.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) returns to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island. Lincoln returned upon completion of a scheduled underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations on July 23, 2021. US Navy Photo

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is underway as part of Large Scale Exercise 21 after leaving San Diego on Aug. 2. Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is underway testing systems.

In the Atlantic

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) successfully completes the third and final scheduled explosive event for Full Ship Shock Trials while underway in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 8, 2021. US Navy Photo

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is underway after its third explosive shock test off the coast of Florida on Aug. 8, 2021. The carrier will now return to Norfolk, Va., to begin a six-month maintenance availability ahead of a planned deployment next year. USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) are underway for Large Scale Exercise 2021.

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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