USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 24, 2022

February 24, 2022 12:47 PM - Updated: February 26, 2022 11:21 AM
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This post and map have been updated to include two more ships that were underway on Thursday. These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 24, 2022, 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:

295

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
75 29 104

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
2 4 2 11 30 66 115

In Yokosuka, Japan

US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, visits USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) Feb. 17, 2022, US Navy Photo

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan, conducting its annual winter maintenance availability. The carrier began a four-month selected restricted availability in Yokosuka on Jan. 13, following a five-month deployment in the Middle East and the Pacific.

“Employees from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, along with the ship’s force and contractors, are working together in Japan to complete maintenance on the aircraft carrier,” according to a Navy statement.

In the Philippine Sea

An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the ‘Wizards’ of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Feb. 21, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the Philippine Sea along with the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

Carrier:
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 9

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the ‘Black Knights’ of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Feb. 22, 2022. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., is embarked aboard Abraham Lincoln and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Black Aces” of VFA-41 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F/A-18Fs from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Tophatters” of VFA-14 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Vigilantes” of VFA-151 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Black Knights” of VMFA 314 – Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) flying F-35Cs from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
  • The “Wizards” of VAQ-133 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Wallbangers” of VAW-117 – 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 “Chargers” of HSC-14 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station North Island.
  • The “Raptors” of HSM-71 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser

Sailors, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3, conduct a helicopter, visit, board, search and seizure (HVBSS) drill aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) on Feb. 23, 2022. US Navy Photo
  • USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Seaman Oscar Ruvio, left, from Los Angeles, and Seaman Michael Blanchard, right, from Panama City Beach, Fla., wait to be signaled by the landing signalman enlisted (LSE) on the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) on Feb. 23, 2022. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 21 is based in San Diego, Calif., and is embarked on the carrier.

  • USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.
  • USS Gridley (DDG- 101), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
  • USS Sampson (DDG-102), homeported at Naval Station Everett.
  • USS Spruance (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

America Expeditionary Strike Group (ARG) 

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Corbin Douglas, center left, from Richmond, Calif., and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Vincente Carrizales, center right, from Chicago, both assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), carry a simulated casualty from an MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 during an aviation training team drill on the ship’s flight deck on Feb. 23, 2022. US Navy Photo

The amphibious ships of the America Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) are USS America (LHA-6), USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and USS Ashland (LSD-48). Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are embarked. The ESG departed on Jan. 14 from Sasebo, Japan, for a patrol in the Western Pacific.

In the Ionian Sea

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Ryan Shewmaker, from Lawton, Oklahoma, conducts a magnetic particle inspection aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Feb. 22, 2022. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elexia Morelos)

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is back in the Ionian Sea and under NATO command. The CSG departed for its deployment on Dec. 1. Along with the U.S. ships, Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) joined the strike group under the Cooperative Deployment Program. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the strike group to remain in the Mediterranean Sea, rather than travel to U.S. Central Command, USNI News reported in December.

Russian warships have deployed in a formation to the theater; however, additional guided-missile destroyers – each with 90 vertical launcher cells each – have deployed and are in the Mediterranean Sea. These five Aegis DDGs and one guided-missile cruiser were built to counter the type of surface-surface anti-ship cruise missile threat currently presented by the Russian cruisers in the theater. Each of these Russian cruisers has 16 SSN-12 missiles. The six U.S. Navy DDGs and the cruiser San Jacinto carry hundreds of surface-to-air missiles and can control 16 missiles in the air simultaneously to counter multiple targets out to 256 nautical miles.

There are currently three NATO carrier strike groups underway in the Mediterranean Sea –Truman, Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) and French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

Carrier:
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to the ‘Seahawks’ of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126, flies over the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Feb. 21, 2022. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Red Rippers” of VFA-11 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F/A-18Fs from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Fighting Checkmates” of VFA-211 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Sunliners” of VFA-81 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Rooks” of VAQ-137 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Seahawks” of VAW-126 – E-2D – Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Rawhides” of VRC-40 – Detachment – C-2A – Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
  • The “Dragon Slayers” of HSC-11 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
  • The “Proud Warriors” of HSM-72 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Cruiser

USS San Jacinto (CG-56) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with fleet combat supply ship USNS Supply (T-AO6) on Feb. 18, 2022. US Navy Photo
  • USS San Jacinto (CG-56), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Dashae King connects a sound-powered telephone to a stowage location on the fo’c’sle before a replenishment-at-sea with Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Feb. 19, 2022. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 28 is based in Norfolk and is embarked on the carrier.

  • USS Cole (DDG-67), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
  • USS Bainbridge (DDG- 96), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
  • USS Gravely (DDG-107), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
  • USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
  • USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
  • Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310).

In the Eastern Pacific

Sailors assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) unload a RIM-162D-class missile from a NATO Sea Sparrow Surface Missile System missile launcher aboard Essex, Feb. 22, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ARG) with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed Aug. 12. Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David Berger, welcomed the ARG home from deployment when the ARG made a port call in Hawaii. The Essex ARG is now underway again en route homeport in California.

The ARG is comprised of three ships: landing helicopter dock USS Essex (LHD-2), amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD-27) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52). Together the 11th MEU, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1 and ships are designated as an ARG/MEU. In addition to the ships, the principal Navy elements of the ARG are a Naval Beach Group element, a Tactical Air Control Squadron element, a fleet surgical team and a helicopter sea combat squadron element.

The 11th MEU consists of four major components: a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element and a logistics combat element. The 11th MEU is comprised of Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 (Reinforced), Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214 and Combat Logistics Battalion 11. The “White Knights” operate the MV-22B Osprey, UH-1Y Venom, AH-1Z Viper and the CH-53E Super Stallions, while the “Black Sheep” of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214 operate an AV-8B Harrier detachment.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departing San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 15, 2022. USNI News Photo

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas conducting crew training and workup after completing maintenance at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

USS Tripoli (LHA-7) was underway off the coast of California.

In the Atlantic

Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) transits the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4, 2022. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is underway in the Virginia Capes after departing Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on Feb. 15.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are 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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