USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 9, 2022

May 9, 2022 10:27 AM - Updated: May 9, 2022 11:52 AM
USNI News Graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of May 9, 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:

298

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
63 18 81

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
1 3 2 12 28 69 115

In Japan

Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) attend to a simulated casualty on the pier during an integrated industrial firefighting drill with Commander, Naval Region Japan Fire & Emergency Services onboard U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, April 27, 2022. US Navy Photo

Ships of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) – which includes USS America (LHA-6), USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and USS Ashland (LSD-48) – are in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

Lt. Justin Blackston and Senior Chief Quartermaster Samantha Honaker aboard USS Ronald Reagan’s (CVN-76) navigation department, review their location in the ship’s pilot house on May 8, 2022. US Navy Photo

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is underway off the coast of Japan. The carrier has just completed its annual repair period in Yokosuka, Japan.

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the ‘Black Knights’ of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, flies over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on May 5, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is in the Philippine Sea. The CSG deployed from San Diego, Calif., on Jan. 3, 2022.

Carrier Strike Group 3

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

Carrier Air Wing 9

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Antionette Nelson, from Houston, directs an EA-18G Growler, assigned to the ‘Wizards’ of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on May 5, 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

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Ashley Zappier, from Stony Point, N.J., makes an announcement on the ship’s internal microphone from the pilot house aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) on May 4, 2022. US Navy Photo

 

  • USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Seaman Daniel Gregory, left, from Manassas, Va., instructs Seaman Joe Redfearn, from Chesterfield S. C., to relocate a mannequin in order to provide care during tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) training on the missile deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) May 4, 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-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

In Greece

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Rein.), flies over the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD-24) on May 3, 2022. US Navy Photo

The third ship in the ARG, USS Arlington (LPD-24), arrived in Greece May 4 to participate in exercise Alexander the Great 2022. Alexander the Great 2022, “is an amphibious training event conducted in Volos, Greece and the Aegean Sea, May 2 to 31, 2022. ATG22 will exercise battalion-level command and control and company-level combined arms training to increase interoperability between the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team and Hellenic Armed Forces. U.S. forces will be under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, with participating units include elements from the Kearsarge ARG, 22nd MEU and CTF 61/2’s Task Group 61/2.4 (Reconnaissance Counter-Reconnaissance Forces). The forces will train alongside Greece’s 32nd Hellenic Marine Brigade as well as the Hellenic Army’s Special Warfare Command,” U.S. 6th Fleet said.

In the Mediterranean Sea

From left to right, Command Master Chief Keith Wilkerson, command master chief, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith, and U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Fleet Master Chief Derrick Walters, take a selfie aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on May 8, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has extended the deployment of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, its escorts and Carrier Air Wing 1 as a hedge against Russian aggression in Europe. Truman has spent four months operating in the Mediterranean Sea since Austin ordered the strike group to remain on station in December as Russia massed forces along the Ukrainian border.

One defense official told USNI News the carrier could remain in the region until August before returning to its homeport in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Strike Group 8

Damage Controlman Fireman Jocelyn Fisk, from Names, Idaho, removes corrosion from an aqueous film forming foam station aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on May 6, 2022. US Navy Photo

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

Carrier Air Wing 1

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Austin Stanton, from Alameda, California, observes Sailors on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) during a replenishment-at-sea, May 6, 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), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), left, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), in the Ionian Sea on May 6, 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 Norwegian Sea

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Joaquin Bernardino updates flight deck control on aircraft fueling status aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) on April 28, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit remain in the Norwegian Sea. According to a Navy release, elements of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) held a training event with Norwegian Armed Forces on May 6.

“U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces conducted cold weather training, multiple integrated live fire events, shock trauma platoon medical training, casualty evacuation drills, explosive ordnance training, and reconnaissance and marksmanship training,” reads a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet.
“The training began with the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), flagship of the Kearsarge ARG and 22nd MEU, and Whidbey-Island class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) arriving in Tromsø and Narvik, respectively, to offload MEU elements and equipment. As part of the training event, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), assigned to the 22nd MEU, flew MV-22 Ospreys and AH-1 Cobra helicopters from Bardufoss Airfield training site, between Tromsø and Narvik, transporting equipment to and from Kearsarge during the on load of U.S. Marine Corps equipment.”

In the Eastern Pacific

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jamire Harvey, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, mans the rails on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA-7) on May 2, 2022. US Navy Photo

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) departed Naval Station San Diego, Calif., on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific on Monday, May 2. The 45,000-ton big-deck amphibious ship left San Diego to gather F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters that will include further testing of the Marine’s “lightning carrier” concept, a defense official confirmed to USNI News. The lightning carrier can load up to 20 of the short take-off, vertically landing F-35s as an adjunct capability to a carrier strike group. Tripoli’s departure comes just less than a month after the ship wrapped up a week of at-sea testing and training to prove the lightning carrier concept.

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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