USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 17, 2023

January 17, 2023 12:36 PM
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 Jan. 17, 2023, 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.

Ships Underway

Total Battle Force Deployed Underway
293
(USS 237, USNS 56)
102
(USS 67, USNS 35)
 56
(41 Deployed, 15 Local)

Ships Deployed by Fleet

2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
1 1 1 12 19 68 102

In Japan

Seaman Samuel Geno, from Leesburg, Va., performs preventative maintenance aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), while in-port Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Jan. 5, 2023. US Navy Photo

 

 

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

In the Philippine Sea

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Travion Humphrey, from Sacramento, California, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA-6), directs an F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 to take off of the ship’s flight deck while underway in the Philippine Sea, Japan, Jan. 14, 2023. US Navy Photo

USS America (LHA-6) is underway in the Philippine Sea.

In the South China Sea

Oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) steams alongside the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) during a replenishment-at-sea on Jan. 16, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the South China Sea. This marks the first time USS Nimitz (CVN-68) entered the South China during the group’s current deployment. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are also in the South China Sea – operating in proximity to the Nimitz CSG.

The Nimitz CSG deployed from the West Coast on Dec. 3 and chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet on Dec. 16.

Carrier Strike Group 11

Navy Sailors conduct flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on Jan. 13, 2023. US Navy Photo

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

Carrier Air Wing 17

An E-2C Hawkeye from the ‘Sun Kings’ of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 makes an arrested landing on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on Jan. 13, 2023. US Navy Photo

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

  • The “Fighting Redcocks” of VFA-22 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F/A-18Fs from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA-94 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Kestrels” of VFA-137 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Blue Diamonds” of VFA 146 – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Cougars” of VAQ-139 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Sun Kings” of VAW-116 – E-2D – Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
  • The “Providers” of VRC-30 – C-2A – Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Indians” of HSC-6 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station North Island.
  • The “Battle Cats” of HSM-73 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser

U.S. Navy Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class James Ingebretson, from Seabeck, Wash., fires a shot line from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) to the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200). Bunker Hill, part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations on Jan. 14, 2023. US Navy Photo

USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 9

U.S. Navy Sailors heave line during an underway replenishment aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) on Jan. 11, 2023. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 9 is based in Everett, Wash., and is embarked on Nimitz.

  • USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
  • USS Decatur (DDG-73), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
  • USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.
Commanders and leaders from Destroyer Squadron 7, the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Republic of Singapore Navy pose for a photo aboard RSS Endurance (207) during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/Marine Exercise Singapore in the waters off Singapore on Jan. 12. Courtesy photo by Republic of Singapore Navy

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are in the South China Sea. USS Makin Island (LHD-8), the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, left Naval Base San Diego on Nov. 9 for a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. The Makin Island ARG and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) wrapped up the Singapore phase of the 2022 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise serials on Jan. 13.

The ARG includes Makin Island and amphibious transport docks USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) and USS Anchorage (LPD-23). During the deployment to the Western Pacific, the ARG has worked with other U.S. assets including, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, P-8A Poseidon aircraft and personnel from U.S. 7th Fleet and CTF 72, 73, 75, 76/3, Destroyer Squadron 7, and Amphibious Squadron 7. Task Force 76/3 recently formed as a result of merging the staffs of the Navy’s TF 76 and the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The MEU includes the aviation combat element with the “Flying Leathernecks” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 flying F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and the “Ugly Angels” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 (Reinforced) flying MV-22B Ospreys; the logistics combat element made up of Combat Logistics Battalion 13; and the ground combat element with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

In the Adriatic Sea

Cmdr. Jason Papadopoulos, commander, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103, left, speaks with a fellow pilot on an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during a change of command ceremony on Jan. 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the Adriatic Sea.

“Specialists from Fleet Readiness Command Centers (FRC) Southwest (FRCSW) and Southeast (FRCSE) completed first-of-its-kind repairs at sea on an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, Jan. 9, 2023,” according to the Navy.

Engineers completed repairs to damage from an Aug. 31 in-flight starboard engine fire.

USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) continues to operate in the Fifth Fleet.

Carrier Strike Group 10

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) transit the Adriatic Sea on Jan. 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

Carrier
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 7

Cmdr. Jason Papadopoulos, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103, has water poured on him on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) after a change of command ceremony, Jan. 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, based on Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked on Bush and includes:

  • The “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F/A-18Es from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Sidewinders” of VFA-86 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Knighthawks” of VFA-136 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Patriots” of VAQ-140 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Bluetails” of VAW-121 – 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 “Nightdippers” of HSC-5 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
  • The “Grandmasters” of HSM-46 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Cruiser

A sailor assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) directs aircraft on the flight deck as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) sails alongside, Jan. 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Destroyer Squadron

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) sails alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG-94) during combined operations in the Adriatic Sea on Jan. 12, 2023. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 26 is based in Norfolk and is embarked on the carrier. The following ships deployed with the strike group.

  • USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
  • USS Truxtun (DDG-103), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
  • USS Farragut (DDG-99), homeported at Naval Station Mayport.
  • USS Nitze (DDG-94), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

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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