USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 5, 2023

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Sept. 5, 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

Ships Deployed by Fleet

In Yokosuka, Japan

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group (CSG) is in Yokosuka, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked is in the Philippine Sea.

Per press reports, the America ARG will participate in an exercise with the South Korean Navy and Canadian Navy in the Yellow Sea. The exercise coincides with the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Inchon that occurred from Sept. 15-19, 1950.

In the South China Sea

Legend-class National Security Cutter USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) is in the South China Sea.

The Coast Guard recently announced that the Office of Expeditionary Logistics (DOL-X) in Alameda, Calif., has reached full operational capability. DOL-X is the Coast Guard’s solution to relieve the remote logistics burden and will support Coast Guard Cutter Munro on its Western Pacific deployment.

In the Persian Gulf

USS Bataan (LHD-5) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), with elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked, are in the Persian Gulf. This is the first time an ARG has been in U.S. 5th Fleet since the Essex Amphibious Ready Group departed the 5th Fleet in January 2022.

Embarked units include Amphibious Squadron 8, 26th MEU(SOC), Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4 and Beach Master Unit 2. The 26th MEU (SOC), based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., includes Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marines; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 22.

U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships alongside U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In the Ionian Sea

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the Ionian Sea.

Carrier Strike Group 12

Carrier
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), homeported at Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 8

Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW 8), stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked on Ford for the deployment and includes a total of nine squadrons.

• The “Ragin’ Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Blacklions” of VFA 213 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Golden Warriors” of VFA 87 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Tomcatters” of VFA 31 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
• The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
• The “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
• The “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.

Cruiser

• USS Normandy (CG-60), homeported at Norfolk, Va.

Destroyer Squadron 2

Destroyer Squadron 2 is based in Norfolk, Va., and is embarked on Ford.

• USS Ramage (DDG-61), homeported at Norfolk.
• USS McFaul (DDG-74), homeported at Norfolk.
• USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), homeported at Mayport, Fla.

In the Baltic Sea

USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, entered the Baltic Sea on Friday, according to ship spotters. As of Tuesday morning, the San Antonio-class amphibious warship was operating off the coast of Norway, according to Navy officials. The amphibious warship was Dublin, Ireland, last week in conjunction with the U.S. Naval Academy football game against Notre Dame at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

In the East Siberian Sea

Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) is in the East Siberian Sea in proximity to Russia’s Northern Sea Route.

“While Healy has completed periodic voyages across Canada’s Northwest Passage, there have been no U.S. surface missions across the NSR since at least the 1980s. Records show that the now-defunct US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea drifted for three months in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in 1982, though it is unclear if its path took it across the NSR An earlier attempt, of what would today be considered a FONOP, in 1965 and 1967 across the Vilkitsky Strait along the NSR by a U.S. icebreaker was blocked by the Soviet Union. Last year’s US National Defense Authorization Act called for the US Coast Guard to provide a report during 2023 on the “feasibility and timeline” of conducting a NSR transit.

Healy is on a five-month deployment in partnership with the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation. The cutter left Seattle on July 11 for a months-long Arctic deployment.

In the North Atlantic

Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Forward (WMEC-911) is currently supporting Operation Nanook. Operation Nanook is an annual Canadian-led exercise that fosters international cooperation and shared responsibility in the Arctic and the northern Atlantic Regions. The cutter recently made a port call in Nuuk, Greenland.

In the Western Atlantic

According to ship spotters, big deck amphibious warship USS Wasp (LHD-1) was underway off the coast of Virginia on Tuesday.

In the Eastern Pacific

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas.

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, EOD Mobile Units and more serving throughout the globe.