With no fanfare, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) left San Diego Bay Thursday to begin a planned Pacific deployment, Navy officials confirmed to USNI News.
Ship spotters saw Lincoln depart its berth at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., on Thursday
Now off the coast of California, Lincoln will embark aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 9 and serve as the flag ship for Carrier Strike Group 3. Guided missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron 21 will join Lincoln. A Navy official confirmed USS Spruance (DDG-111) deployed with Lincoln but did not identify the guided-missile cruiser that would accompany the aircraft carrier.
The carrier completed its graduation exercise last month ahead of this week’s deployment.
Meanwhile, San Diego-based carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is now operating in U.S. Central Command, as of Friday, after leaving U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. 7th Fleet.
“The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations July 12 to deter aggression, promote regional stability, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region,” reads a Friday statement from the command.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th
Fleet area of operations July 12 to deter aggression, promote regional stability, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region. pic.twitter.com/TEJck2gLHF— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2024
The strike group was repositioned from its Western Pacific deployment to ensure a U.S. aircraft carrier presence in the Middle East following the departure of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) after the strike group was extended twice.
TR will join Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led effort to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Aircraft from Eisenhower made several strikes on Houthi weapons and radars that targeted ships in the region.
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is now in San Diego after arriving in California this week, following the completion of a several-month journey around South America, according to ship spotters. GW is now moored at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., in San Diego Bay. Later this year, the carrier will take over as the Navy’s forward-deployed carrier based in Yokosuka, Japan. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is expected to arrive in California in the next several days to complete the ceremonial transfer as the FDNF-J carrier before heading to a maintenance period in Bremerton, Wash., before being assigned to a U.S. homeport.
The following is the composition of Carrier Strike Group 3 as of Friday.
Carrier Strike Group 3
Carrier
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 9
- The “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
- The “Black Aces” of VFA 41 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 – F-35C – from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
- The “Vigilantes” of VFA 151 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
- The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
- The “Wall Bangers” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
- The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
- The “Raptors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
- The “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
Destroyer Squadron 21
Destroyer Squadron 21 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Abraham Lincoln.
- USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
