USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024 3:13 PM - Updated: July 23, 2024 3:07 PM

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of July 22, 2024, 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
297
(USS 237, USNS 60)
103
(USS 71, USNS 32)
85
(54 Deployed, 31 Local)

In Okinawa

An MH-60S Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 taxies on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) while conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea, July 13. U.S. Navy Photo

The amphibious warship USS America (LHA-4) is in port in Okinawa, Japan, onloading elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. America will change homeports later this year, USNI News has learned.

In Malaysia

Lt. j.g. Edwin Zerwekh, from Dallas, lets a visitor look through his binoculars during a tour of U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) as part of a scheduled port visit to Port Klang, Malaysia, July 19, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

The U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) left Port Kelang, Malaysia, on Monday after spending nearly a week there for a regularly scheduled port visit, according to a news release from 7th Fleet.

In the Hawaiian Operating Areas

An Italian Leonardo AW101 (EH101) Merlin helicopter sits on the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) as the ship participates in the at-sea phase of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024, July 17. U.S. Navy Photo

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) continues operations in the underway phase of the Rim of the Pacific 2024 exercise.

In the Pacific

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Chyann King, left, from Carrollton, Ga., answers a phone on the bridge of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in U.S. 3rd Fleet on July 18, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is underway in U.S. 3rd Fleet and heading west on deployment.

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 “Wallbangers” 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.

Cruiser

A cruiser has not yet been identified as attached to the carrier strike group.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) bring in a line during a sea and anchor detail on July 16, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 21 is based in San Diego and is embarked in Abraham Lincoln.

  • USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
  • USS O’Kane (DDG-77), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.
Sailors assigned to USS Boxer (LHD-4) and Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) fire a series of volleys during a burial at sea ceremony on the aircraft elevator as the ship steams in the Pacific Ocean, July 17, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

Amphibious warship USS Boxer (LHD-4) is underway in U.S. 3rd Fleet and has resumed its deployment after an emergency rudder repair, USNI News has learned.

https://x.com/WarshipCam/status/1813642145192194320

In the Mediterranean Sea

A tugboat positioned in front of the ship’s foc’scle assists in maneuvering the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) in to Souda Bay, Greece, July 8, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

USS Wasp (LHD-1) conducting a port visit at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece.

The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked deployed from the East Coast on June 1. The ARG is made up of Wasp, USS New York (LPD-21) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51).

The 24th MEU is composed of a command element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 24 as the Logistics Combat Element.

U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) personnel have finished operations for the U.S. Agency for International Development-led mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza from the sea using the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) capability. The international community will now deliver aid to Gaza through Israel’s Ashdod port, officials announced Thursday.

In the Red Sea

Satellite photo of the Red Sea. NASA Image

U.S. ships continue to patrol the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led multinational effort to protect merchant vessels moving through the region. Houthi forces in Yemen continue to attack merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while U.S. naval forces in the region have continued strikes against Houthi weapons that U.S. Central Command says are a threat to naval and merchant ships. Houthi forces say they are targeting ships with connections to the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Israel.

The U.N. Security Council on Jan. 10 approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea.

On Sunday, CENTCOM forces destroyed four of the Houthi’s unmanned surface vessels in the Red Sea.

On Saturday, CENTCOM forces downed a Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle in the Red Sea.

On Thursday, CENTCOM forces destroyed four Houthi UAVs and two surface-to-air missiles on land in Yemen.

On Monday, CENTCOM forces downed three Houthi UAVs operating over the Read Sea and two over land in Yemen.

Additionally, the Houthis launched multiple attacks against MT Bentley I, a Panama-flagged, Israel-owned, Monaco-operated tanker vessel in the Red Sea carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China, according to a CENTCOM news release. The Houthis used three surface vessels in this attack, one USV and two small boats. No damage or injuries were reported.

Later, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen over the Red Sea toward MT Bentley I.

Separately, the Houthis used a USV to attack MT Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged, Marshall Islands-owned, Greek-operated crude oil tanker, in the Red Sea, according to CENTCOM. The USV caused damage, but MT Chios Lion did not request assistance.

In the Gulf of Aden

U.S. Navy Seaman Colton Carpenter, from Norfolk, Va., stands watch as AS-332 Super Pumas, assigned to the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), carries supplies to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a replenishment-at-sea, July 8, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on Friday “to deter aggression, promote regional stability, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region,” according to U.S. Central Command. TR is currently operating between Oman and the Gulf of Aden. The carrier operated alongside forces from the U.S. Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in the Indian Ocean on its way to the Middle East.

Carrier Strike Group 9

Carrier

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), homeported at San Diego, Calif.

A U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman prepares to fire a .50-caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), July 9, 2024. U.S. Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing 11

  • The “Fist of the Fleet” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Black Knights” of VFA 154 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
  • The “Blue Blasters” of VFA 34 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Fighting Checkmates” of VFA 211 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
  • The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Liberty Bells” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 115 – 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 “Wolf Pack” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
  • The “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser

USS Lake Erie (CG-70), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 23

Destroyer Squadron 23 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Theodore Roosevelt.

  • USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
  • USS Halsey (DDG-97), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
  • USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In the Persian Gulf

U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships with 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 Eastern Pacific

The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) sails past the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), July 18, 2024, at Naval Air Station North Island. U.S. Navy Photo

The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) departed San Diego, Ca., on Saturday, according to ship spotters.

https://x.com/WarshipCam/status/1814016106891489426

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is operating off the coast of Washington. The carrier arrived at the naval magazine on Indian Island in Puget Sound, Wa., on Thursday, according to ship spotters.

Sailors play basketball during a Morale, Welfare and Recreation hosted basketball tournament in the hangar bay aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility, July 19. U.S. Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived in San Diego, Calif., for a scheduled port visit before transiting the Pacific Ocean en route its new home port of Yokosuka, Japan, as the replacement for Ronald Reagan.

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) arrived in San Diego, Calif., on Thursday and departed on Friday, according to ship spotters.

In the Western Atlantic

The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) departed Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday and returned on Thursday, according to ship spotters.

https://x.com/WarshipCam/status/1813645720844648849

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.

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