USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 9, 2024

September 9, 2024 12:35 PM - Updated: September 11, 2024 7:25 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 Sept. 9, 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.

In Japan

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), returns to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 20, 2024. US Navy Photo

U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

In Okinawa

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) offload vehicles from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 9, 2024. US Navy Photo

Amphibious warship USS America (LHA-6) arrived in Okinawa, Japan, after conducting operations in the Philippine Sea.

In the Sea of Japan

Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Carter Carr, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 and a native of Athens, Ohio, looks out the MH-60 S Knight Hawk door during operations as Republic of Korea and U.S. Navy ships sail in formation in the Pacific Ocean during exercise Ssang Yong 24, Sept. 4, 2024. US Navy Photo

USS Boxer (LHD-4) and the elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked are underway in the Sea of Japan after wrapping amphibious drills with South Korean forces.

In Souda Bay, Greece

Steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks hangs above a passageway aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD-21), Sep 3, 2024. US Navy Photo

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is in port in Souda Bay, Greece, after a port visit to Turkey last week.

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.

In the Eastern Mediterranean

Marines from the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, assigned to Task Force 61/2, conduct dive operations with Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) while underway in the Mediterranean Sea July 31, 2024. US Navy Photo

Guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) is operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Ohio-class submarine carries 154 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles as well as special operations forces.

The Navy has also independently deployed guided-missile destroyers to the Eastern Mediterranean.

  • USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain.
  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported at Naval Station Rota.
  • USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), homeported at Naval Station Rota.
  • USS Cole (DDG-67), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

In the Red Sea

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.

On Sunday, U.S. Central Command forces destroyed three Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles and two missile systems in Yemen.

On Friday, CENTCOM forces destroyed one Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and one support vehicle in Yemen.

On Tuesday, CENTCOM forces destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi missile system in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

As of Monday, the Navy has independently deployed guided-missile destroyers to the Red Sea.

  • USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
  • USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

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 Gulf of Oman

A Navy Airman cleans an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 34, on the fight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Sept. 2, 2024. US Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) are operating in the Gulf of Oman.

Carrier Strike Group 9

Aviation Boatswain’s Mates (Handling) conduct crash and salvage drills aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on Sept. 4, 2024. US Navy Photo

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

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

The carrier strike group did not deploy with a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. USS Lake Erie (CG-70) trained with the strike group but did not deploy. Instead, USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), has taken the role of the cruiser in the strike group, USNI News learned.

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 Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Gulf of Oman.

Navy Officer stands watch on the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) as it sails behind the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Aug. 29, 2024. US Navy Photo

Carrier Strike Group 3

Navy Aviation Machinist’s Mate conducts maintenance on a hover infrared suppression system (HIRSS) of an MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Aug. 26, 2024. US Navy Photo

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

The carrier strike group did not deploy with a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. Instead, USS Frank Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121) had taken the role of the cruiser in the strike group, USNI News learned. As of Monday, Frank Petersen had deployed to the Red Sea, and USS Stockdale (DDG-106) joined the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group this week.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Navy Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) heave in a line during a replenishment-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) on Aug. 29, 2024. US Navy Photo

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.
  • USS O’Kane (DDG-77), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.
  • USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

In the Eastern Pacific

Quartermaster 2nd Class John White, from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, stands lookout watch aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the Puget Sound, Sept. 4, 2024. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departed Bremerton, Wash., on Wednesday and returned on Friday, according to ship spotters.

In the Western Atlantic


Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) departed Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday and returned on Thursday with an apparent mechanical issue.

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) departed Norfolk, Va., on Friday, according to ship spotters.


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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