Adm. Scott H. Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivers remarks during a change of command and retirement ceremony as Vice Adm. Nora W. Tyson prepares to relinquish command of U.S. 3rd Fleet. US Navy Photo
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet pushed back against recent discussions that he shouldn’t both prepare and operate ready forces and that force-generation should be concentrated at U.S. Fleet Forces Command on the East Coast. Read More
An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 participates in a change of command ceremony near the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 15, 2018. US Navy Photo
With USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) tied-up in maintenance for a couple months, the Carl Vinson Strike Group is pinch-hitting in the Western Pacific on a short deployment less than a year from returning from the region.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, including the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), operates with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, including USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), CVW-5, USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS Barry (DDG 52), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS Mustin (DDG 89), and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships (JS) Hyuga (DDH 181) and JS Ashigara (DDG 178) in the western Pacific region. US Navy Photo
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed the West Coast yesterday and today for a deployment to the Western Pacific, with this being the strike group’s second consecutive WESTPAC deployment under U.S. 3rd Fleet command. Read More
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) approaches the Friendship Bridge as it transits the Suez Canal on July 8, 2016. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group was deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Amid continued calls for innovation, several current and former fleet commanders say the Navy needs to focus on how it employs the force it already has rather than seeking brand new technologies to fight with. Read More
Cmdr. Garrett Miller, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) greets the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) as it conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) as part of interoperability drills between the Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) and BHR ESG. The drills are meant to enhance readiness of cruiser-destroyer ships to rapidly integrate with an amphibious task force to provide increased capability for amphibious operations in support of crisis response or disaster relief. US Navy Photo
The Navy will take lessons learned from the 2016 deployment of a three-destroyer Pacific Fleet Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) that remained under U.S. 3rd Fleet command and stretch itself further, deploying a full carrier strike group under 3rd Fleet command and potentially forming a multinational “PAC SAG 2” this summer. Read More
The following is Adm. Scott Swift’s, commander U.S. Pacific Fleet, updated guidance to his command, issued on Aug 18, 2016. Read More
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) transits the Pacific Ocean toward the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to serve as the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier on Sept. 19, 2015. US Navy Photo
The Navy’s Japan-bound carrier — part of an elaborate three nuclear carrier swap — has entered the Western Pacific, the service announced over the weekend. Read More
USS George Washington (CVN-73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) transit the Pacific Ocean prior to conducting a hull-swap on Aug, 7, 2015. US Navy Photo
Later today Nimitz-class carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) will depart San Diego, Calif. for its new home in Yokosuka, Japan. Read More
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) flies the U.S. Navy battle ensign and the 297-foot Homeward Bound Pennant on July 27, 2015, as it sails through the Western Pacific on its way to San Diego. The Homeward Bound Pennant is flown by ships that are on a continuous overseas duty for 9 months and returning to a U.S. port. US Navy photo.
The Navy’s three-carrier crew swap will begin today, with USS George Washington (CVN-73) set to arrive at Naval Air Station North Island to swap crews with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) before heading to Newport News, Va., for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Read More
