USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 13, 2021

100+USNI Newsby U.S. Naval Institute Staff / 5h

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These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Dec. 13, 2021, 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.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:

295

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway	Non-deployed Ships Underway	Total Ships Underway
51	20	71

In Yokosuka, Japan

Cmdr. Cody Lutke from Shreveport, Louisiana gives a tour of the pilot house to students from the National Defense Academy of Japan aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) on Dec. 4, 2021 in Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy Photo

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

In Sasebo, Japan

Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Maness, assigned to Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, conducts a tour of the flight deck aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) for allies from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Dec. 8, 2021 in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy Photo

The ships of the America Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) are in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Indian Ocean

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204), Dec. 7, 2021 in the Philippine Sea. U.S. Navy Photo

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is underway in the Indian Ocean, off the northwest coast of Australia.

Aircraft carrier
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 2

Double rainbows form on the horizon while an EA-18G Growler, assigned to the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, is stowed on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Dec. 8, 2021 in the Philippine Sea. U.S. Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., is embarked aboard Carl Vinson and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

• The “Argonauts” of VFA-147 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F-35Cs from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Stingers” of VFA-113 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Gauntlets” of VAQ-136 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Black Eagles” of VAW-113 – E-2D – Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
• The “Titans” of VRM-30 – CMV-22B – Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
• The “Black Knights” of HSC-4 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station North Island.
• The “Blue Hawks” of HSM-78 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser

Seaman Sergio Vielmas, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., stands Landing Signalman during vertical replenishment drills for an MH-60R Sea Hawk assigned to the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 78 aboard Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), Nov. 20, 2021 in the Philippine Sea. U.S. Navy Photo

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 1

Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) conduct line handling with Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) during a replenishment-at-sea in South China Sea, Nov. 30, 2021. U.S. Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 1 is based in San Diego and is embarked on the carrier.

• USS Dewey (DDG-105), homeported in San Diego.
• USS O’Kane (DDG-77), homeported in San Diego.
• USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
• USS Chafee (DDG-90), homeported in Pearl Harbor.
• USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported in San Diego.

In the Gulf of Oman

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducts a strait transit through the Strait of Hormuz with fast response cutter USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142), left, dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8), middle, and coastal patrol ship USS Whirlwind (PC 11), Dec. 11. U.S. Navy Photo

The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit just transited the Strait of Hormuz and is now in the Gulf of Oman. The ARG deployed Aug. 12.

The ARG is comprised of three ships: landing helicopter dock USS Essex (LHD-2), amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD-27) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52). Together the 11th MEU, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1 and ships are designated as an ARG/MEU. In addition to the ships, the principal Navy elements of the ARG are a Naval Beach Group element, the Tactical Air Control Squadron element, a fleet surgical team and a helicopter sea combat squadron element.

The 11th MEU consists of four major components: a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element and a logistics combat element. The 11th MEU is comprised of Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 (Reinforced), Marine Attack Squadron 214 and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

In the United Kingdom

HMS Queen Elizabeth returns from her seven month global mission on Dec. 9, 2021. UK Royal Navy Photo

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and escorts of the United Kingdom Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG 21) returned to their home ports in HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth on Dec. 9, marking the end of the carrier’s seven-month maiden deployment.

CSG 21 sailed 49,000 nautical miles to the Indo-Pacific and back. CSG 21 ships arriving home were aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, destroyers HMS Diamond (D34) and HMS Defender (D36), frigates HMS Richmond (F239) and HMS Kent (F78) and replenishment ship RFA Fort Victoria (A387).

The remaining ships of the CSG 21 had returned home earlier. American destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) detached from the group in late October and arrived home in Mayport, Fla., on Nov. 24. Meanwhile, Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805) detached from the group on Dec. 2 and arrived home at Nieuwe Haven Naval Base, Den Helder on Dec. 5. U.K. replenishment ship RFA Tidespring (A136), which was replaced as the CSG’s tanker by RFA Tidesurge (A138) on Nov. 20, returned home to Portland Port, Devon on Dec. 2. The U.K rotated its Astute-class submarines for the deployment, with one submarine accompanying the group at various periods.

The U.K. air elements of CSG 21 flew home Dec. 8 and 9, with the Merlin helicopters of 820 Naval Air Squadron and 845 NAS returning to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and RNAS Yeovilton, respectively, on Dec. 9. The Wildcat helicopters of 815 NAS returned to RNAS Yeovilton on Dec. 8, while “The Dambusters” of Royal Air Force 617 Squadron arrived home at RAF Marham on Dec. 9.

The “Wake Island Avengers” of U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 arrived home at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma on Dec. 8 after departing from CSG 21 last month. The squadron first landed aboard Queen Elizabeth in May 2021 for an integrated deployment with the U.K.’s 617 Squadron. A U.S. Marine Corps release stated that during the Royal Navy carrier’s initial operating deployment, VMFA-211 and the 617 squadron completed more than 1,278 sorties, flew more than 2200 hours, and conducted 44 combat missions in support of the counter-ISIS mission — Operation Inherent Resolve.

The ten F-35Bs of the squadron flew to Naval Station Rota on Nov. 24, with the remainder of the squadron disembarking from Queen Elizabeth on Dec. 2, when the carrier made a port call in Rota. On Dec. 5, the main body of personnel and equipment flew from Naval Station Rota to MCAS Yuma. The aircraft flew into MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., and subsequently flew to MCAS Yuma.

In the Eastern Pacific

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Matthew Kjoller, left, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Jarrett Tipton fake out a fuel hose on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 9. Makin Island is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. U.S. Navy Photo

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. USS Makin Island (LHD-8), USS San Diego (LPD-22) and USS Somerset (LPD-25) – along with the 15th MEU – returned from their last deployment in May 2021.

In the Western Atlantic

Sailors attach a fuel hose to a JP-5 fuel pump aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on Dec. 3, 2021. Truman is operating as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. U.S. Navy Photo

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group departed from Norfolk, Va., on Dec. 1 for a scheduled deployment. Along with the U.S. ships; Royal Norwegian Navy Frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) joined the strike group under the Cooperative Deployment Program, which, according to the Navy, emphasizes the strengthening of defense partnerships and capabilities between the U.S. and bilateral or multilateral partners.

Aircraft carrier
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 2, 2021. U.S. Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

• The “Red Rippers” of VFA-11 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) flying F/A-18Fs from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
• The “Fighting Checkmates” of VFA-211 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Sunliners” of VFA-81 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Rooks” of VAQ-137 – EA-18G – Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Seahawks” of VAW-126 – E-2D – Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
• The “Rawhides” of VRC-40 – Detachment – C-2A – Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
• The “Dragon Slayers” of HSC-11 – MH-60S – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
• The “Proud Warriors of HSM-72 – MH-60R – Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Cruiser
USS San Jacinto (CG-56), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) man the rails during a Sea-and-Anchor ceremony on Dec. 1, 2021. Gravely is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. U.S. Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 28 is based in Norfolk and is embarked on the carrier.

• USS Cole (DDG-67), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
• USS Bainbridge (DDG- 96), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
• USS Gravely (DDG-107), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
• USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
• Royal Norwegian Navy Frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310).

U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswains Mates secure an MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotar Squadron 263, during flight operations aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Dec. 6, 2021. U.S. Navy Photo

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is underway in the Virginia Capes Operating Area. Also underway in the Virginia Capes are USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7).

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, Coast Guard cutters, EOD Mobile Units, and more serving throughout the globe.