Carrier Strike Group Fifteen
Encyclopedia
Carrier Strike Group Fifteen, abbreviated CSG-15 or CARSTRKGRU 15, was one of fourteen U.S. Navy carrier strike group
s established on 1 October 2004. U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control.
Carrier Strike Group Fifteen was initially based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
, prior to changing its homeport to Naval Air Station North Island, California
, with the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
assigned as its flagship.
, based at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
, based at Naval Station Mayport
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
, based at Naval Air Station North Island
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
, which transferred from Norfolk to Naval Air Station North Island
On 8 May 2004, following her five-month post-shakedown availability (PSA), the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan received her second flight deck certification which encompassed all flight operations, including aircraft launch and recovery, safety, crash and salvage, fuel certifications, and training. On 27 May 2004, the carrier Ronald Reagan departed from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
, for a two-month cruise prior to changing her homeport to Naval Air Station North Island, California
. On board the Reagan was Rear Admiral
Robert T. Moeller
, the Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group One (CCDG-1), and his carrier strike group staff. Admiral Moeller noted:
CCDG-1 oversaw all the training exercises, as well as supervised the entire transit of Reagan to San Diego. Also, the following squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)
were temporarily embarked on board the Ronald Reagan:
CVW-11 was normally embarked on board the carrier , and the main purpose for embarking these CVW-11 squadrons on board Reagan was to complete their training evolutions prior to their next Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. While underway, on 15 June 2004, the crew of the Reagan held a memorial service for its namesake
following its first foreign port visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 3 June (pictured). Ronald Reagan became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Strait of Magellan
when the carrier passed through that waterway between 20–21 June 2004 (pictured). Reagan subsequently paid port visits to Valparaíso, Chile, and Callao, Peru, prior to arriving at its new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, California
, on 23 July 2004.
carried out touch-and-go landings on the Reagans flight deck during Gringo-Gaucho exercises
(pictured). The Reagan Carrier Strike Group also participated in a SIFOREX (Silent Forces) exercise with the Peruvian Navy
prior to its port visit to Callao, Peru, on 9 July 2004.
In terms of scale, the most significant naval exercise involving the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group was UNITAS 45-04, the largest multinational naval exercise held in Latin America. Joining the carrier Reagan and Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) were the guided-missile cruiser , the dock landing ship , and the guided-missile destroyers and .
UNITAS 45-04 included naval forces from Argentina
, Bolivia, Chile
, Dominican Republic
, Ecuador
, Paraguay
, Peru
, United States
, and Uruguay
, with observers from Colombia
and Mexico
, and it was hosted by Peru and sponsored by Rear Admiral Vinson Smith, commander, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (Task Force 138). While it featured jungle warfare, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations, the highlight of UNITAS 45-04 was the first multi-national amphibious assault exercise held in Latin America on 24 June 2004, with close air support provided by Carrier Air Wing Eleven and the Peruvian Air Force
.
' Guidance from Admiral
Vernon E. Clark
, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group One (CruDesGru 1) was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Fifteen (CARSTRKGRU 15).
. After a 12-day underway period, Reagan paid a three-day port visit to Hawaii beginning 22 January.
. Reagan and Carrier Strike Group Seven completed their maiden WESTPAC deployment, between 4 January and 6 July 2006, with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14)
, Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON-7), and the guided-missile cruiser .
Carrier Strike Group
A carrier strike group is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft...
s established on 1 October 2004. U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control.
Carrier Strike Group Fifteen was initially based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, prior to changing its homeport to Naval Air Station North Island, California
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, with the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Nimitz class aircraft carrier
The Nimitz-class supercarriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. With an overall length of and full-load displacements of over 100,000 long tons, they are the largest capital ships in the world...
assigned as its flagship.
Overview
Commander Carrier Strike Group Fifteen (COMCARSTRKGRU 15) served as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fifteen. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 15 exercised oversight of unit-level training, integrated training, and readiness for assigned ships and units, as well as maintaining administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the group.Summer Pulse 04
Summer Pulse '04 (SP04) was the U.S. Navy's first full scale exercise of its new operational construct, the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). Its objective was to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's ability to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters, with other U.S. military forces. The exercise included scheduled deployments, surge operations, joint and international exercises, other advanced training, and several port visits. The FRP is designed to allow the Navy to provide up to seven carrier strike groups (CSG) to support any contingency worldwide in 30 days. Per the plan, two more CSGs can be ready within three months to reinforce or rotate out the forces that initially deployed. This allows for a continuous presence and the ability to swiftly respond to different crisis situations. FRP also is about new ways of operating, training, manning and maintaining the fleet resulting in increased force readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power in a crisis situation as well as reinforce our relationships and interoperability in five theaters of operations. Summer Pulse '04 involved the simultaneous surging of seven carrier strike groups led by the following aircraft carriers:, based at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, or Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka is a United States Navy base, in Yokosuka, Japan. Its mission is to maintain and operate base facilities for the logistic, recreational, administrative support and service of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan, U.S. 7th Fleet and...
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, based at Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, based at Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, based at Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, which transferred from Norfolk to Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, for a two-month cruise prior to changing her homeport to Naval Air Station North Island, California
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
. On board the Reagan was Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Robert T. Moeller
Robert T. Moeller
Robert T. Moeller, was a United States Navy vice admiral who last served in active duty as the first Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations, U.S. Africa Command until his departure in April 2010. USAFRICOM was formally stood up in October 2007, as a subunified command initially of EUCOM,...
, the Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group One (CCDG-1), and his carrier strike group staff. Admiral Moeller noted:
As everyone knows, a major objective of this transit is the inter-fleet transfer of Ronald Reagan from the Atlantic to her new homeport in the Pacific. Along the way, the strike group has a unique opportunity to operate with South American navies. It is an incredible honor to be the first commander of the Navy's newest Carrier Strike Group. I’m privileged to have the opportunity to take the group to sea for the transit of South America.
CCDG-1 oversaw all the training exercises, as well as supervised the entire transit of Reagan to San Diego. Also, the following squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)
Carrier Air Wing Eleven
Carrier Air Wing Eleven is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.-Mission:...
were temporarily embarked on board the Ronald Reagan:
- Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41)VFA-41Strike Fighter Squadron 41 also known as the "Black Aces", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California ....
: F/A-18F Super HornetF/A-18E/F Super HornetThe Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air... - Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14)VFA-14The Strike Fighter Squadron 14 "Tophatters" are a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and are the Navy's oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919...
: F/A-18E Super HornetF/A-18E/F Super HornetThe Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air... - Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 (VAW-117)VAW-117Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron One One Seven is a United States Navy airborne early warning squadron. Nicknamed The Wallbangers , it flies the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, the USN’s only carrier-based command and control platform...
: E-2C Hawkeye 2000E-2 HawkeyeThe Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, aircraft carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the... - Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 6 (HS-6)HS-6Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six Indians is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy established in 1956. The squadron was comissioned as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six and completed transition to Helicopter Sea Combat on 8 July, 2011...
: SH-60F SeahawkSH-60 SeahawkThe Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.The... - Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30)VRC-30Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 , also known as the "Providers", is a United States Navy Fleet Logistics Support squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island consisting of 5 detachments.-History:...
: C-2A Greyhound
CVW-11 was normally embarked on board the carrier , and the main purpose for embarking these CVW-11 squadrons on board Reagan was to complete their training evolutions prior to their next Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. While underway, on 15 June 2004, the crew of the Reagan held a memorial service for its namesake
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
following its first foreign port visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 3 June (pictured). Ronald Reagan became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Strait of Magellan
Strait of Magellan
The Strait of Magellan comprises a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America and north of Tierra del Fuego...
when the carrier passed through that waterway between 20–21 June 2004 (pictured). Reagan subsequently paid port visits to Valparaíso, Chile, and Callao, Peru, prior to arriving at its new homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, California
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, on 23 July 2004.
Exercises & port visits
During its inter-fleet transfer, the carrier Reagan and its embarked CVW-11 aircraft participated on several bilateral and multilateral naval exercises. On 17 June 2004, two Super Étendard jet fighters and three S-2T Turbo Trackers antisubmarine aircraft from the Argentine NavyArgentine Naval Aviation
The Argentine Naval Aviation is the naval aviation branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands...
carried out touch-and-go landings on the Reagans flight deck during Gringo-Gaucho exercises
Gringo-Gaucho
Gringo-Gaucho are a set of maneuvers performed between the Argentine Naval Aviation and United States Navy's aircraft carriers. The US Navy refers to them as Southern Seas in their last edition.-History:...
(pictured). The Reagan Carrier Strike Group also participated in a SIFOREX (Silent Forces) exercise with the Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
prior to its port visit to Callao, Peru, on 9 July 2004.
In terms of scale, the most significant naval exercise involving the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group was UNITAS 45-04, the largest multinational naval exercise held in Latin America. Joining the carrier Reagan and Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) were the guided-missile cruiser , the dock landing ship , and the guided-missile destroyers and .
UNITAS 45-04 included naval forces from Argentina
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
, Bolivia, Chile
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Navy
The Navy of the Dominican Republic or Marina de Guerra Dominicana , is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force.-History:...
, Ecuador
Ecuadorian Navy
The Ecuadorian Navy is responsible for the surveillance and protection of national maritime territory and has a personnel of 7,258 men to protect a coastline of 2,237 km which reaches far into the Pacific Ocean...
, Paraguay
Military of Paraguay
The armed forces of Paraguay consist of the Paraguayan army, navy and air force.The constitution of Paraguay establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander-in-chief....
, Peru
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
, United States
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command is the naval element of United States Southern Command . Its areas of operation include South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. Its headquarters are located at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. USNAVSO is currently under the command...
, and Uruguay
National Navy of Uruguay
The National Navy of Uruguay is a branch of the Armed Forces of Uruguay under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense and the commander in chief of the Navy Admiral Juan H...
, with observers from Colombia
Colombian National Armada
The Colombian Navy , also known as the "Armada Nacional" or just the "Armada" in Spanish, is the naval branch of the military forces of Colombia....
and Mexico
Mexican Navy
The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
, and it was hosted by Peru and sponsored by Rear Admiral Vinson Smith, commander, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (Task Force 138). While it featured jungle warfare, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations, the highlight of UNITAS 45-04 was the first multi-national amphibious assault exercise held in Latin America on 24 June 2004, with close air support provided by Carrier Air Wing Eleven and the Peruvian Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
.
Change of command
On 6 August 2004, Rear Admiral Robert J. Cox (pictued) relieved Rear Admiral Robert T. Moeller as Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group One (CCDG-1) and its Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group during a change-of-command ceremony held on the flight deck of aircraft carrier . Admiral Moeller's next assignment was as Director, Plans and Policy (J-5) at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).CSG Redesignation
On 1 October 2004, in keeping with the Chief of Naval OperationsChief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
' Guidance from Admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
Vernon E. Clark
Vern Clark
Admiral Vernon E. Clark USN was the Chief of Naval Operations in the United States Navy. He retired 22 July 2005, making his tenure of five years the second-longest serving CNO behind Arleigh Burke. He currently sits on the board of directors of Raytheon and SRI International...
, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group One (CruDesGru 1) was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Fifteen (CARSTRKGRU 15).
2005 Operations
On 11 January 2005, the carrier departed San Diego for routine carrier operations and to transport two VRC-30 C-2A Greyhound aircraft for use in support of Operation Unified AssistanceOperation Unified Assistance
Operation Unified Assistance is the name of the United States military's response to the tsunami of 2004.-Overview:On 28 December, the first elements of the Combined Support Force were deployed to Utapao, Thailand following that country's approval of the use of that base.More than 12,600...
. After a 12-day underway period, Reagan paid a three-day port visit to Hawaii beginning 22 January.
Disestabishment
On 21 March 2005, Carrier Strike Group Fifteen (CARSTRKGRU 15) was disestablished, with Rear Admiral Robert J. Cox lowering his flag on that date, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was reassigned as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group SevenCarrier Strike Group Seven
Carrier Strike Group Seven also known as CSG-7, CARSTRKGRU 7, and Ronald Reagan Strike Group, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Pacific Fleet. CSG-7 is based at Naval Air Station North Island, and typically deploys as a command element aboard an...
. Reagan and Carrier Strike Group Seven completed their maiden WESTPAC deployment, between 4 January and 6 July 2006, with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14)
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.-Mission:...
, Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON-7), and the guided-missile cruiser .
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- U.S. Carrier Group tacticsU.S. Carrier Group tacticsNaval tactics have played a crucial role in modern battles and wars. The presence of land, changing water depths, weather, detection and electronic warfare, the speed at which actual combat occurs and other factors — especially air power — render naval tactics truly formidable.The basic idea of all...