Carrier Strike Group Ten
Encyclopedia
Carrier Strike Group Ten, abbreviated as CSG-10 or CARSTRKGRU 10, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike group
s currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command
. 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 Ten is currently based at Naval Station Norfolk
, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea
and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean
and the Persian Gulf
. The current flagship
for Carrier Strike Group Ten is the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
.
at Naval Station Newport
, Rhode Island
. The Flotilla was deactivated in 1922 as part of the fleet draw down after the war. Destroyer Flotilla Two was reactivated in 1931 and served throughout the 1930s as a caretaker of reserve destroyers until again deactivated in the early days of World War II. As part of the Navy’s fleet reorganization, the Flotilla was reactivated yet again in 1946. In 1973, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Two was renamed Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two, and it relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1974.
In the Summer of 1992, the U.S. Navy instituted a concept which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure. Instead of routinely changing the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates assigned to each carrier battle group, there was an attempt made to affiliate certain escorts more permanently with the carriers they escorted. Each of the Navy's 12 existing carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines.
In 1993, following fleet reorganization, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two became the Battle Group Staff for the newly named George Washington Battle Group, with the newly-commissioned nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
as its flagship. The George Washington Battle Group participated in the 2000 NATO Exercise Destined Glory, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Deny Flight
, Operation Southern Watch
, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Vigilant Resolve
.
In 2004 Cruiser Destroyer Group Two was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10), with the aircraft carrier initially assigned as its flagship. Subsequently, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was assigned as the new flagship for CARSTRKGRU 10; the Truman had previously been under the operational control of the Commander, Carrier Group Two
.
Carrier Strike Group Two reports to the Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
(USFLTFORCOM) as one of its six carrier strike groups currently assigned to that command. CARSTRKGRU 2's pre-deployment training and certification
comes under the operational control (OPCON) of USFLTFORCOM following the disestablisment of the U.S. Second Fleet on 30 September 2011. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean
and the Persian Gulf
.
Type commands (TYCOM)
are in administrative control (ADCON) and in some cases, operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (i.e., surface combatant ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The aircraft carrier and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
. Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) is under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
.
(flagship
), an embarked carrier air wing
, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
, and a destroyer squadron
. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three is composed of the following units:
, flahship (pictured)
, and Operation Vigilant Resolve
, as well as participation of Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (JTFEX 05-2).
on 14 September 2010:
During its seven-month deployment, Carrier Strike Group Ten (CARSTRKGRU 10) flew 2,915 missions into Afghanistan and Iraq, providing vital close air support to coalition forces on the ground and, while delivering 35,000 pounds (15,876 kg) of ordnance in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation New Dawn (OND). Also, etachments from helicopter squadron HSL-44 based on board the guided-missile destroyers and flew a combined 1,875 hours in support of anti-piracy operations, multinational training events, and counter-smuggling missions in the Gulf of Aden
and Indian Ocean
. The guided-missile cruiser Normandy served as the Regional Air Defense Commander (RADC) in support of OEF, providing surveillance of more than 264 million square miles (683.8 million km2) of air space.
Other hightlights of the 2010 MED deployment included hosting a multi-national group of European military and civilian leaders on 9 December. Carrier Strike Group Ten returned to Naval Station Norfolk
on 20 December 2010. Admiral Patrick Driscoll summarized the accomplishment of COMCARSTRKGRU-10's 2010 MED deployment as follows:
air operations with the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to celebrate 100 years of French naval aviation; the Truman strike group paid a port visit to Marseille, France; and the guided-missile destroyer Ross conducted visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS)
training with a Croatian Navy's VBSS team in operations off Split, Croatia. The Truman-led task force of 11 American warships and 5,000 men sailed through the Suez Canal
on 20 June 2010.
On 21 June 2010, a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team (pictured) from the guided-missile destroyer Winston Churchill provided food and water to two stranded Yemeni fishermen who had been out to sea for a total of 14 days, and two Yemeni fishermen had been stranded without food, water or fuel for the last four days. The Churchill subsequently conducted counterpiracy operations with the French destroyer De Grasse off the Horn of Africa
beginning 19 August 2010. On 27 September, a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from Winston S. Churchill rescued 62 distressed mariners after their dhow capsized in the Gulf of Aden
.
in early August 2010. The Truman rescued eight Iranian fishermen on 18 August 2010. After being rescued by search and rescue swimmers from two helicopters assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Seven (HS-7), the mariners were transported to Truman for follow-on care, where they received medical attention, food, and clothing before being transferred to Iranian vessel AKL Chiroo via rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on 20 August 2010.
As of 29 September 2010, aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) completed more than 3,300 aircraft sorties and logged more than 10,200 flight hours, with more than 7,200 of those hours in support of coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. Admiral Driscoll noted that:
On 17 October 2010, Carrier Strike Group Ten was joined by Carrier Strike Group Nine (CARSTRKGRU 9), led by the carrier with Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) embarked, as part of Task Force 50 (TF-50), the Battle Force for the U.S. Fifth Fleet (pictured). Its mission to provide surge support for coalition forces in Afghanistan, and to support existing maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf.
Additionally, a French naval task group led by the carrier Charles de Gaulle departed Toulon
on 30 October 2010 for a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean. and Persian Gulf. The task group also included two frigates, a nuclear attack submarine
, a replenishment oiler
, 3,000 sailors, and an Embarked Aviation Group (EAG) consiting of 12 Super-Étendard attack aircraft, 10 Rafale multi-role fighters, and two E-2C Hawkeye 2000 AEW
aircraft. The task group commander, Rear Admiral Jean-Louis Kerignard, defined force's mission: "The force would help allied navies fight piracy off the coast of Somalia and send jets to support NATO in the skies above Afghanistan."
On 15 November 2010, four Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (VMM-266) landed and re-fueled on board the carrier Harry S. Truman following operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan (pictured). These VMM-266 helicopters part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU)
, and they were returning to the amphibious assault ship
after completing humanitarian relief efforts in Pakistan
. Because of the distance between Pakistan and Kearsarge, the Truman acted as a "lily pad"
for the helicopters to re-fuel.
, the stranded crew was recovered by the Elrods rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and transported back to the ship before being transferred to the Pakistani Navy frigate PNS Babur
on 6 July 2010.
On 18 November 2010, CARSTRKGRU 10 guided-missile destroyer located and provided assistance to two Iranian mariners who were spotted floating in a life raft in the Persian Gulf. Oscar Austin was operating Combined Task Force 152 (CTF-152), and the two mariners were picked up by an Iranian rescue vessel (pictured).
On 28 February 2011, the Harry S. Truman began its dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance and yard overhaul period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
in Portsmouth, Virginia
. During this maintenance cycle, Truman received a new main mast, an upgrade in its close-in weapons systems, and the installation of the Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) which provides the carrier with enhanced communications and cooperative engagement capabilities to assess possible threats. Truman is expected to complete this DPIA yard overhaul in early 2012 and begin preparations for its sixth overseas deployment. Also, Trumans berthing spaces were also upgraded, installing 2,500 racks, replacing 46,000 square feet of deck and painting 106,000 square feet of spaces.
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
. Admiral Driscoll's next assignment was as the deputy chief of staff for Operations and Fleet/Joint Training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command based at Naval Station Norfolk
in Norfolk, Virginia
. A Naval Flight Officer
, Admiral Shelanski was a former commanding officer of the USS Harry S. Truman and his immediate assignment prior to Carrier Strike Group Ten was as the director of the Environmental Readiness Division.
through open dialogue and increased training between the participating navies. Participating U.S. naval forces included Commander Carrier Strike Group Ten, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26), and the guided-missile destroyer ; and international naval forces included the French frigate Ventôse', the Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko
, and the guided-missile destroyer .
The exercise consisted of two phases, ashore and at-sea. The week-long ashore phase included damage control, fire fighting, and ship handling exercises at shore-based training facilities. The at-sea phase (pictured) occurred during the second week, between 27 June and 1 July, and this phase included training in maritime domain awareness, anti-piracy operations, and maritime interdiction operations (MIO)
. A shore-based multin-ational combined task group (CTG) staff provided command and control for the participating warships during the at-sea phase. Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10, summarized the accomplishment of FRUKUS 2011:
PASSEX exercises are designed to provide realistic training environments for U.S. Navy and the JMSDF Training Squadron that closely replicates the operational challenges routinely encountered around the world. DESRON-26 is worked in close coordination with the JMSDF Training Squadron which consists of newly-commissioned Japanese surface warfare officers. Captain Nelson Castro, deputy commander DESRON 26, noted:
U.S. naval units participating were Carrier Strike Group 10, DESRON 26, the guided-missile cruiser , the guided-missile destroyer , and the guided-missile frigate . Japanese naval units participating were the destroyer Mineyuki (DD-124)
, the training vessel Asagiri (TV-3516)
, and the training vessel .
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 currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. 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 Ten is currently 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...
, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. The current flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for Carrier Strike Group Ten is 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...
.
Historical background
The lineage to the current Carrier Strike Group Ten can be traced to Destroyer Flotilla Two which was established during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at Naval Station Newport
Naval Station Newport
The Naval Station Newport is a United States Navy base located in the towns of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Naval Station Newport is home to the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The Flotilla was deactivated in 1922 as part of the fleet draw down after the war. Destroyer Flotilla Two was reactivated in 1931 and served throughout the 1930s as a caretaker of reserve destroyers until again deactivated in the early days of World War II. As part of the Navy’s fleet reorganization, the Flotilla was reactivated yet again in 1946. In 1973, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Two was renamed Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two, and it relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1974.
In the Summer of 1992, the U.S. Navy instituted a concept which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure. Instead of routinely changing the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates assigned to each carrier battle group, there was an attempt made to affiliate certain escorts more permanently with the carriers they escorted. Each of the Navy's 12 existing carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines.
In 1993, following fleet reorganization, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two became the Battle Group Staff for the newly named George Washington Battle Group, with the newly-commissioned nuclear-powered Nimitz-class 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...
as its flagship. The George Washington Battle Group participated in the 2000 NATO Exercise Destined Glory, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Vigilant Resolve
Operation Vigilant Resolve
As part of the occupation of Iraq, the First Battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve, was an unsuccessful attempt by the United States Military to capture the city of Fallujah in April 2004....
.
In 2004 Cruiser Destroyer Group Two was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10), with the aircraft carrier initially assigned as its flagship. Subsequently, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was assigned as the new flagship for CARSTRKGRU 10; the Truman had previously been under the operational control of the Commander, Carrier Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two, abbreviated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...
.
Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to Carrier Strike Group Ten. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 10 exercises oversight of unit-level training, integrated training, and readiness for assigned ships and units, as well as maintains administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the group.Carrier Strike Group Two reports to the Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
(USFLTFORCOM) as one of its six carrier strike groups currently assigned to that command. CARSTRKGRU 2's pre-deployment training and certification
Composite Unit Training Exercise
COMPTUEX, or Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performs before departing for deployment. Each ship and aircraft in the battle group trains in its speciality, COMPTUEX brings ships together to project force as a battle group...
comes under the operational control (OPCON) of USFLTFORCOM following the disestablisment of the U.S. Second Fleet on 30 September 2011. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
Type commands (TYCOM)
U.S. Navy type commands
U.S. Navy type commands perform vital administrative, personnel, and operational training functions for a "type" of weapon system within a fleet organization.-Overview:...
are in administrative control (ADCON) and in some cases, operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (i.e., surface combatant ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The aircraft carrier and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic is a post within the United States Fleet Forces Command. As Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic, it is a military formation, but the organization is often known as COMNAVSURFLANT. Its headquarters are at the Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia. The commander,...
. Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) is under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet is the aviation Type Commander for the United States Atlantic Fleet naval aviation units...
.
Force composition in 2011
U.S. Navy carrier strike groups typically consist of an aircraft carrierSupercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
(flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
), an embarked carrier air wing
Carrier air wing
A Carrier Air Wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft...
, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
, and a destroyer squadron
DESRON
A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels, both may be used...
. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three is composed of the following units:
, flahship (pictured)
- Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3)Carrier Air Wing ThreeCarrier Air Wing Three , known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S...
- Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26)
2004–2009 operations
Carrier Strike Group Ten 2004–2009 operations included two Mediterranean (MED) deploymments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A)War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, and Operation Vigilant Resolve
Operation Vigilant Resolve
As part of the occupation of Iraq, the First Battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve, was an unsuccessful attempt by the United States Military to capture the city of Fallujah in April 2004....
, as well as participation of Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (JTFEX 05-2).
2010 Mediterranean deployment
Carrier Strike Group Ten (CARSTRKGRU 10) deployed 21 May 2010 for a six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations (MSO) and theater security cooperation efforts in the Fifth and Sixth fleets' areas of operations under the command of Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll. Admiral Driscoll summarized the many objectives that Carrier Strike Group Ten would undertake during its 2010 deployment in an interview with Jane's Defence WeeklyJane's Defence Weekly
Jane's Defence Weekly is a weekly magazine reporting on military and corporate affairs, edited by Peter Felstead. It is one of a number of military-related publications named after John F. T. Jane, an Englishman who first published Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships in 1898...
on 14 September 2010:
The strike group [initially] aggregates as a unit but then we disaggregate into a variety of different missions. When we do power projection in a group and in a high-threat environment [or] when we conduct forward operations, we do not sail as a flotilla. We usually disaggregate and break up. Now we have two ships down at Combined Task Force 150Combined Task Force 150Combined Task Force 150 is a multinational coalition naval task force working under the 25 nation coalition of Combined Maritime Forces and is based in Bahrain established to monitor, inspect, board, and stop suspect shipping to pursue the "War on Terrorism" and in the Horn of Africa region ...
doing counter-piracy off Somalia and two doing the same in the Gulf of Aden. Others are in the [Persian] Gulf, doing presence operations. So we are spread, but if there's the operational request we can aggregate together in a very short time. The air wing is, or will be, focused on aerial support of OEF in Afghanistan. Of similar importance is patrolling to keep free and safe sea lanes open and providing a presence for everybody... there are many ships out here to have an eye on. Part of the presence mission also is to monitor and document them.
During its seven-month deployment, Carrier Strike Group Ten (CARSTRKGRU 10) flew 2,915 missions into Afghanistan and Iraq, providing vital close air support to coalition forces on the ground and, while delivering 35,000 pounds (15,876 kg) of ordnance in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation New Dawn (OND). Also, etachments from helicopter squadron HSL-44 based on board the guided-missile destroyers and flew a combined 1,875 hours in support of anti-piracy operations, multinational training events, and counter-smuggling missions in the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. The guided-missile cruiser Normandy served as the Regional Air Defense Commander (RADC) in support of OEF, providing surveillance of more than 264 million square miles (683.8 million km2) of air space.
Other hightlights of the 2010 MED deployment included hosting a multi-national group of European military and civilian leaders on 9 December. Carrier Strike Group Ten returned to 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...
on 20 December 2010. Admiral Patrick Driscoll summarized the accomplishment of COMCARSTRKGRU-10's 2010 MED deployment as follows:
This has been a great deployment because of the hard work and professionalism of our Sailors and Marines over the last seven months. Whether conducting combat flight operations in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces in Afghanistan, preventing piracy on the open seas, or interacting with the local community during well-deserved port visits, the strike group represented themselves and their country with the greatest pride and professionalism.
Force composition
| Units | CARSTRKGRU 10 Warships | Carrier Air Wing Three Carrier Air Wing Three Carrier Air Wing Three , known as the "Battle Axe", is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S... (CVW-3) squadrons embarked aboard flagship |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312): VMFA-312 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Checkerboards", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing .-World... 12 F/A-18C(N) |
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW-126): 4 E-2C | |
| #2 | Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105): VFA-105 Strike Fighter Squadron 105 also known as the "Gunslingers" is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The "Gunslingers" are an operational fleet squadron and fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet... 12 F/A-18E |
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7 (HS-7): 3 MH-60S & 3 SH-60S | |
| #3 | Strike Fighter Squadron 37 (VFA-37): VFA-37 Strike Fighter Squadron 37 , also known as the "Ragin’ Bulls", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 3 and are attached to the... 10 F/A-18C(N) |
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 4: 2 C-2A | |
| #4 | Strike Fighter Squadron 32 (VFA-32): 12 F/A-18F | -- | |
| #5 | FGS Hessen (F221) Sachsen class frigate The F124 Sachsen class is Germany's latest class of highly advanced air-defense frigates. The design of the Sachsen class frigate is based on that of the F123 Brandenburg class but with enhanced stealth features intended to deceive any opponent's radar and acoustic sensors and incorporate also the... |
Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 130 (VAQ-130): 4 EA-6B | -- |
| Notes |
Sixth Fleet operations
While enroute, the carrier Truman carried out cross-deckCross-deck (naval terminology)
For the component of an aircraft carrier arresting gear , see Cross deck pendantCross-deck is United States Navy jargon which may refer to either informal, ad-hoc sharing of resources between naval vessels , or the use of carrier decks to host aircraft of foreign allies, aircraft from other ships...
air operations with the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to celebrate 100 years of French naval aviation; the Truman strike group paid a port visit to Marseille, France; and the guided-missile destroyer Ross conducted visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS)
Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
Visit, board, search, and seizure is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and...
training with a Croatian Navy's VBSS team in operations off Split, Croatia. The Truman-led task force of 11 American warships and 5,000 men sailed through the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
on 20 June 2010.
On 21 June 2010, a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team (pictured) from the guided-missile destroyer Winston Churchill provided food and water to two stranded Yemeni fishermen who had been out to sea for a total of 14 days, and two Yemeni fishermen had been stranded without food, water or fuel for the last four days. The Churchill subsequently conducted counterpiracy operations with the French destroyer De Grasse off the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
beginning 19 August 2010. On 27 September, a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from Winston S. Churchill rescued 62 distressed mariners after their dhow capsized in the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
.
Fifth Fleet operations
Carrier Strike Group Ten entered the U.S. Fifth 5th Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR) on 29 June 2010. On 2 July 2010, Carrier Strike Group Ten relieved Carrier Strike Group Eight (CARSTRKGRU-8), led by the carrier Eisenhower, with Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll assuming command of Task Force 50, the U.S. Fifth Fleet's carrier strike task force.Carrier air operations
Carrier Strike Group Ten began patrolling the northern Arabian SeaArabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
in early August 2010. The Truman rescued eight Iranian fishermen on 18 August 2010. After being rescued by search and rescue swimmers from two helicopters assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Seven (HS-7), the mariners were transported to Truman for follow-on care, where they received medical attention, food, and clothing before being transferred to Iranian vessel AKL Chiroo via rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on 20 August 2010.
As of 29 September 2010, aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) completed more than 3,300 aircraft sorties and logged more than 10,200 flight hours, with more than 7,200 of those hours in support of coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. Admiral Driscoll noted that:
Our challenge is to continue to execute these many missions in a safe and efficient manner in this demanding and hazardous environment. These Sailors and Marines are the best I have deployed with, and they remain focused on the mission. We want to ensure all safely return to their families back in our homeport.
On 17 October 2010, Carrier Strike Group Ten was joined by Carrier Strike Group Nine (CARSTRKGRU 9), led by the carrier with Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) embarked, as part of Task Force 50 (TF-50), the Battle Force for the U.S. Fifth Fleet (pictured). Its mission to provide surge support for coalition forces in Afghanistan, and to support existing maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf.
Additionally, a French naval task group led by the carrier Charles de Gaulle departed Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
on 30 October 2010 for a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean. and Persian Gulf. The task group also included two frigates, a nuclear attack submarine
Rubis class submarine
The Rubis type is a class of first-generation nuclear attack submarines of the French Navy. They are the most compact nuclear attack submarines to date.All submarines of the class are named after gemstones.-History:...
, a replenishment oiler
Durance class tanker
The Durance class is a series of multi-product replenishment oilers, originally designed and built for service in the French Navy. Besides the five ships built for the French Navy, a sixth was built for the Royal Australian Navy, while the lead ship of the class currently serves with the Argentine...
, 3,000 sailors, and an Embarked Aviation Group (EAG) consiting of 12 Super-Étendard attack aircraft, 10 Rafale multi-role fighters, and two E-2C Hawkeye 2000 AEW
Airborne Early Warning
An airborne early warning and control system is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack plane strikes...
aircraft. The task group commander, Rear Admiral Jean-Louis Kerignard, defined force's mission: "The force would help allied navies fight piracy off the coast of Somalia and send jets to support NATO in the skies above Afghanistan."
On 15 November 2010, four Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (VMM-266) landed and re-fueled on board the carrier Harry S. Truman following operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan (pictured). These VMM-266 helicopters part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU)
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of four major parts: a command element,...
, and they were returning to the amphibious assault ship
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
after completing humanitarian relief efforts in Pakistan
2010 Pakistan floods
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land area was underwater, approximately...
. Because of the distance between Pakistan and Kearsarge, the Truman acted as a "lily pad"
Cooperative Security Location
A Cooperative Security Location is a U.S. military term for facilities used for regional training in counterterrorism and interdiction of drug trafficking, and also to provide contingency access to the continent. "A CSL is a host-nation facility with little or no permanent U.S...
for the helicopters to re-fuel.
Maritime security operations
On 5 July 2010, the guided-missile frigate assisted 16 stranded Pakistani fishermen (pictured) whose boat had taken on water and sank two days earlier. After being spotted floating adrift in a life raft by a U.S. Navy P-3 OrionP-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
, the stranded crew was recovered by the Elrods rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and transported back to the ship before being transferred to the Pakistani Navy frigate PNS Babur
HMS Amazon (F169)
HMS Amazon was the first Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Her keel was laid down at the Vosper Thornycroft shipyard in Southampton, England...
on 6 July 2010.
On 18 November 2010, CARSTRKGRU 10 guided-missile destroyer located and provided assistance to two Iranian mariners who were spotted floating in a life raft in the Persian Gulf. Oscar Austin was operating Combined Task Force 152 (CTF-152), and the two mariners were picked up by an Iranian rescue vessel (pictured).
Exercises & port visits
| Number | Regional Exercises | Port Visits | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | U.S. Force | Bilateral/Multilateral Partner(s) | Operating Area | Location | Dates | ||
| 1st: | -- | Winston S. Churchill | -- | -- | Portsmouth, England | 3-7 June | |
| 2nd: | 4-7 June | Carrier Strike Group Ten | French Navy French Navy The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching... Task Force 473 |
Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant... |
Marseille, France | 8-11 June | |
| 3rd: | -- | Oscar Austin | -- | -- | Constanta, Romania | 8-10 June | |
| 4th: | 10 June | Ross | VBSS exercise: Croatian Navy | Adriatic Sea Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges... |
Split, Croatia | 10 June | |
| 5th: | 7-9 July | Harry S. Truman, Winston S. Churchill | FS Jean Bart (D615) | Arabian Sea Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India... |
-- | -- | |
| 6th: | -- | Carrier Strike Group Ten | -- | -- | Jebel Ali Jebel Ali Jebel Ali is a port town, located 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . The village has a thriving expatriate community with over 300 residents. The area is also home to "5,500 companies from 120 countries".... , U.A.E |
7-10 August | |
| 7th: | -- | Carrier Strike Group Ten | -- | -- | Jebel Ali Jebel Ali Jebel Ali is a port town, located 35 kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . The village has a thriving expatriate community with over 300 residents. The area is also home to "5,500 companies from 120 countries".... , U.A.E |
10 September | |
| 8th: | -- | Carrier Strike Group Ten | -- | -- | Bahrain Bahrain ' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is... |
29 Oct. - 1 Nov. | |
| 9th: | -- | Carrier Strike Group Ten | -- | -- | Souda Bay, Crete Souda Bay Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east... |
3–6 Dec. | |
| 10th: | -- | Ross | -- | -- | Istanbul, Turkey | 3–6 Dec. | |
USS Harry S. Truman maintenance cycle
On 18 February 2011, the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman completed its final underway period in preparation for its upcoming 12-month dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance period. During this underway period, Truman participated in the first carrier suitability trials for the new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW aircraft (pictured), provided training for five Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRSs), and off-loaded more than 1500 LT (1,524.1 t) of ammunition to the carrier and dry cargo ship over four-days connected (CONREP) and vertical (VERTREP) underway replenishment cycle.On 28 February 2011, the Harry S. Truman began its dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance and yard overhaul period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
. During this maintenance cycle, Truman received a new main mast, an upgrade in its close-in weapons systems, and the installation of the Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) which provides the carrier with enhanced communications and cooperative engagement capabilities to assess possible threats. Truman is expected to complete this DPIA yard overhaul in early 2012 and begin preparations for its sixth overseas deployment. Also, Trumans berthing spaces were also upgraded, installing 2,500 racks, replacing 46,000 square feet of deck and painting 106,000 square feet of spaces.
Change of command
On 15 March 2011, Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski relieved Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll as Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10) in a change of command ceremony held aboard Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort StoryJoint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story is a base of the United States military that is located in the Virginia Beach, Virginia which is made up of Fort Story and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. It was created as the result of the Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 process...
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. Admiral Driscoll's next assignment was as the deputy chief of staff for Operations and Fleet/Joint Training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command 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...
in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. A Naval Flight Officer
Naval Flight Officer
A Naval Flight Officer is an aeronautically designated commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps that specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots per se, but they may perform many "co-pilot" functions, depending on the type of aircraft...
, Admiral Shelanski was a former commanding officer of the USS Harry S. Truman and his immediate assignment prior to Carrier Strike Group Ten was as the director of the Environmental Readiness Division.
FRUKUS 2011
The multi-national naval exercise FRUKUS 2011 began off the coast of Virginia on 20 June 2011. FRUKUS stands for the participating countries – France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and it was a two-week interoperability exercise to improve maritime security operation (MSO)Maritime Security Operations
Maritime Security Operations is a term for the actions of modern naval forces to "combat sea–based terrorism and other illegal activities, such as hijacking, piracy, and slavery, also known as human trafficking." Ships assigned to such operations may also assist seafaring vessels in distress...
through open dialogue and increased training between the participating navies. Participating U.S. naval forces included Commander Carrier Strike Group Ten, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26), and the guided-missile destroyer ; and international naval forces included the French frigate Ventôse', the Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko
Udaloy class destroyer
The Udaloy I class are a series of anti-submarine destroyers built for the Soviet Navy, eight of which are currently in service with the Russian Navy. The Russian designation is Project 1155 Fregat...
, and the guided-missile destroyer .
The exercise consisted of two phases, ashore and at-sea. The week-long ashore phase included damage control, fire fighting, and ship handling exercises at shore-based training facilities. The at-sea phase (pictured) occurred during the second week, between 27 June and 1 July, and this phase included training in maritime domain awareness, anti-piracy operations, and maritime interdiction operations (MIO)
Maritime Interdiction Operations
Maritime Interdiction Operations are naval conducted operations, that aim to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area before they do any harm against friendly forces, similar to Air Interdiction Operations....
. A shore-based multin-ational combined task group (CTG) staff provided command and control for the participating warships during the at-sea phase. Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10, summarized the accomplishment of FRUKUS 2011:
- This has been a very successful operation. We hope this is just the beginning of an increase in our ability to secure maritime security around the world and to lead us -- as four different nations -- into future combined operations ashore and afloat.
JMSDF PASSEX
Between 31 July 31 and 2 August 2011, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-six (DESRON-26) participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) off the east coast of the United States (pictured).PASSEX exercises are designed to provide realistic training environments for U.S. Navy and the JMSDF Training Squadron that closely replicates the operational challenges routinely encountered around the world. DESRON-26 is worked in close coordination with the JMSDF Training Squadron which consists of newly-commissioned Japanese surface warfare officers. Captain Nelson Castro, deputy commander DESRON 26, noted:
- PASSEX really gives us an opportunity to not only practice what we might be called upon to do, but we have the chance to establish a professional relationship with our allies making us more capable forces working together at sea.
U.S. naval units participating were Carrier Strike Group 10, DESRON 26, the guided-missile cruiser , the guided-missile destroyer , and the guided-missile frigate . Japanese naval units participating were the destroyer Mineyuki (DD-124)
Hatsuyuki class destroyer
The Hatsuyuki class destroyer is a class of Japanese destroyer, serving with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force . It was the third generation of general purpose destroyers, though like its predecessor, the , the main task is anti-submarine warfare. The class was completed between 1982 and 1987...
, the training vessel Asagiri (TV-3516)
Asagiri class destroyer
The Asagiri-class destroyer was built in the mid-1980s and late 1980s and is in service with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.This class of general purpose destroyer is almost extended version of its predecessor Hatsuyuki-class destroyers, and similarly, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASUW...
, and the training vessel .
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...
External links
- Harry S. Truman Strike Group - GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...