Carrier Strike Group Three
Encyclopedia
Carrier Strike Group Three, abbreviated CSG-3 or CARSTRKGRU 3, is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike group
s currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. 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 Three is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap
, Washington, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean
and the Persian Gulf
. The current flagship
for Carrier Strike Group Three is the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
.
during the Korean War
.
'84, RIMPAC '86, RIMPAC '98, PACEX '89, Exercise Rugged Nautilus, Operation Southern Watch
, Operation Desert Strike
, Operation Desert Fox
, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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; cruisers, destroyers, and frigates; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. The carrier group commander, since 2004 the carrier strike group commander, serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to the group. Since 1992, the battle group participated in Operation Southern Watch
, Operation Noble Eagle
, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with Commander Carrier Group Three (ComCarGru 3) and his staff embarked on board the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier . On 13 May 1997 Carrier Air Wing Eleven
was reassigned to Commander, Carrier Group Three and the USS Carl Vinson.
Carrier Group Three (CARGRU 3) formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2001. At that time, CARGRU 3 comprised the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Destroyer Squadron Nine (DESRON 9) and Carrier Air Wing Eleven
(CVW 11). Vinson and CARGRU 3 arrived in the Arabian Sea on 12 September 2001 and was subsequently designated Commander, Carrier Task Force (CTF) 50, commanding multiple Carrier Strike Groups and coalition forces. The Task Force conducted strikes against Al Quida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan
. Commander, CARGRU-3, as the CTF-50 commander, commanded over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers, stretching over 800 nautical miles.
Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik was the last commander of Carrier Group Three. During his tenure as ComCarGru 3, Admiral Chanik led the group through a reorganized Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) which greatly compressed the training required for overseas deployment.
Carrier Strike Group Three is an operational command. Administrative control of the ships and aircraft of the strike group is exercised by U.S. Navy type commands
. The aircraft carrier John Stennis, the guided-missile cruiser , and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one (DESRON-21) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific
.
(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:, flagship (pictured)
, as well as participating in such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. Also, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment.
.
On 29 April 2011, the USS Stennis departed with the rest of Carrier Strike Group Three from carrier's homeport of Naval Base Kitsap
, Washington, for a seven-week pre-deployment off the southern coast of California. Joining the carrier group's flagship were Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked aboard the Stennis, the guided-missile cruiser , and the guided-missile destroyers , , and , with the escorting ships all being based in Naval Base San Diego. These exercises included the Carrier Strike Group Three completing its Composite Unit Training Exercise
(COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) prior to its planned Summer 2011 Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A)
.
On 26 May 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX training cycle, which tested the strike group's war-fighting capabilities, including a simulated strait transit off the coast of Southern California on 18 May 2011. On 8 June 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three completed its JTFEX training cycle, a week-long exercise designed to test the strike group's ability to operate with multinational forces and other U.S. military branches in a joint environment to combat threats. With the completion of its two-phased training cycle, Carrier Strike Group Three was deemed ready for its upcoming deployment to the western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility
(AOR) to conduct maritime security operations and combat operation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A).
The carrier John C. Stennis returned to its home port of Naval Base Kitsap
, near Bremerton, Washington
, on 13 June 2001 after spending 45 days at sea conducting pre-deployment training exercises in preparation for the upcoming overseas deployment of Carrier Strike Group Three.
by Vice Admiral
Gerald Beaman, Commander U.S. Third Fleet, in recognition of his tenure as COMCARSTKGRU 9. Admiral Faller's previous assignment was as the head of the United States Navy Recruiting Command
headquartered in Millington, Tennessee
.
of Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3), the nuclear carrier departed from its homebase of Naval Base Kitsap
near Bremerton, Washington
. Stennis was joined by Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one (DESRON-21), and the guided-missile cruiser for the strike group's upcoming deployment. CARSTRKGRU 3 Commander Admiral Craig S. Faller summarized the objectives for the strike group's 2011-2012 deployment as follows:
On 29 July 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three departed from Naval Air Station San Diego near San Diego, California
, for a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean (WESTPAC) and U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility, which includes the Persian Gulf
, in support of combat operations in Afghanistan
and Iraq. Starting on 9 August 2011, while en route, Carrier Strike Group Three participated in an undersea warfare exercise (USWEX) in the Hawaiian operating area, with helicopter squadron HSM-71 providing the crucial anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to the strike group.
, the Philippines, which will include a shipboard reception and embassy dinner hosted by Ambassador
Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
, but that port-call was cancelled because of Typhoon Mina
.
On 13 October 2011, the guided-missile destroyer was directed to join Carrier Strike Group Five, led by the aircraft carrier , to provide humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) to flood-ravaged Thailand
.
(CARAT) 2011 was the latest in an ongoing series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by U.S. Pacific Fleet with several member nations of ASEAN in Southeast Asia. The navies of Bangledesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand participated in CARAT 2011. The objective of CARAT 2011 was to enhance regional naval cooperation by strengthening the professional skills of its participants. Task Force 73
served as the U.S. Navy executive agent for the CARAT 2011 exercises.
DESRON-21 guided-missile destroyer joined the guided-missile frigate , the mine countermeasures ship , and the salvage ship in the first-ever CARAT Bangladesh bilateral exercises {pictured) which began on 18 September 2011 at the at the Bangladesh naval base at Issa Khan
.
Task Force 73 commander (CTF-73) Rear Admiral Tom Carney noted:
CARAT Bangladesh combined training events ashore and at sea, with shore events focused on dive training, riverine warfare, ship boarding training, and medical and community service projects. At-sea training operations included helicopter operations, shipboard communications and maneuvering drills, surface gunnery exercises. and tactical freeplay events.
Kidd and Safeguard subsequently participated in the 2nd annual CARAT Cambodia bilateral exercise which began on 20 October 2011 with opening ceremonies in Sihanoukville
(pictured). TF-73 commander Admiral Carney (pictured) added:
The week-long CARAT Cambodia exercises included training exchanges and community activities ashore and such at-sea operations as communication drills, division tactics, and surface gunfire drills.
CARSTRKGRU-3 guided-missile destroyers and (pictured) joined U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron VP-40 for the 17th annual CARAT Brunei exercises which began on 30 September 2011 in opening ceremonies held at the Muara Naval Base
. CTF-73 Admiral Carney observed:
The eight-day exercise included training exchanges ashore on maritime domain awareness, search and rescue (SAR), fire fighting and damage control, vessel boarding procedures, and various maritime symposia. U.S. Marines joined Bruneian Land Forces for urban operations and first aid training. At-sea operations included joint helicopter operations, search and rescue practical scenarios, division tactics, and surface gunfire drills.
led by the carrier . Strike group commander Rear Admiral Craig Faller noted:
On 22 September 2011, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy King and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, paid a visit to the Carrier Strike Group Three flagship. On 8 October 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three transited the Strait of Hormuz to join Carrier Strike Group Two operating in the Persian Gulf
, and Chief of Naval Operation Admiral Jonathan Greenert and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Rick West visited the carrier Stennis on that date. On 9 October 2011, Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) began combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (OEF-A).
On 20 November 2011, Carrier Strike Group Two
transited from the Red Sea
to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal
and re-entered the U.S. Sixth Fleet's AOR, leaving Carrier Strike Group Three as the sole carrier strike group operating on station in the Arabian Sea
{pictured).
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 U.S. Pacific Fleet. 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 Three is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
, Washington, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) 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 Three 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...
.
Carrier Division Three
The aircraft carrier was assigned to Carrier Division Three (CARDIV 3) from November 1940. In April 1941 a Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol was established under Admiral A.B. Cook, based at Bermuda. It comprised Carrier Division Three, the cruisers and , and Destroyer Squadron 11. On 7 December 1941, in the Atlantic Fleet, Carrier Division Three comprises Wasp and under Rear Admiral A.B. Cook. Commander Carrier Division Three (ComCarDiv-3) served as Commander Task Force 77Task Force 77
Task Force 77 has been the aircraft carrier battle/strike force of the Seventh Fleet in the United States Navy since the Seventh Fleet was formed....
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Carrier Group Three
U.S. Navy carrier battle groups have since the mid Cold War period maintained a pattern of deployments to trouble spots, beginning with an overhaul, individual ship training, battle group training, group preparation exercise, and then the deployment. On returning home, the cycle begins once more. As part of these deployments, the Carl Vinson carrier battle group participated in Exercise RIMPACRIMPAC
RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime exercise. Conducted biennially , it is hosted and administered by the United States Navy, with the United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the leadership of...
'84, RIMPAC '86, RIMPAC '98, PACEX '89, Exercise Rugged Nautilus, 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 Desert Strike
Operation Desert Strike
The 1996 cruise missile strikes on Iraq occurred in September 1996 during the Kurdish Civil War. On August 31, 1996, the Iraqi military launched its biggest offensive since 1991 against the city of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. This attack stoked American fears that Saddam intended to launch a...
, Operation Desert Fox
Operation Desert Fox
The December 1998 bombing of Iraq was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16–19, 1998 by the United States and United Kingdom...
, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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; cruisers, destroyers, and frigates; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. The carrier group commander, since 2004 the carrier strike group commander, serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to the group. Since 1992, the battle group participated in 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 Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with Commander Carrier Group Three (ComCarGru 3) and his staff embarked on board the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier . On 13 May 1997 Carrier Air Wing Eleven
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:...
was reassigned to Commander, Carrier Group Three and the USS Carl Vinson.
Carrier Group Three (CARGRU 3) formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2001. At that time, CARGRU 3 comprised the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Destroyer Squadron Nine (DESRON 9) and Carrier Air Wing Eleven
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:...
(CVW 11). Vinson and CARGRU 3 arrived in the Arabian Sea on 12 September 2001 and was subsequently designated Commander, Carrier Task Force (CTF) 50, commanding multiple Carrier Strike Groups and coalition forces. The Task Force conducted strikes against Al Quida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Commander, CARGRU-3, as the CTF-50 commander, commanded over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers, stretching over 800 nautical miles.
Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik was the last commander of Carrier Group Three. During his tenure as ComCarGru 3, Admiral Chanik led the group through a reorganized Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) which greatly compressed the training required for overseas deployment.
Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group Three (COMCARSTRKGRU 3) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to Carrier Strike Group One. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 3 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 Three is an operational command. Administrative control of the ships and aircraft of the strike group is exercised by U.S. Navy type commands
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:...
. The aircraft carrier John Stennis, the guided-missile cruiser , and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one (DESRON-21) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific
Commander, Naval Air Forces
Commander, Naval Air Forces is the aviation Type Commander for all United States Navy naval aviation units...
.
CARSTRKGRU 3 Commanders
| • 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 :... Bruce W. Clingan Bruce W. Clingan Bruce W. Clingan is an officer of the United States Navy. He currently holds the rank of Vice Admiral. From August 2008 to November 2009, he was Commander, United States Sixth Fleet, as well as Commander, Joint Command Lisbon, a subdivision of NATO's Allied Command Operations, among other Commands... |
(June 2004 – September 2005) | |
| • Captain Scott A. Berg | (September 2005 – November 2005) | |
| • Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn | (November 2005 – September 2007) | |
| • Rear Admiral Stewart O’Bryan | (September 2007 – September 2008) | |
| • Rear Admiral Mark A. Vance | (September 2008 – September 2009) | |
| • Rear Admiral Joseph P. Aucoin | (September 2009 – May 2011) | |
| • Rear Admiral Craig S. Faller | (May 2011 – ) |
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:, flagship (pictured)
- Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9)
- Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one (DESRON-21):
2004–2009 operations
Carrier Strike Group Three's 2004–2009 operations included a world cruise, three western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments and a change-over of its flagship. During this period, the strike group provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and 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...
, as well as participating in such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. Also, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment.
USS John C. Stennis maintenance cycle
Between 12 March to 1 April 2010, the aircraft carrier completed a 21-day at-sea underway period that included fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications (FRSCQ) for 34 new pilots from five squadrons as well as the off-load of 2.5 million pounds (1,133.98 metric tons) of ammunition on board the carrier. The Stennis began its $137 million USD planned incremental availability (PIA) maintenance and yard overhaul cycle effective 2 June 2010. On 18 December 2010, the Stennis returned to its homeport following its four-day sea trials that completed the carrier's six-month PIA maintenance cycle at the Puget Sound Naval ShipyardPuget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington...
.
2011 Pre-deployment training cycle
On 24 March 2011, the carrier began fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications (FRSCQ) off the coast of southern California. On 30 March 2011, eleven sailors were injured when an F/A-18C Hornet strike fighter of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) suffered a catastrophic engine failure and caught fire on the Stenniss flight deck. The fire was quickly extinguished, and there is no significant damage to the ship. Four Sailors were flown to Naval Medical Center San Diego. The other seven injured personnel remained aboard the Stennis for treatment. They included four sailors, one marine, and two civilians working with VMFAT-101. The pilot of the aircraft was not injured. Flight operations will resume on 31 March, and the cause of the mishap was under investigation.On 29 April 2011, the USS Stennis departed with the rest of Carrier Strike Group Three from carrier's homeport of Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
, Washington, for a seven-week pre-deployment off the southern coast of California. Joining the carrier group's flagship were Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked aboard the Stennis, the guided-missile cruiser , and the guided-missile destroyers , , and , with the escorting ships all being based in Naval Base San Diego. These exercises included the Carrier Strike Group Three completing its Composite Unit Training Exercise
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...
(COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) prior to its planned Summer 2011 Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment in support of 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...
.
On 26 May 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX training cycle, which tested the strike group's war-fighting capabilities, including a simulated strait transit off the coast of Southern California on 18 May 2011. On 8 June 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three completed its JTFEX training cycle, a week-long exercise designed to test the strike group's ability to operate with multinational forces and other U.S. military branches in a joint environment to combat threats. With the completion of its two-phased training cycle, Carrier Strike Group Three was deemed ready for its upcoming deployment to the western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility
Area of responsibility
Area Of Responsibility is a pre-defined geographic region assigned to a Combatant commanders of the Unified Command Plan , that are used to define an area with specific geographic boundaries where they have the authority to plan and conduct operations; for which a force, or component commander...
(AOR) to conduct maritime security operations and combat operation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A).
The carrier John C. Stennis returned to its home port of Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
, near Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, on 13 June 2001 after spending 45 days at sea conducting pre-deployment training exercises in preparation for the upcoming overseas deployment of Carrier Strike Group Three.
Change of command
On May 24 2011, Rear Admiral Craig S. Faller took command of Carrier Strike Group Three, relieving Rear Admiral Joseph Aucoin as Commander Carrier Strike Group Three (COMCARSTKGRU 9) in ceremonies held aboard the carrier John C. Stennis. Admiral Aucoin was presented with a Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
by Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Gerald Beaman, Commander U.S. Third Fleet, in recognition of his tenure as COMCARSTKGRU 9. Admiral Faller's previous assignment was as the head of the United States Navy Recruiting Command
United States Navy Recruiting Command
The United States Navy Recruiting Command is located in Millington, Tennessee. It aims to recruit sailors for the United States Navy. NRC covers the entire United States with 26 Navy Recruiting Districts commanded by two Navy Recruiting Regions....
headquartered in Millington, Tennessee
Millington, Tennessee
Millington is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 10,176. Millington was the home of the recently closed Memphis Motorsports Park. It was granted the title "Flag City Tennessee" by the Tennessee State Legislature. The Naval Support Activity Mid-South is...
.
2011-2012 WESTPAC deployment
On 25 July 2011, the flagshipFlagship
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...
of Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3), the nuclear carrier departed from its homebase of Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap is a U.S. Navy base located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It was created in 2004 by merging the former Naval Station Bremerton with Naval Submarine Base Bangor...
near Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
. Stennis was joined by Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), Destroyer Squadron Twenty-one (DESRON-21), and the guided-missile cruiser for the strike group's upcoming deployment. CARSTRKGRU 3 Commander Admiral Craig S. Faller summarized the objectives for the strike group's 2011-2012 deployment as follows:
- We are a nation at war. That war is going on as we speak in Afghanistan. We will be joining that fight, and supporting those operations. Also, we are still involved and engaged in Iraq. We expect to be involved and supporting those operations as well.
On 29 July 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three departed from Naval Air Station San Diego near San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, for a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean (WESTPAC) and U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility, which includes 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...
, in support of combat operations in Afghanistan
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 Iraq. Starting on 9 August 2011, while en route, Carrier Strike Group Three participated in an undersea warfare exercise (USWEX) in the Hawaiian operating area, with helicopter squadron HSM-71 providing the crucial anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to the strike group.
Force composition
| Units | CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships | Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323): VMFA-323 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing but deploys with Carrier Air Wing 14.-World... 10 F/A-18C |
Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112): VAW-112 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Two is a United States Navy airborne early warning squadron. Nicknamed Golden Hawks, they fly the E-2 Hawkeye... 4 E-2C E-2 Hawkeye The 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... |
|
| #2 | Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154): VFA-154 Strike Fighter Squadron 154 , also known as "City Dump" throughout the Vietnam War, is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The "Dumpers" petitioned to have their call sign changed in the late 1970s to the Black Knights, and were granted the change. ... 12 F/A-18F |
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 1 VRC-40 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 , also known as the "Rawhides", is a United States Navy fleet logistics support squadron based at Naval Air Station Norfolk... : 2 C-2A |
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| #3 | Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147): VFA-147 Strike Fighter Squadron 147 , also known as the "Argonauts", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore California. VFA-147 flies the F/A-18E Super Hornet as part of Carrier Air Wing Fourteen... 12 F/A-18E |
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Squadron 8 (HSC-8): HSC-8 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight "Eightballers" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. HSC-8 is attached to Carrier Air Wing Nine and deploys aboard... 7 MH-60S H-60 H-60 is often used as a general name for a wide family of U.S. military helicopters. However, they all use a modified mission symbol in addition to the 'H' vehicle type designator under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system . The mission prefix H-60 is often used as a... |
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| #4 | Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146): VFA-146 Strike Fighter Squadron 146 also known as the "Blue Diamonds" is a United States Navy an operational fleet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore California. They fly the F/A-18C Hornet and are attached to Carrier Air Wing 14 , deployed aboard... 10 F/A-18C |
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71): HSM-71 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. Nicknamed the ‘’Raptors’’, they are attached to Carrier Air Wing Nine and deploy aboard the USS John C. Stennis strike group... 11 MH-60R H-60 H-60 is often used as a general name for a wide family of U.S. military helicopters. However, they all use a modified mission symbol in addition to the 'H' vehicle type designator under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system . The mission prefix H-60 is often used as a... |
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| #5 | Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138): VAQ-138 Electronic Attack Squadron 138 , also known as the "Yellow Jackets", is an expeditionary EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Their mission is to project Electronic Attack dominance anywhere in the world at any time by providing... 4 EA-6B |
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| Notes |
Seventh Fleet operations
Carrier Strike Group Three entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR) on 16 August 2011, the first time that the strike group had operated in this AOR since 2009. While deployed with the Seventh Fleet, Carrier Strike Group Three conducted maritime engagements to enhance regional partnerships as well as paid port visits. The first port-of-call was to have been ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the Philippines, which will include a shipboard reception and embassy dinner hosted by Ambassador
United States Ambassador to the Philippines
The office of the United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines was established on July 4, 1946 after the Philippines gained its independence from the United States....
Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
Harry K. Thomas, Jr. is the United States Ambassador to the Philippines. A former United States Ambassador to Bangladesh and Director General of the United States Foreign Service , Thomas was designated by US President Barack Obama on November 19, 2009 to replace Kristie Kenney...
, but that port-call was cancelled because of Typhoon Mina
Typhoon Nanmadol (2011)
Typhoon Nanmadol was the strongest tropical cyclone in 2011 to hit the Philippines and also the first of the year to directly impact Taiwan. It was the eleventh named storm, the seventh severe tropical storm and the fourth typhoon of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season...
.
On 13 October 2011, the guided-missile destroyer was directed to join Carrier Strike Group Five, led by the aircraft carrier , to provide humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) to flood-ravaged Thailand
2011 Thailand floods
Major floods are occurring during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand, most severely in the Chao Phraya but also in the Mekong River basin. Beginning in late July and continuing for over three months, the floods have caused 602 reported deaths by early November, affected over 2.3 million people,...
.
CARAT 2011
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and TrainingCooperation Afloat Readiness and Training
The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training is a series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by United States Pacific Fleet with several member nations of ASEAN in Southeast Asia. Currently, the navies of Bangledesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,...
(CARAT) 2011 was the latest in an ongoing series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by U.S. Pacific Fleet with several member nations of ASEAN in Southeast Asia. The navies of Bangledesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand participated in CARAT 2011. The objective of CARAT 2011 was to enhance regional naval cooperation by strengthening the professional skills of its participants. Task Force 73
Task Force 73
The US Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific is a US Navy task force of the United States Seventh Fleet and is 7th Fleet's logistics force composed of supply ships and other fleet support vessels. In addition to its logistics component, it also provides industrial voyage repairs...
served as the U.S. Navy executive agent for the CARAT 2011 exercises.
CARAT Bangladesh
DESRON-21 guided-missile destroyer joined the guided-missile frigate , the mine countermeasures ship , and the salvage ship in the first-ever CARAT Bangladesh bilateral exercises {pictured) which began on 18 September 2011 at the at the Bangladesh naval base at Issa Khan
BNS Isa Khan
BNS Isa Khan is an establishment of the Bangladeshi Navy in Chittagong district of Bangladesh.-Career:The Isa Khan is currently under the command of the Commodore Commanding Chittagong . About 1000 personnel serve at Isa Khan, which is one of the largest bases in the Bangladesh Navy...
.
Task Force 73 commander (CTF-73) Rear Admiral Tom Carney noted:
- The fact that CARAT attracts navies from the region is a particularly important point. I look at 2011 as the first of many successful years of engagement between the U.S. and Bangladesh Navies.
CARAT Bangladesh combined training events ashore and at sea, with shore events focused on dive training, riverine warfare, ship boarding training, and medical and community service projects. At-sea training operations included helicopter operations, shipboard communications and maneuvering drills, surface gunnery exercises. and tactical freeplay events.
CARAT Cambodia
Kidd and Safeguard subsequently participated in the 2nd annual CARAT Cambodia bilateral exercise which began on 20 October 2011 with opening ceremonies in Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville , also known as Kampong Saom, is a province in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the...
(pictured). TF-73 commander Admiral Carney (pictured) added:
- Last year marked an important step forward in the relationships between the U.S. and Cambodian Navies. This year, for the first time, a ship from the U.S. Navy, one of our newest destroyers, will be getting underway with royal Cambodian navy ships for a series of at-sea events.
The week-long CARAT Cambodia exercises included training exchanges and community activities ashore and such at-sea operations as communication drills, division tactics, and surface gunfire drills.
CARAT Brunei
CARSTRKGRU-3 guided-missile destroyers and (pictured) joined U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron VP-40 for the 17th annual CARAT Brunei exercises which began on 30 September 2011 in opening ceremonies held at the Muara Naval Base
Muara, Brunei
Muara is a town in the Brunei and Muara district, Brunei. It contains the country's only deep-water port. Muara is the Malay word for estuary.-Location:...
. CTF-73 Admiral Carney observed:
- This is a key year for our exercise, as it marks the first time in two years both the U.S. and Royal Brunei Navies are returning to sea together. Improving cooperation and advancing interoperability at sea is the cornerstone of CARAT, and we have a short but ambitious schedule of underway events planned.
The eight-day exercise included training exchanges ashore on maritime domain awareness, search and rescue (SAR), fire fighting and damage control, vessel boarding procedures, and various maritime symposia. U.S. Marines joined Bruneian Land Forces for urban operations and first aid training. At-sea operations included joint helicopter operations, search and rescue practical scenarios, division tactics, and surface gunfire drills.
Fifth Fleet operations
On 15 September 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three enter the U.S. Fifth Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR), joining Carrier Strike Group TwoCarrier 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...
led by the carrier . Strike group commander Rear Admiral Craig Faller noted:
- Our strike group has trained countless hours to ensure our Sailors are ready to conduct operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. We look forward to building upon and strengthening our ties with allies and coalition partners in the region while supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On 22 September 2011, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy King and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, paid a visit to the Carrier Strike Group Three flagship. On 8 October 2011, Carrier Strike Group Three transited the Strait of Hormuz to join Carrier Strike Group Two operating in 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...
, and Chief of Naval Operation Admiral Jonathan Greenert and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
Rick West visited the carrier Stennis on that date. On 9 October 2011, Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) began combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (OEF-A).
On 20 November 2011, Carrier Strike 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...
transited from the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
to the Mediterranean Sea via 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...
and re-entered the U.S. Sixth Fleet's AOR, leaving Carrier Strike Group Three as the sole carrier strike group operating on station in the 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...
{pictured).
Exercises & port visits
| Number | Regional Exercises | Port Visits | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | U.S. Force | Bilateral/Multilateral Partner(s) | Operating Area | Location | Dates | ||
| 1st: | — | Kidd | — | — | Apra Harbor Apra Harbor Apra Harbor is a deep-water port on the western side of Guam in the Mariana Islands. The harbor is formed by Orote Peninsula in the south and Cabras Island in the north. To the south, the harbor narrows and then widens again to form an inner harbor. The southern end of the harbor is the location... , Guam Guam Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United... |
27 Aug. 2011 | |
| 2nd: | 9 Aug. 2011 | Carrier Strike Group Three | Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) | Hawaiian operating area Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll... |
Port Klang Port Klang Port Klang is a town and the main gateway by sea into Malaysia. Colonially known as Port Swettenham, it is also the location of the largest and busiest port in the country. As such, its economic progress has been greatly influenced by the port activities in its area... , Malaysia |
4-8 Sep. 2011 | |
| 3rd: | — | Pinckney | — | — | Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... |
7 Sep. 2011 | |
| 4th: | — | Kidd | — | — | Phuket Phuket Province Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand... , Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
8-11 Sep. 2011 | |
| 5th: | — | John C. Stennis | — | — | Al Hidd Al Hidd Al Hidd is a town in Bahrain, located on a sand spit on the southeastern extremity of Muharraq Island. The town is of Sunni population, of bedouin tribal origin, huwala, or Afro-Arabs. About a third of the inhabitants of Hidd are of Omani descent.... , Bahrain |
21-24 Sep. 2011 | |
| 6th: | Various | Kidd, Pinckney | Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training is a series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by United States Pacific Fleet with several member nations of ASEAN in Southeast Asia. Currently, the navies of Bangledesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,... (CARAT) |
Various | Muara Muara Muara means Estuary in the Malay and Indonesian language, and is a name given to several locations in Southeast Asia.* Muara, Brunei is a town in the Brunei-Muara District, Brunei... , Brunei Brunei Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia... |
29 Sep. to 2 Oct 2011 | |
| 7th: | -- | Kidd | -- | -- | Sihanoukville Sihanoukville Sihanoukville , also known as Kampong Saom, is a province in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the... , Cambodia Cambodia Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia... |
20-25 Sep. 2011 | |
| 8th: | — | Wayne E. Meyer | — | — | Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... |
13-17 Oct. 2011 | |
| 9th: | — | Pinckney | — | — | Incheon Incheon The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City... , Republic of Korea |
17 Oct. 2011 | |
| 10th: | — | Pinckney | — | — | U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
27 Oct. 2011 | |
| 11th: | — | Wayne E. Meyer, Dewey, Pinckney | — | — | Phuket, Thailand | 11-14 Nov. 2011 | |
| 12th: | — | John C. Stennis | — | — | Jebel Ali, UAE 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".... |
14 Nov. 2011 | |
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
- John Stennis Carrier 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...