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Aug 02, 2023

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug. 7, 2023

USNI News Photo These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Aug. 7, 2023, based on Navy and public

USNI News Photo

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Aug. 7, 2023, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Christopher Gonzalez, from Voca, Texas, stands watch as a lookout on vulture’s row of aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Aug. 2, 2023. US Navy Photo

Having completed Talisman Sabre, the Ronald Reagan Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the Celebes Sea near the Philippines.

The exercise was the largest iteration of Talisman Sabre “with more than 33,000 troops from 13 countries,” USNI News reported.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sailors assigned to the RAN frigate HMAS Perth (FFG-157) listen to Cmdr. Patrick Salmon, from Watkinsville, Georgia, during a tour of Primary Flight Control aboard aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 4, 2023. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrierUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

Carrier Air Wing 5

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Aircraft Handling) 3rd Class Billie Edwards, left, from Lexington, Kentucky, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Aircraft Handling) Airman Ernst Gabriel, right, from Columbia, South Carolina, direct aircraft on the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), during flight operations in support of Talisman Sabre 23, in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 2, 2023. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, is embarked aboard Ronald Reagan and includes a total of nine squadrons and detachments:

Cruisers

Seaman James Bilbro, from Edinburgh, Ind., and Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Imanol Morenodealba, from Moreno Valley, Calif., signal that chocks and chains are clear during flight operations on the flight deck of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) in the Indian Ocean during Talisman Sabre 23, Aug. 2, 2023. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 15Destroyer Squadron 15 is based in Yokosuka, Japan, and is embarked on the carrier.

Destroyers

Sailors with the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), alongside U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, observe the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) during a simulated replenishment at sea for Talisman Sabre 23, aboard America, in the Coral Sea, Aug. 1, 2023. US Navy Photo

The forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA-6), 3rd from front, sails in formation with the Royal Australian Navy Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Adelaide (L01), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183), and Republic of Korea Navy amphibious assault ship Marado (LPH-6112), during a formation exercise, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, July 29, 2023. US Navy Photo

The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked just completed exercise Talisman Sabre 2023.

Exercise Malabar 2023 will take place Aug. 7-11, just off the east coast of Australia. Naval and air units from India, U.S., Japan and Australia will participate.

🇺🇸アメリカ沿岸警備隊バーソルフ級カッターWMSL-755 USCGC Munro(マンロー)

横須賀沖での仮停泊からの本朝、横須賀本港に入港しました。

高いアングルからも狙いたかったのだけど、沖での動きを……………………🫠高いポイントに登るのが辛かったから🤣💦 pic.twitter.com/3HevHC0gOU

— まぁさん (@svXwunjkknbmZYw) August 7, 2023

Legend-class National Security Cutter USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) pulled into Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), according to ship spotters.

USS North Carolina (SSN-777) throws a line ashore as the submarine arrives at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia. The submarine arrived at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia Aug. 4, 2023. US Navy Photo

Nuclear attack boat USS North Carolina (SSN-777) made a port call to Perth, Western Australia, for a scheduled port visit as part of its patrols in the Indo-Pacific region.

“It is the first Virginia-class submarine to visit Australia since the AUKUS announcement in March detailing Australia’s optimal pathway to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines,” reads a statement from the U.S. embassy in Australia.

Harpers Ferry-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) transits through the Suez Canal, Aug. 6, 2023. US Navy Photo

USS Bataan (LHD-5) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) with elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked made a stop in Soudha Bay, Greece, last week. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) transited the Suez Canal and is now in the Red Sea. This is the first time an ARG has been in the U.S. Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) since the Essex ARG departed the Fifth Fleet in January 2022. USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) continues to operate in Europe.

Embarked units include Amphibious Squadron 8, 26th MEU(SOC), Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4 and Beach Master Unit 2.

“On June 20th, the Department of Defense announced that a portion of the Bataan ARG, USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall, will deploy personnel and equipment to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) to demonstrate the U.S.’ commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and deterring Iranian destabilization activities in the region. While the USS Bataan (LHD-5) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) are set to execute a mission in (USCENTCOM) the USS Mesa Verde will continue supporting operations, activities, and investments (OAI) within U.S. European Command (USEUCOM),” according to the Pentagon.

The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. Central Command would deploy armed detachments of Marines and sailors on commercial ships as a deterrent to attack.

“Iran has attempted to seize 20 flagged ships since 2021. The most recent attacks follow Iran taking control of two tankers within a week of each other this year,” USNI News reported.“The U.S. currently has three destroyers in the region – USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) and USS McFaul (DDG-74). Hudner and McFaul are assigned to the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is operating in the Mediterranean Sea.”

U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships alongside U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Sailors conduct flight operations on the flight deck USS Gerald R. Ford, Aug. 6, 2023. US Navy Photo

After a port call in Piraeus, Greece, last week, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway in the Mediterranean Sea.

Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) man a phone and distance line during a replenishment-at-sea on the flight deck, Aug. 2, 2023. US Navy Photo

CarrierUSS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), homeported at Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 8

Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) 3rd Class Aaron Spann, from Pensacola, Fla., assigned to the ‘Golden Warriors’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, conducts routine maintenance on an F/A-18E Super Hornet in the hangar bay of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Aug. 2, 2023. US Navy Photo

Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW 8), stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked on Ford for the deployment and includes a total of nine squadrons.

Cruiser

Lt. (j.g.) Melissa Ramkissoon, assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), stands as officer of the deck as Normandy departs Rijeka, Croatia, following a mid-deployment maintenance availability, Aug. 1, 2023. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 2

Guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) fires its 5” gun while underway in the Gulf of Aden, Aug. 1, 2023. US Navy Photo

Destroyer Squadron 2 is based in Norfolk, Va., and is embarked on Ford.

Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) conduct a Manning the Rails ceremony during their port visit on their scheduled deployment in Narvik, Norway, Aug. 5, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo

Amphibious warship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) made a port call to Narvik, Noway, a town north of the Arctic Circle.

Mesa Verde is embarked with elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and attached to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.

The other two ships of the Bataan ARG are now in the Red Sea.

Rear Adm. Max McCoy, commander, Carrier Strike Group Four (CSG-4), left, speaks with Capt. Brent Gaut commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) on Aug. 4, 2023. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is underway off the coast of Virginia following completing its mid-life refueling and overhaul earlier this year.

At Naval Station Station Norfolk, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) ahead of a planned deployment, USNI News reported.

The Ike CSG consists of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-59) and guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG-107), USS Laboon (DDG-58), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Carney (DDG-64), the service said in a March news release previewing the CSG’s makeup.

Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG-70) stand in formation during a replenishment-at-sea with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on April 17, 2023. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is underway in the Southern California Operating Areas conducting Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications.

Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Haroldvon Liddell, from Oklahoma City, Okla., and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Austin Kurschinski, from Temecula, Calif., conduct surface warfare supervisor training in the combat information center aboard the Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) on July 28, 2023. US Navy Photo

Four U.S. destroyers tracked a combined flotilla of 11 Russian and Chinese ships underway off the coast of Alaska, USNI News reported Saturday.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said they were given a detailed briefing on the joint flotilla and it included 11, according to a joint statement Saturday.

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Benfold (DDG-65), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) and USS John Finn (DDG-113) were assigned to monitor the formation, according to a Saturday report in The Wall Street Journal.

“The joint Russian-Chinese flotilla left Vladivostok on July 27 and patrolled near Japan and subsequently sailed through La Perouse Strait from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk over July 28 to 29,” reported USNI News. Ten of the ships are Russian Navy destroyers RFS Admiral Panteleyev (548) and RFS Admiral Tributs (564); corvettes RFS Gremyashchiy (337) and RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339; and fleet tanker Pechenga, while the PLAN ships are Chinese destroyers CNS Guiyang (119) and CNS Qiqihar (121); frigates CNS Zaozhuang (542) and CNS Rizhao (598); and fleet oiler CNS Taihu (889), USNI News previously reported.”

USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) crew member pushes away ice chunks drifting towards science equipment while underway in the Beaufort Sea, Aug. 2, 2023. US Coast Guard Photo

Last Friday, Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) conducted joint operations with the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier this past week in the Beaufort Sea while northbound on a month-long science mission in support of the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

The cutter departed Seattle on July 11 for a months-long Arctic deployment. Healy deploys annually to the Arctic to support multiple science missions and Operation Arctic Shield, the service’s annual operation to execute U.S. Coast Guard missions, enhance maritime domain awareness, strengthen partnerships and build preparedness, prevention and response capabilities across the Arctic domain.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Seabees, EOD Mobile Units and more serving throughout the globe.