The USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker is sponsored by CNA. These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of May 14, 2018, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the map reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:

283

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway 39 28 67

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total 0 1 1 17 19 47 85

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which deployed from Norfolk on April 11, commenced air operations on May 3, 2018, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).

“Operating from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1’s strike fighter squadrons conducted sorties over Syria, demonstrating [the Truman Carrier Strike Group] ability to support two different geographic combatant commanders simultaneously,” according to the Navy.

The CSG is scheduled to operate in both the 6th Fleet and 5th Fleet Areas of Responsibility while deployed.

Carrier Strike Group 8

Aircraft carrier:

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

Carrier Air Wing 1

CVW 1 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and includes nine squadrons and detachments:

The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

The “Checkmates” of VFA-211 from Naval Air Station Oceania, Va.

The “Sunliners” of VFA-81 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

The “Knighthawks” of VFA-136 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The “Seahawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.

The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.

The “Dragon Slayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.

The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 72) from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Destroyer Squadron 28



The leadership of DESRON 28 is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and commands the CSG’s guided-missile destroyers.

USS Farragut (DDG-99), homeported in Mayport, Fla.

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

The Sachsen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) is also operating as part of the strike group during the first half of the deployment.

Guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) and USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) are slated to deploy at a later date and will join the strike group in theater.

Guided-missile Cruiser

USS Normandy (CG-60), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

In the Western Pacific

Forward deployed carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) departed the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, on Friday for sea trials after a four-month maintenance period. The carrier has been in Yokosuka since early December 2017.

The nuclear-powered carrier left U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka after successfully completing a two-day, pier-side fast cruise, according to a statement released by U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka. The sea trials will last for one week and “are designed to test the ship’s systems and equipment” following its maintenance. Ronald Reagan is the flagship of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed Carrier Strike Group 5.

The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is in port Sasebo, Japan.

In Southeast Asia

Hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), departed Sri Lanka May 9 bound for the mission’s fourth port visit in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

In the Red Sea

The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) and components of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are operating in the Red Sea.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the 26th MEU embarked deployed Feb. 7 from Mayport, Fla. The ARG includes Iwo Jima, Oak Hill, amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD-21), Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 and FST-4, Helicopter Sea Combat squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, components of Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 and the embarked staff of Amphibious Squadron 4.

In the Eastern Pacific

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is underway with the ships and squadrons of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 is underway for group sail training in preparation for its next scheduled deployment.

In the Western Atlantic

USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) remains underway off the East Coast.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and French Carrier Air Wing (Groupe Aerien Embarque) departed Norfolk on May 7 to begin combined exercise Chesapeake 2018.

“Marine Nationale sailors embarked [on] Bush to conduct carrier qualifications (CQ). A CQ is a series of arrested landings and takeoffs from an aircraft carrier done regularly by squadrons to maintain their naval aviation proficiency,” reported news site Navy Recognition.

“Groupe Aerien Embarque consists of one E-2C Hawkeye, 12 Rafale Marine multi-role combat aircraft and 27 pilots looking to keep their skills sharp.”

In addition to these major formations, not shown are thousands of others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Coast Guard cutters and more serving throughout the globe.