Carrier Strike Group One
Carrier Strike Group One emblem
Active	1 October 2009 – present.[1]
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Carrier Strike Group
Role	Naval air/surface warfare
Part of	U.S. Third Fleet
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station North Island[2] San Diego, California[3]
Nicknames	Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Team Carl Vinson[4] Team Vinson[5]
Mottos	Virtute et Armis ("By Valor and Arms")[Note 1]
Engagements	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Operation Inherent Resolve US intervention in the Syrian civil war
Commanders
Commander	Rear AdmiralAmy Bauernschmidt
Chief of Staff	Captain Michael Smith
Command Master Chief	Master Chief Petty Officer Benjamin H. Bilyeu
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	EA-18G Growler[6]
Fighter	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35C Lightning II[6]
Helicopter	MH-60S Knighthawk[6] MH-60R Seahawk[6]
Reconnaissance	E-2C Hawkeye[6]
Transport	C-2A Greyhound[6]

Carrier Strike Group One (CSG-1 orCARSTRKGRU 1) is aU.S. Navycarrier strike group.USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is the strike group's current flagship, which currently consists ofCarrier Air Wing 2, theTiconderoga-class guided-missile cruiserUSSPrinceton andDESRON 1, which includes theArleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyersUSSHopper,USSKidd,USSSterett and theUSSWilliam P. Lawrence.

Although the previous Carrier Strike Group One traced its history to Carrier Division 1, formed in 1930, the current Carrier Strike Group One was an entirely new naval formation when it was established in October 2009. During the relocation of its flagshipCarl Vinson to its new home base in San Diego, California, it supportedOperation Unified Response, providing humanitarian assistance following the2010 Haiti earthquake. During its first overseas deployment in 2011, the body ofOsama bin Laden was flown to theCarl Vinson forburial at sea. Carrier Strike Group One was the second U.S. Navy carrier force to participate inOperation Inherent Resolve.^[7]

Carrier Strike Group 1 traces its lineage to Carrier Division 1 (CarDiv 1), the U.S. Navy's first seagoing naval aviation formation. It was first organized in October 1930 as part of the Aircraft Scouting Force,U.S. Fleet in the Atlantic. It initially included the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier, theLangley, as well as the aircraft tenderWright and the minesweepersSandpiper andTeal. In 1933,USS Saratoga (CV-3) was reassigned to Carrier Division One under Commander Aircraft,Scouting Force, which also included aircraft tenderWright; the minesweepersLapwing,Teal, andSwan; and therigid airshipsAkron andMacon. Carrier Division One was initially headquartered at theCoco Solo Naval Air Station located on the Atlantic side of thePanama Canal Zone nearColón, Panama.^[8] In 1939, Carrier Division One was transferred to the Pacific Scouting Force. Division aircraft carriers saw service inWorld War II, theKorean War, and theVietnam War.^[9]

Rear AdmiralJohn H. Cassady served as Commander Carrier Division 1 immediately after the end ofSecond World War. In this capacity, Cassady commanded Task Group 21.11, led by the carrierMidway, during Operation Frostbite in February 1946. This naval exercise involved the embarked Air Group 74 conducting flight operations inDavis Straits betweenLabrador andGreenland. Previously, U.S. Naval carrier aviation had virtually no experience operating in Arctic waters.^[10][11] Subsequently, Admiral Cassady commanded Task Group 125.4, consisting of the carrierFranklin D. Roosevelt; the cruiserLittle Rock; and the destroyersNew,Cone, andCorry, which paid a highly publicized port visit toPiraeus, Greece, in September 1946.^[12][13] In conjunction with earlier visits, including that ofUSS Missouri (BB-63) to Turkey, this port call demonstrated U.S. support to Greece and Turkey in the face of Soviet pressure. According toJames Chace, the deployment of Task Group 125.4 "symbolized" American resolve against that Soviet pressure, marking the true beginning of theCold War.^[14] In 1952 Commander Carrier Division 1 was flying his flag aboardUSS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) off Korea. In August 1955, Carrier Division 1 comprisedUSS Yorktown (CV-10) atPuget Sound (in refit, receiving an angled flight deck),USS Hornet (CV-12) at San Francisco, andUSS Hancock (CV-19), andUSS Boxer (CV-21) both at San Diego.^[15]

In 1968, Carrier Division 1, under the command of Rear Admiral Epes, became involved in the response to the seizure of theUSS Pueblo.

In June 1973, Carrier Division 1 was redesignated Carrier Group 1 (CarGru 1), and in January 1974, it was located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) in San Diego, California.^[16] Despite being headquartered at North Island, it was responsible for theMidway, which withCarrier Air Wing Five aboard had moved toUnited States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, on 5 October 1973.^[17]The move was the result of an accord signed on 31 August 1972 between the U.S. and Japan. In addition to the morale factor of dependents housed alongside the crew, the move allowed continuous positioning of three carriers on the Pacific Rim at a time when the economic situation demanded the reduction of carriers in the fleet. In 1984 the group was led byUSS Constellation (CVA-64). In December 1990, following commanding Battle Group Delta, ComCarGru 1 was designated Commander, Training Battle Group, with responsibility for the Carrier Battle Group Inter-Deployment Training Cycle for the Pacific Fleet.^[9] In 1996 the group was commanded by Timothy Beard.

On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group 1 became Carrier Strike Group 1.^[18] In 2005, it was redesignatedCommander, Strike Force Training Pacific.^[19] On 1 October 2009, Carrier Strike Group 1 was re-established based atNaval Base Point Loma, California under Rear AdmiralTed N. Branch.^[1]

On 12 January 2010,Carl Vinson departedNaval Station Norfolk for its new homeport of San Diego with squadronsVFA-81,VAW-125,VRC-40, and HS-15 embarked.^[20][21]

Just hours after the2010 Haiti earthquake,Carl Vinson was redirected from the North Atlantic to Haiti to contribute to theOperation Unified Response relief effort.^[22] On 15 January, theCarl Vinson arrived off the coast ofPort-au-Prince(pictured) to provide humanitarian aid, with its trained personnel, emergency relief supplies, and 19helicopters on deck.^[23] On 16 January, theBunker Hill arrived in Haiti to assist theCarl Vinson.^[24] In addition to providing medical relief,Carl Vinson'sdesalination capacity provided fresh drinkable water to Haiti's population.^[25] In total, theCarl Vinson delivered 1,095,442 lbs. (496,884 kg) of food; 147,591 gallons (558,693 liters) of potable water; and more than 40,000 lbs. (18,143 kg) of medical supplies. The ship's medical team treated 60 patients. TheCarl Vinson's embarked helicopters flew 1,299 sorties, conducted 1,152 medical evacuations, and delivered more than 2,900,000 lbs. (1,315,418 kg) of cargo ashore.^[26][27][28] On 1 February, theCarl Vinson, the cruiserBunker Hill, and the oceanographic survey shipHenson ended their mission and departed Haiti although ten ofCarl Vinson's helicopters remained to support the relief effort.^[29]

In March 2010, during her transit around South America, the carrier strike group participated inSouthern Seas 2010 naval maneuvers with theBrazilian,Uruguayan, andArgentine navies.^[28][30][31] The group also paid port visits toRio de Janeiro, Brazil, andCallao, Peru.^[21][28][32]Carl Vinson arrived at its new homeport on 12 April 2010 following a three-month underway period.^[20][28]

On 26 October 2010, Rear AdmiralSamuel Perez, Jr. took command of the group.^[33] The group departed California for its 2010–11 deployment on 30 October. During the deployment, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen flew 1,656 combat air sorties, logging a total of 9,140 flight hours while 33 bombs and 2,970 rounds of 20-mm ammunition were expended.^[34]

On 5 May 2011, as part of NATO's counter-piracyOperation Ocean Shield,Vinson,Bunker Hill, and the Turkish frigateGiresun responded to a distress call from the Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-ownedbulk carrierFull City. AnIndian NavyTu-142 maritime patrol aircraft located theFull City, and whileGiresun boarded the merchant vessel,Bunker Hill and its embarked HS-49 helicopters intercepted a dhow believed to be the 'mothership' for the pirate attack.Bunker Hill's boarding party seized weapons and other equipment commonly used in piracy, and the boarding party also sank a small skiff being towed by the dhow.Giresun's boarding party found theFull City's Chinese crew safe and in control of their ship.^{[34][35][36][37]} On 15 June 2011,Carl Vinson returned to itshomeport ofNaval Station San Diego, California.^[38]

2010–2011 deployment force composition^{[39][40][41][42][43]}

2010–2011 deployment exercises and port visits

On 18 November 2011, Rear Admiral Thomas K. Shannon took command of Carrier Strike Group One.^[33] On 30 November 2011, the strike group departedNaval Air Station North Island, California, for its 2011–2012 deployment.^[58][59]

On 10 January 2012, two guided-missile destroyers fromDestroyer Squadron One,Stockdale andGridley, and their embarked detachments from helicopter squadron HSL-49 participated in apassing exercise with theJapanesehelicopter destroyerKurama in theSea of Japan. Later in the same day,Stockdale andGridley participated in separate maneuvers with units of theRepublic of Korea Navy.^[44] Also, during its maiden deployment, the new British guided-missile destroyerDaring operated with Carrier Strike Group One and Carrier Strike Group Nine in thePersian Gulf andNorth Arabian Sea.^[60] On 19 January 2012, while serving as the flagship ofCombined Task Force 151, the destroyerHalsey and itsHSL-49 helicopter detachment responded to a distress call from M/VAlbrouj, a Yemeni dhow en route to Somalia from Yemen.^[61]

Carrier Strike Group One joinedCarrier Strike Group Three, led by the carrierJohn C. Stennis, in the North Arabian Sea, withCarrier Strike Group Nine, led by the carrierAbraham Lincoln, en route to the Arabian Sea amidrising tension between the United States and theIslamic Republic of Iran over U.S. naval access to theStrait of Hormuz.^[62]

While with the Seventh Fleet, between 9–16 April 2012, Carrier Strike Group One participated inMalabar 2007 with theIndian Navy (pictured).^[63] Ships of the strike group paid a port visit toBrisbane on 5 May 2012 to mark the 70th anniversary of theBattle of Coral Sea.^[64] Between 7–16 May 2012, Carrier Strike Group One became the first U.S. Navy carrier strike group to participate in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative, a maritime law enforcement operation within theexclusive economic zones of various South Pacific states.^[65]

On 11 May 2012, Carrier Strike Group One entered the U.S. Third Fleet area of responsibility.^[66] On 23 May 2012, the carrierCarl Vinson, the cruiserBunker Hill, and the destroyerHalsey returned toNaval Air Station North Island, California, concluding the six-month-long 2011–2012 deployment for Carrier Strike Group One.^[67] During this deployment, aircraft from Carrier Strike Group One flew 1,085 missions in support of ground forces inAfghanistan, totaling 6,600 flight hours, while delivering 7,283 pounds (3.3 MT) of ordnance and expending 1,717 rounds of 20-mm ammunition in support of coalition operations inAfghanistan.^[66][68]

2011–2012 deployment force composition^[42][58][69]

2011–2012 deployment exercises and port visits

On 5 July 2012, the carrierCarl Vinson began a planned incremental availability (PIA) overhaul to undergo major maintenance and modernization, with a scheduled completion date of 1 February 2013.^[68][74] TheCarl Vinson completed its maintenance on 3 February 2013 and began carrier qualifications withCarrier Air Wing 17 (pictured).^[75] Between 2–14 May 2013, theCarl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen completed their Underway for Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) pre-deployment exercises.^[76]

On 22 March 2012, the cruiserBunker Hill began its five-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) overhaul at theBAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair facility.^[71] The destroyerGridley began its selected restricted availability (SRA) yard at BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair facility on 26 June 2013.Gridley began its sea trials on 7 October 2013.^[77] On 17 November 2013, the destroyerHiggins began its five-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) upkeep.^[78] The frigateMcClusky completed its three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) upkeep in January 2013.^[79]

On 21 February 2013, Rear Admiral David F. Steindl relieved Rear Admiral Thomas K. Shannon as commander, Carrier Strike Group One in ceremonies held aboard the group's flagship, theVinson. A surface warfare officer, Steindl had commandedDestroyer Squadron Seven while Shannon takes command of theMilitary Sealift Command.^[80] On 28 January 2014, Admiral Steindl was relieved by Read Admiral Christopher Grady. While in command, Steindl oversaw the strike group's carrier qualifications that produced more than 1,612 sorties, 1,827 arrested landings, and 2,471 flight hours. A surface warfare officer, Admiral Grady commandedDestroyer Squadron 22 during its deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet withCarrier Strike Group Two.^[81]

On 25 July 2013, the frigateRentz began its final deployment prior to its decommissioning in 2014 (pictured).^[82] The frigateMcClusky participated in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) with the U.S. and Canadian warships between 7–11 October 2013.^[79] The destroyerStockdale completed an extended 10-month deployment to the middle East on 8 November 2013.^[83]

At the start of 2014, Carrier Strike Group One was in port and not underway.^[84] On 16 January 2014, USSCarl Vinson departedNaval Air Station North Island, California, to begin its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) pre-deployment exercise with theCarrier Air Wing 17 and the rest of Carrier Strike Group One.^[7] These TSTA training drills and associated real-world scenarios emphasized damage control, flight deck operations, and simulated combat for the units of the carrier strike group, with each training phase evaluated by Afloat Training Group Pacific. Following the TSTA drills, Carrier Strike Group One began its Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) drill. While underway, the strike group flew 1,609 air sorties, including 761 at night (pictured), earning certification fromCommander, Naval Air Forces Pacific to continue to the next phase of its training. On 10 February 2014, Carrier Strike Group One returned toNaval Air Station North Island, California, completing the TSTA/FEP phase of its pre-deployment exercises.^[85]

On 21 March 2014, Carrier Strike Group One completed its three-week-long Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint Exercise. Such exercises allow carrier strike groups to train with other branches of the U.S. military while the ships are in port by connecting to aU.S. Third Fleet simulation gaming network under the supervision of Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) based atNaval Base Point Loma, California.^[86] On 2 June 2014, the carrier strike group successfully completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California. These exercise evaluated the strike group's ability to react to live-training scenarios as an integral unit throughout every phase of naval warfare including sub-surface, surface, and air scenarios. COMPTUEX is the capstone of the integrated training phase for Carrier Strike Group One, and it required the entire strike group to defeat simulated adversaries across the full spectrum of naval warfare.^[87]

On 9 June 2014, the strike group successfully completed its Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) off the southern coast of California. JTFEX is an integrated battle force exercise designed to test the capabilities of carrier strike groups operating within a joint environment. It represented culmination of months of training for Carrier Strike Group One in preparation for its upcoming overseas deployment later in this summer.^[88]

On 22 August 2014, Carrier Strike Group One departed on its 2014–2015 deployment to the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific Ocean and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean.^[89] The strike group completed an Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) on 3 September 2014. Task Forces 32 (Third Fleet maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft) andTask Force 34 (theater-wide anti-submarine warfare force) took part in the exercise, along with units from Australia and Canada.^[90] On 9 September 2014, Carrier Strike Group One entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet'sarea of responsibility.^[91]

On 12 September 2014, twoF/A-18C Hornet single-seat strike fighters collided and crashed approximately 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) west ofWake Island. One aircraft was from squadronVFA-94 and the other was from squadronVFA-113. Both squadrons were based atNaval Air Station Lemoore, California, and both squadrons were part ofCarrier Air Wing Seventeen embarked aboardCarl Vinson. One aviator was recovered in fair condition and received medical treatment aboard theCarl Vinson.Search-and-rescue (SAR) operations continued for the other aviator (pictured). The strike group was participating in ExerciseValiant Shield 2014 at the time of the mid-air collision.^[92] The search was called off on 14 September 2014, and the missing aviator was declared missing and presumed dead, with the crash incident under investigation.^[93]

Following a port visit toSingapore, Carrier Strike Group One entered theU.S. Fifth Fleet's area of responsibility on 15 October 2014.^[94] On 19 October 2014, Carrier Strike Group One began flying air combat missions in support ofOperation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led air campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria (pictured).^[7] On 15 February 2015, the French Navy'sTask Force 473, led by the nuclear aircraft carrierCharles de Gaulle, transited theStrait of Hormuz, joining Carrier Strike Group One in thePersian Gulf.^[95] Both carrier task groups began operating together (pictured), flying over 100 sorties per day.Charles De Gaulle'sSuper-Etendard andRafale fighter jet aircraft flew 15 sorties per day whileCarl Vinson's aircraft flies up to 25 combat sorties a day. The rest of the sorties flown were high-end training flights.^[7][96] On 13 April 2015,Carrier Strike Group Twelve relieved Carrier Strike Group One as Task Group 50 in the Gulf of Oman.^[7] In support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the strike group flew 12,300 sorties, including 2,383 combat missions; landed more than 9,220 aircraft; and dropped 869 precision guided munitions for a total of more than 500,000 lb (230,000 kg) of ordnance delivered on target.^[97]

On 27 March 2015, the USSSterret took part in theair-sea rescue that successfully recovered the pilots of twoF-15 fighter jet that may have been part of Operation Decisive Storm, theSaudi Arabian-led multilateral air campaign against Houthis forces in Yemen.^[98]On 1 April 2015, theSterret carried out a boarding of the Panamanian-flagged merchant shipSaisaban in support of theU.N.-authorized arms embargo against Houthi forces in Yemen.^[99][100]

On 16 April 2015, Carrier Strike Group One departed the U.S. Fifth Fleet, completing its six-month deployment.^[97] The strike group departed theU.S. Seventh Fleet on 23 May 2015.^[5] After Carrier Strike Group paid its final 2015 port call atNaval Station Pearl Harbor, aMH-60S Seahawk helicopter from squadron HS-15 rendered assistance to a mariner, who had been alone at sea for more than 30 days aboard his 35-foot sailboat, in the Pacific Ocean more than 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi) off the coast ofHonolulu on 31 May 2015.^[4][7][101] On 4 June 2015, Carrier Strike Group One arrived back atNaval Base Point Loma, California, concluding its 10-month deployment to the U.S. Fifth and Seventh fleets.^[102]

2014–2015 deployment force composition^[6][89]

2014–2015 deployment operations, exercises, and port visits

In mid February 2017, it was reported that Carrier Strike Group 1, including theCarl Vinson,USSLake Champlain,USSWayne E. Meyer, andUSSMichael Murphy, started what the Navy called "routine operations" in theSouth China Sea.^[109] During the first half of April 2017, the strike group was reportedly ordered towards the Korean Peninsula amid growing concerns about North Korea's ballistic missile program. It had recently conducted training exercises with theROK Navy in the Western Pacific.^[110] TheCarl Vinson and its escorts were 3,500 miles (5,600 km) away however, undertaking joint exercises with theRoyal Australian Navy in the Indian Ocean south off Singapore. Confusion appeared to stem from a "glitch-ridden sequence of events" that included a premature announcement of the deployment from the Navy.^[111] In late April, the Strike Group was joined by twoJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers; theJDSAshigara and the JSSamidare as they transited thePhilippine Sea en route to the Korean peninsula.^[112]

In early May, the JMSDF vessels left the Strike Group and were replaced by theUSSStethem and two Republic of Korea Navy destroyers, the ROKSSejong the Great and ROKSYang Manchun.^[113] Later that month, the Strike Group was joined by theUSSRonald Reagan which had just completed a period of Selected Restricted Availability maintenance. In early June, the USSRonald Reagan'sCarrier Strike Group 5 joined CSG 1 in the Sea of Japan, along with the JMSDF vesselsAshigara andJDSHyūga.

Commander, Carrier Strike Group One reports to Commander,U.S. Third Fleet, which also supervises its pre-deployment training and certification that includesComposite Unit Training Exercises. When deployed overseas, the strike group comes under the command of the numbered fleet in whose area it is operating (Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Fleets). When deployed in this fashion, the group utilizes a task force or task group designator, for example, Task Group 50.1 in the Fifth Fleet area.

Group commanders since 2009 have included:

• History of the United States Navy
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

Footnotes

Citations

• Morison, Samuel Loring (May 2009)."U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2008 – 31 December 2008: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 17 Feb 2009".Naval Institute Proceedings.135 (5):118–120.ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved26 August 2010.Registration required.
• —— (May 2010)."U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2009 – 31 December 2009: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 1 March 2010".Naval Institute Proceedings.136 (5):106–116.ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved29 August 2010.Registration required.
• —— (May 2011)."U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2010 – 31 December 2010: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 1 March 2011".Naval Institute Proceedings.137 (5):117–120.ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved29 August 2010.Registration required.
• —— (May 2012)."U.S. Naval Battle Force Changes 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2011: Aircraft Carrier Air Wing Assignments and Composition as of 2 April 2012".Naval Institute Proceedings.138 (5): 113.ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved11 May 2012.Registration required.
• —— (September 2014)."U.S. Battle Force Aviation Changes 2013–14".Naval Institute Proceedings.140 (9):48–50.ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved13 September 2014.Registration required; downloadable PDF file covering 2013 and 2014.

• Eric Schmitt (16 December 2014)."Attacking Islamic State, from a Navy aircraft carrier".The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved17 December 2014.Originally published inThe New York Times.

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