User:Marcd30319/Marcd30319 original Carrier Strike Group Eleven rev 1

Carrier Strike Group Eleven, abbreviated CSG-11 or CARSTRKGRU 11, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups 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. The current flagship for Carrier Strike Group Eleven is the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five
On 1 September 1961, Rear Admiral Joseph C. Wylie became Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine, aboard USS Oklahoma City. He had arrived onboard Oklahoma City as Commander Cruiser Division Three on 22 August 1961, and merely changed titles in September without shifting flagship. As of 1 July 1969, USS Oklahoma City was under the Administrative control of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine, with his headquarters in San Diego. The primary mission of CRUDESFLOT NINE during the Vietnam War era had been to ensure the effective employment of approximately 60 cruisers and destroyers in the United States Seventh Fleet. By January 1973, with the end of hostilities in Vietnam, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine had expended nearly 80,000 rounds in naval gunfire support missions. This offshore firepower, and the equally important role of search and rescue coordination, were vital parts of the extensive Naval presence in the South China Sea. In 1973, a major reorganization of the U.S. Navy's cruiser-destroyer force resulted in Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine's re-designation as Cruiser Destroyer Group Five (CDG-5).

Rear Admiral Gerald E. Thomas served as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five in 1974-76. Then Captain Leon A. Edney served as Chief of Staff to the Commander Cruiser-Destoryer Group Five after 1976.

In the summer of 1992, the U.S. Navy instituted a concept which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure. Instead of routinely changing the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates assigned to each carrier battle group, there was an attempt made to affiliate certain escorts more permanently with the carriers they escorted. Each of the Navy's 12 existing carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. The guided-missile cruisers USS Cowpens (CG-63), USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), USS Worden (CG-18), and USS Leahy (CG-16); Destroyer Squadron 17; Carrier Air Wing Fifteen; and the carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) were permanently assigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five.

On Aug. 1, 1992, Kitty Hawk was appointed as Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific's "ready carrier." The ship embarked Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five; Commander, Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN and Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN for three months of work-ups before deploying to the Western Pacific on Nov. 3, 1992. While on deployment, Kitty Hawk spent nine days off the coast of Somalia supporting U.S. Marines and coalition forces involved in Operation Restore Hope. In response to increasing Iraqi violations of United Nations sanctions, the ship rushed to the Persian Gulf on December 27, 1992. Just 17 days later, Kitty Hawk led a joint, coalition offensive strike against designated targets in southern Iraq.

On 15 July 1998, Rear Admiral Daniel R. Bowler (and his relief RADM Peter W. Marzluff), Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5, assumed operational control of Nimitz. (DANFS, Nimitz) Kitty Hawk had left the group by shifting her homeport to Yokosuka, Japan, arriving there on 11 August 1998.

In July 2000, USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) was transferred to Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five (up to June 2000 it had been part of Carrier Group Five). From 21 September 2001 to 13 December 2001, following an overhaul, Nimitz sailed round Cape Horn to her new home port of NAS North Island. Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 and CVWR-20, the latter comprising VFA-204, VAW-78, VS-22, VRC-30, HC-11 and HS-75, were aboard. (DANFS) Carrier Air Wing Eleven was reassigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five and the Nimitz in January 2002. Then Rear Admiral Samuel J. Locklear took command of CCDG-5/Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in 2002, deploying to the Middle East in 2003.

On 1 October 2004, Cruiser Destroyer Group Five (CDG-5) was re-designated Carrier Strike Group Eleven.

Nimitz Carrier Battle Group
On 15 July 1998, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five (CCDG-5) assumed control of Nimitz. At this time, Rear Admiral Daniel R. Bowler appears to have been in the process of being relieved by Rear Admiral Peter W. Marzluff. The Nimitz battle group received a Meritorious Unit Commendation in recognition of its support U.S. naval operations involving Operation Southern Watch and the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis between 13 December 1995 and 3 May 1996. The battle group also received a Navy Unit Commendation in recognition of its support of combat air operation for Operation Iraqi Freedom between 4 April to 1 May 2003.

Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group Eleven serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to the Carrier Strike Group. Acting as an Operational Commander, he 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 strike group. CARSTRKGRU 11's pre-deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise comes under the operational control of the U.S. Third Fleet. When deployed overseas, the group comes under the command of the numbered fleet commander in whose area it is operating.

The carrier strike group is an operational formation. Administratively the ships and aircraft of the strike group also report to U.S. Navy type commands. The aircraft carrier Nimitz, the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59), and Destroyer Squadron 23 are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. Carrier Air Wing Eleven is under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific.

Assigned units
U.S. Navy carrier strike groups typically consist of an aircraft carrier (flagship), an embarked carrier air wing, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, and a destroyer squadron. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Eleven is composed of the following units:


 * USS Nimitz (CVN-68), flagship (pictured)
 * Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11)
 * USS Princeton (CG-59)
 * Destroyer Squadron 23:
 * USS Spruance (DDG-111)
 * USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110)
 * USS Sampson (DDG-102)
 * USS Pinckney (DDG-91)
 * USS Vandegrift (FFG-48)

Operational summary


Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed San Diego, California, on 7 May 2005 under the command of Rear Admiral Peter Daly. The group deployed to the Persian Gulf to carry out Maritime Security Operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On 21 July 2005, the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton responded to a radio call from an Iranian dhow, named Hamid, that was dead in the water and in need of engineering assistance. A rescue-and-assistance team was dispatched to the Hamid where it was determined that the engine would not start due to corroded batteries that were low on power. The batteries were removed and brought back to Princeton for maintenance, cleaning, and recharging. The Princeton rescue team was able to restore the power on board Hamid, re-start the engines, and then provide minor medical assistance and fresh water to the dhow's crew. Carrier Strike Group Eleven returned home on 8 November 2005. Carrier Strike Group Eleven deployed from San Diego on 2 April 2007 was under the command of Rear Admiral John Terence Blake.
 * 2005 deployment
 * 2007 Deployment

Carrier Strike Group Eleven joined the Carrier Strike Group Three, led by the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), and relieved Carrier Strike Group Eight, led by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), that was currently operating in the Persian Gulf. The deployment continued the current U.S. Navy two-carrier presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, demonstrating the U.S. resolve to build regional security and bring long-term stability to the region. The strike group worked closely with regional allies to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as to conduct Maritime Security Operations. Carrier Strike Group Eleven entered the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations on 8 May 2007 and began conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 11 May 2007. It also provided close airpower support and reconnaissance to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

The destroyer Higgins played a critical role conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf with its Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) teams, conducting Interaction Patrols (IPATS) in which they distributed information on coalition aims and objectives to three Iraqi dhows. The VBSS teams also conducted security sweeps on board three Iraqi tugs and four super-tankers, thereby safeguarding the merchants in the region by deterring piracy and smuggling. Most notably, Higgins was the only ship in the strike group to conduct a boarding of a tanker suspected of oil smuggling. After a thorough six-hour boarding, the VBSS team was able to clear the tanker, ensuring the safety and freedom of the high seas to merchants and traders in the area. The cruiser Princeton served as the Air Defense Commander for Carrier Strike Group Eleven throughout its deployment in the Persian Gulf, providing close-in air defense, airspace awareness, and, if needed, acted as a ready platform for search and rescue (SAR) operations.

Between August 7–14, 2007, Carrier Strike Group Eleven joined two other carrier strike groups, led by the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), participating in the joint Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, a multi-dimensional joint exercise off the coast of Guam with U.S forces. Carrier Strike Group Eleven also joined the Kitty Hawk's strike group, and India’s aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R22) in the Bay of Bengal for the multilateral Exercise Malabar 07-2, an annual exercise to advance mutual maritime understanding and interoperability involving the naval ships from India, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. The destroyer Pinckney participated in a Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training (CARAT) exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy and three other U.S Navy ships. The bilateral force conducted air defense, anti-surface warfare, anti-subsurface warfare, and VBSS operations in the compressed waterspace of the South China Sea, validating current tactics, techniques and procedures and identifying areas for further development.

Carrier Strike Group Eleven arrived back to San Diego on 30 September 2007, completing its six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East. Carrier Strike Group Eleven deployed from San Diego on 24 January 2008 under the Navy's fleet response plan (FRP) and will operate in the Western Pacific in support of U.S. commitments in the region while the forward-deployed USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) undergoes scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan.
 * 2008 deployment

Carrier Strike Group Eleven entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility on 8 February 2008. On 9 February 2008, two Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bombers were detected by the strike group in the Western Pacific. Four F/A-18C Hornets intercepted the bombers 50 mi south of Nimitz. Two F/A-18s trailed one of the bombers, which buzzed the deck of the carrier twice, while the other two F/A-18s trailed another TU-95 circling about 50 mi away from the carrier. Reportedly, there was no radio communication between the American and Russian aircraft. According to the Department of Defense, one of the two aircraft was said to have flown above Nimitz at an altitude of 2000 ft.

Carrier Strike Group Eleven returned to San Diego on 2 June 2008. Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed San Diego on 31 July 2009 on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment under the commanded by Rear Admiral John W. Miller. On 11 September 2009, the U.S. Navy announced that the near-term carrier strike group deployment schedule would be changed to accommodate the delay in the return of the carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65) from its current overhaul. This resulted in extending the current 2009-2010 WESTPAC deployment for Carrier Strike Group Eleven to eight months.
 * 2009-2010 deployment

On 4 December 2009, Carrier Strike Group Eleven began a five-month rotation to the northern Arabian Sea, providing close air support and reconnaissance to coalition forces in Afghanistan. CVW-11's carrier-based aircraft provided 30 percent of the combat air support for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF-A) during the four-month period that Carrier Strike Group Eleven operated in the northern Aradbian Sea. An example of other air support provided by CVW-11 was E-2C Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 (VAW-117) using their sophisticated radar and communication systems to frame the operational picture for all levels of command supporting Operation Enduring Freedom to synchronize and direct air crews over Afghanistan. Also, EA-6B Prowlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) jammed electronic signals in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In total, Carrier Air Wing 11 air crews flew more than 2,600 combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The other strike group ships contributed to counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, the protection of critical Iraqi infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, and other maritime security operations.

On 26 March 2010, Strike Group Eleven returned to their homeport after an eight-month deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Seventh Fleet areas of responsibility. On 9 December 2010, the Navy formally announced that Naval Station Everett, Washington, is the new homeport for the Nimitz. On 11 May 2011, the U.S. Navy announced a change in Permanent Duty Station (PDS) for Carrier Strike Group Eleven, with its PDS shifting from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, to Naval Station Everett, Washington, in December 2011. On 9 March 2012, the aircraft carrier Nimitz arrived at its new homeport of Naval Station Everett after spending nearly a week at sea conducting post-overhail sea trials.
 * 2011 operations

Deployment force composition

 * 2005 deployment
 * 2007 Deployment
 * 2008 deployment
 * 2009-2010 deployment

Deployment exercises and port visits

 * 2005 deployment
 * 2007 Deployment
 * 2008 deployment
 * 2009-2010 deployment