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

Carrier Strike Group Ten, abbreviated as CSG-10 or CARSTRKGRU 10, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command. 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 Ten is the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

Historical background
The lineage to the current Carrier Strike Group Ten can be traced to Destroyer Flotilla Two which was established during World War I at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The Flotilla was deactivated in 1922 as part of the fleet draw down after the war. Destroyer Flotilla Two was reactivated in 1931 and served throughout the 1930s as a caretaker of reserve destroyers until again deactivated in the early days of World War II. As part of the Navy’s fleet reorganization, the Flotilla was reactivated yet again in 1946. In 1973, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Two was renamed Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two, and it relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1974. Among its ships was the replenishment ship USS Yosemite.

In the middle 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.

In 1993, following fleet reorganization, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two became the Battle Group Staff for the newly named George Washington Battle Group, with the newly-commissioned nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) as its flagship. The George Washington Battle Group participated in the 2000 NATO Exercise Destined Glory, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Vigilant Resolve.

In 2004 Cruiser Destroyer Group Two was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10), with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) initially assigned as its flagship. Subsequently, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was assigned as the new flagship for CARSTRKGRU 10; the Truman had previously been under the operational control of the Commander, Carrier Group Two.

Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group Ten (COMCARSTRKGRU 10) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to Carrier Strike Group Ten. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 10 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 Two reports to the Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command as one of its six carrier strike groups currently assigned to that command. the group's pre-deployment training and certification comes under the operational control of Fleet Forces Command following the disestablisment of the U.S. Second Fleet on 30 September 2011. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea (MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

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 Three is composed of the following units:


 * USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), flagship (pictured)
 * Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3)
 * Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26)
 * USS Gravely (DDG-107)
 * USS James E. Williams (DDG-95)
 * USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)
 * USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79)
 * USS Ross (DDG-71)
 * USS Elrod (FFG-55)

Operational summary
Carrier Strike Group Ten departed Norfolk on 13 October 2004 for an extended deployment under the command of Rear Admiral Michael C. Tracy. The strike group participates in the Joint Maritime Course exercises north of Scotland between 25–28 October 2004 which included strike, surface, and submarine warfare exercises with a multi-national force. Carrier Strike Group Ten transited the Suez Canal on 11 November 2004, joining the U.S. Fifth Fleet, and relieved the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) carrier strike group on 20 November 2004.
 * 2004-2005 deployment

Truman and Carrier Air Wing Three launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations being relieved by the Carrier Strike Group One in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005. One major air operation involved a VAW-126 detachment of two E-2C Hawkeyes that operated out of Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, from 4–13 December 2004. The detachment's mission was to provide airborne command and control for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's first democratically elected president. This event was attended by an entourage led by U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Despite plans to cross the equator and visited South Africa, diplomatic issues caused the strike group to transit the Suez Canal, stopping in Portsmouth, England, prior to returning to the United States on 19 April 2005. The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman was re-assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Ten, and the Theodore Roosevelt was re-assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Two. Following humanitarian assistance and disaster response operation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005, the Truman underwent an extended yard period at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. On 5 November 2007, following the yard period and training exercises, Carrier Strike Group Ten departed Norfolk under the command Rear Admiral William E. Gortney for its 2007-2008 deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
 * 2007-2008 deployment

Carrier Air Wing Three aircraft flew more than 26,500 hours during 9,500 sorties, including 2,459 combat sorties directly in support of coalition forces operating on the ground in Iraq. This included flying almost 14,000 combat hours and expended 77,500 pounds of ordnance during 228 troops-in-contact events, as well as providing defense to the Iraqi oil platforms. Additionally, the carrier air wing provided logistical support to the American Embassy in Lebanon. The air wing's aircraft also carried out a variety of security cooperation exercises with five countries within the Sixth Fleet and Fifth Fleet areas to enhance allied cooperation and interoperability.

Surface warships of Destroyer Squadron 26 operated with over 50 coalition warships from 11 countries supporting combat operations in Iraq, carrying maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf, and conducting seven exercises throughout the Middle East. The squadron's warships made 1,021 approach-and-assist visits with local fishermen and merchants to encourage them to contact coalition warships as first responders against Persian Gulf piracy and smuggling. They also conducted Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, searching for vessels that could support international terrorist organizations by transferring personnel, drugs, and weapons. Finally, Destroyer Squadron 26 provided security patrols northern Persian Gulf to protect the vital Khor Al-Amaya and Al-Basra oil terminals from possible terrorist attacks.

Carrier Strike Group Ten completed its seven-month-long 2007-2008 overseas deployment, returning to Norfolk on 6 June 2008. On 21 May 2010, Carrier Strike Group Ten deployed for its 2010 deployment to the Fifth Fleet and Sixth Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll.
 * 2010 deployment

During its seven-month deployment, Carrier Strike Group Ten flew 2,915 missions into Afghanistan and Iraq, providing vital close air support to coalition forces on the ground and, while delivering 35,000 pounds (15,876 kg) of ordnance in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn, providing surge support for coalition forces in Afghanistan, and to support existing maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. . Also, detachments from helicopter squadron HSL-44 based on board the guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) flew a combined 1,875 hours in support of anti-piracy operations, multinational training events, and counter-smuggling missions in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The guided-missile cruiser Normandy served as the Regional Air Defense Commander (RADC) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing surveillance of more than 264 million square miles (683.8 million km2) of air space. On 5 July 2010, the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG-55) assisted 16 stranded Pakistani fishermen (pictured) whose boat had taken on water and sank two days earlier. After being spotted floating adrift in a life raft by a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion, the stranded crew was recovered by the Elrod's rigid-hulled inflatable boat and transported back to the ship before being transferred to the Pakistani Navy frigate PNS Babur on 6 July 2010. On 18 November 2010, guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) located and provided assistance to two Iranian mariners who were spotted floating in a life raft in the Persian Gulf. Oscar Austin was operating with Combined Task Force 152, and the two mariners were picked up by an Iranian rescue vessel (pictured).

On 15 November 2010, four Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from squadron VMM-266 landed and re-fueled on board the carrier Harry S. Truman following operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan (pictured). These VMM-266 helicopters part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and they were returning to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) after completing humanitarian relief efforts in Pakistan. Because of the distance between Pakistan and Kearsarge, the Truman acted as a "lily pad" for the helicopters to re-fuel.

Carrier Strike Group Ten returned to Naval Station Norfolk on 20 December 2010, completing its six-month deployment. The multi-national naval exercise FRUKUS 2011 began off the coast of Virginia on 20 June 2011. FRUKUS stands for the participating countries – France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and it was a two-week interoperability exercise to improve maritime security operations through open dialogue and increased training between the participating navies. Participating U.S. naval forces included Commander Carrier Strike Group Ten, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six, and the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG-95); and the international naval forces included the French frigate Ventôse, the Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, and the guided-missile destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33). The exercise consisted of two phases, ashore and at-sea. The week-long ashore phase included damage control, fire fighting, and ship handling exercises at shore-based training facilities. The at-sea phase (pictured) occurred during the second week, between 27 June and 1 July, and this phase included training in maritime domain awareness, anti-piracy operations, and maritime interdiction operations. A shore-based multin-ational combined task group staff provided command and control for the participating warships during the at-sea phase.
 * 2011 operations

Between 31 July and 2 August 2011, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six participated in a passing exercise with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force off the east coast of the United States (pictured). Passing exercises are designed to provide realistic training environments for U.S. Navy and the Japanese Training Squadron that closely replicates the operational challenges routinely encountered around the world. Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six worked in close coordination with the Training Squadron which consists of newly-commissioned Japanese surface warfare officers. U.S. naval units participating were Carrier Strike Group Ten, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG-69), the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG-94), and the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG-50). Japanese naval units participating were the destroyer Mineyuki, the training vessel Asagiri, and the training vessel JDS Kashima.

Deployment force composition

 * 2004-2005 deployment
 * 2007-2008 deployment
 * 2010 deployment

Deployment exercises and port visits

 * 2004-2005 deployment
 * 2007-2008 deployment
 * 2010 deployment