User:Marcd30319/Marcd30319 original Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group



The Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group (HSTCVBG) was the former designation for Carrier Strike Group Two, one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command.

Since the inception of the carrier strike group (CSG) concept in 1993, which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group has participated in Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Summer Pulse '04 (SP04) under the operational control of the Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2).

Overview
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group was employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control. The core capabilities of a CSG include:


 * Forward Presence
 * Deterrence
 * Sea Control
 * Power Projection
 * Maritime Security
 * Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response (HADR)

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. The guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56) and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six (DESRON-26) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. The carrier strike group's training and certification is under the authority of the U.S. Second Fleet. When deployed overseas, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, with Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru2) serving as the immediate flag officer in command.

Historical background
Commander, Carrier Division Two, (ComCarDiv 2) was established on 30 September 1937, consisting of the fleet aircraft carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Enterprise (CV-6), under the command of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey. During World War Two, aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Two participated in the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Operation Hailstone, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, as well as the Solomon Islands campaign, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Hollandia and Western New Guinea campaign, the Philippines Campaign, the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, the Iwo Jima campaign, and the Okinawan campaign, as part of the U.S. Navy's Fast Carrier Task Force.

After the war, aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Two were involved in the Cuba Missile Crisis, Operation Sea Orbit, the Six-Day War, and the Vietnam War. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) flew the flag of Commander Carrier Division 2 in 1963. Re-designated as Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2) in 1973, aircraft carriers assigned to ComCarGru 2 subsequently participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Uphold Democracy.

2001 MED Deployment
The maiden deployment of Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group began on 28 November 2000 under the overall command of Rear Admiral James McArthur, Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru2). The strike group included the carrier Harry S. Truman; Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3); the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56); the guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), USS Mitscher (DDG-57), and USS Porter (DDG-78); the destroyers USS Stump (DD-978) and USS Deyo (DD-989), the guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG-52); and the nuclear-powered attack submarines USS Norfolk (SSN-714) and USS Alexandria (SSN-757). CVW-3 squadrons embarked onboard the Harry S. Truman included:

Light anti-submarine helicopter (HSL) squadron detachments deploying with HSTCSG escort warships included:

In addition to its role in supporting Operation Southern Watch, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group participated in numerous international military exercises, including Arabian Gauntlet, an 11-nation exercise that involved more than 20 ships. Additionally, the strike group cooperasted with military forces from Oman, Jordan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, thereby improving interoperability and strengthening relationships between the United States and those countries. Rear Admiral James McArthur, Commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, summarized the accomplishments of the 2001 deployment by noting:
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42 (HSL-42) Det 8: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS San Jacinto (CG-56)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 44 (HSL-44) Det 1: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Deyo (DD-989)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Det 2: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Carr (FFG-52)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 48 (HSL-48) Det 6: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Stump (DD-978)

"By providing leadership and stability in a critically important region of the world, this deployment truly demonstrated the strength of America. Twenty-four percent of the world's oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz daily and 73 percent of the world's oil is located in the Middle East. Our sustained presence maintained stability throughout the region by reassuring our friends and deterring our adversaries."

After paying port visits to Marmaris, Turkey, and Rhodes, Greece, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group returned to the U.S. on 23 May 2001.

Operation Southern Watch
After transiting the Strait of Hormuz on 1 January 2001, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group began flying air missions in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) over the No-Fly Zome in southern Iraq on 2 January 2001. The Carrier Air Wing 3 flew 869 sorties, totaling more than 2,700 flight hours over 55 fly days, including an air strike on Iraqi integrated air defense system sites on 16 February 2001 in a sanctioned response to Iraqi surface-to-air missile fire against United Nations Security Council coalition forces as well as an air strike against a mobile early warning radar in southern Iraq on 19 April 2001. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group executed five rotations in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) with the U.S. Fifth Fleet as noted below.

CVW-3 aircraft provided 70 per cent of the strike aircraft enforcing the No-Fly Zone in southern Iraq during its deployment to the Persian Gulf. Warship of the strike group also enforced United Nations sanctions on Iraq by diverting 22 vessels with cargoes worth more than $5,000,000 USD five and reduced the number of potential smugglers operating in the area. Combat operations ended on 27 April 2001, and the strike group transited the Suez Canal on 3 March 2001.

2002 Operations
The carrier Harry S. Truman entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, for her first Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) on 5 September 2001. Following the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, the new HSTCSG new commander, Rear Admiral J. J. Quinn Jr., led the strike group through the initial phases of an intense and compacted inter-deployment training cycle (IDTC) to provide homeland defense and force protection following the terrorist attacks while remaining focused on preparations for multiple deployment date scenarios. Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem relieved Admiral Quinn as the Commander of Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in June 2002. The carrier strike group participated in the multi-lateral Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 03-1 from 28 October to 6 November 2002.

2003 MED Deployment
Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deployed on its second deployment on 5 December 2002. The battle group was under the command of by Rear Admiral John D. Stufflebeem, Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru2). The group include the carrier Harry S. Truman, Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3); guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56); DESRON-22 guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG-57), USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), and USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79); DESRON-22 destroyers USS Briscoe (DD-977) and USS Deyo (DD-989); the DESRON-22 guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG-53); and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196); and the ammunition ship USNS Mount Baker (T-AE-34). CVW-3 squadrons embarked onboard the Harry S. Truman included:

Light anti-submarine helicopter (HSL) squadron detachments deploying with HSTCSG escort warships included:


 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42 (HSL-42) Det 3: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Deyo (DD-989)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42 (HSL-42) Det 8: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Hawes (FFG-53)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 44 (HSL-44) Det 1: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Briscoe (DD-977)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Det 2: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 48 (HSL-48) Det 6: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS San Jacinto (CG-56)

The strike group paid port visits to Marseille, France; Souda Bay, Crete; and Koper, Slovenia The strike group stopped in Portsmouth, England on 6 May 2003, before returning to Norfolk on 23 May 2003.

Operation Iraqi Freedom
On 19 March 2003, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group was positioned and in battle ready form, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to support Coaltion Forces against Iraq. Shortly after initial operations began on that date, Carrier Air Wing 3 began conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Over the next 30 days, the CVW-3 team dropped more than 700 tons of ordnance - more than any other carrier battle group supporting OIF – against Northern Iraq in direct support of U.S. infantry and special operations forces on the ground. In total, HSTCSG spent a total 89 consecutive days at sea without a port call. Between 19 March and 18 April, airwing aircraft flew nearly 1,300 combat sorties from the Mediterranean Sea in the early stages of 2003 invasion of Iraq. OIF air combat operations from the Mediterranean was shared with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), with the Truman strike group carrying out daytime flight operations and the Theodore Roosevelt strike group carrying out night-time flight operations. Rear Admiral John D. Stufflebeem (pictured) called the HST/TR carrier task group "the largest U.S. Navy battle force assembled in the Mediterranean for combat since World War II."

2003 Operations
Truman underwent her second Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 20 August 2003 to 13 February 2004. The Truman strike group became the first aircraft carrier battle group to enter a PIA period as part of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark's Fleet Response Plan (FRP).

2004 Pre-deployment training
Following its 6-month Planned Incremental Availability 03/04 (PIA), the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) conducted Sea Trials, beginning on 13 February 2004, and the Truman also began its Inter-deployment Readiness Cycle under the new Fleet Response Plan (FRP) concept, the first aircraft carrier to do so from shipyard to deployment. Sea Trials were completed on 16 February 2004, marking the successful conclusion to Truman's second PIA, completed early and under budget. A week later, the carrier was back at sea conducting Flight Deck Certification and Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS)/Carrier Air Wing 8 and Training Command (TRACOM) carrier Qualification (CQ) operations. The next two months included intensive training and evaluations to prepare the ship for emergency surge status in accordance with the Fleet Response Plan. The Tailored Ship's Training Availability/Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP), held between 6–29 April 2004, included numerous general quarters, damage control, and Chemical/Biological/Radiation (CBR) training events. Additionally, Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) joined the Truman for Carrier Qualifications (CQ) and cyclic operations in preparation for their upcoming six-month deployment. The Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) commenced on 2 June 2004 with operations in the Virginia Capes and the Jacksonville operating area. COMPTUEX continued with the Truman's participation in Summer Pulse 2004, concluding on 19 June 2004.

Summer Pulse 04
Summer Pulse '04 (SP04) was the U.S. Navy's first full scale exercise of its new operational construct, the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). Its objective was to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's ability to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters, with other U.S. military forces. The exercise included scheduled deployments, surge operations, joint and international exercises, other advanced training, and several port visits.

The FRP is designed to allow the Navy to provide up to seven carrier strike groups (CSG) to support any contingency worldwide in 30 days. Per the plan, two more CSGs can be ready within three months to reinforce or rotate out the forces that initially deployed. This allows for a continuous presence and the ability to swiftly respond to different crisis situations. FRP also is about new ways of operating, training, manning and maintaining the fleet resulting in increased force readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power in a crisis situation as well as reinforce our relationships and interoperability in five theaters of operations. Summer Pulse '04 involved the simultaneous surging of seven carrier strike groups led by the following aircraft carriers:
 * USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), based at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka
 * USS Enterprise (CVN-65), based at Naval Station Norfolk
 * USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), based at Naval Station Mayport
 * USS George Washington (CVN-73), based at Naval Station Norfolk
 * USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), based at Naval Air Station North Island
 * USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), based at Naval Station Norfolk
 * USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), which transferred from Norfolk to Naval Air Station North Island

Operation Medshark/Majestic Eagle
On 2 June 2004, Carrier Strike Group Ten (CSG-10), led by the Harry S. Truman with Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) embarked, departed Naval Station Norfolk, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Summer Pulse 04. Units of CSG-10 paid port visits to Naples, Italy between 2–6 July 2004, and CSG-10 subsequently participated in NATO Operation Medshark/Majestic Eagle (MS/ME04), held between 11–16 July 2004 in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off Morocco. The exercise included ships and aircraft from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Morocco under the overall command of Vice Admiral Henry G. Ulrich III, USN, the Commander Strike Force NATO (SFN), who noted:

"In this exercise, allied nations will work side-by-side in a realistic and challenging training environment. This is a rare opportunity for a coalition of maritime forces to refine the complex skills necessary to prepare for and conduct integrated operations with multiple aircraft carriers and other vessels. Medshark/Majestic Eagle 04 will truly demonstrate the collective powers and versatility of our combined NATO maritime forces."

The Truman was joined by carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), six other U.S. Navy surface ships, three submarines, and two maritime patrol P-3 Orion aircraft in the exercises. Following Summer Pulse 04, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group returned to Norfolk on 25 July 2004.

CSG Redesignation
The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt was re-assigned to Carrier Group Two (CarGru 2) effective 1 February 2004, and the ship underwent its Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) yard overhaul at the Newport Naval Yard in Virginia between 10 August to 10 December 2004. Theodore Roosevelt underwent sea trials 11-15 December 2004, and the carrier was officially delivered back to the U.S. Navy on 17 December 2005.

Effective 1 October 2004, in keeping with the CNO’s Guidance from Admiral Vernon E. Clark, Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2) and its the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group were re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2).