User:Marcd30319/version of Carrier Strike Group One

Carrier Strike Group One, abbreviated as CSG-1 or CARSTRKGRU 1, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet. U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control.

Carrier Strike Group One is currently based at Naval Air Station North Island, and it is deployable to the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The current flagship for Carrier Strike Group One is the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

Historical background
On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group One became Carrier Strike Group One. In 2005, this strike group was redesignated Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific. On 1 October 2009, Carrier Strike Group One was re-established based at Naval Base San Diego, California, as a new carrier strike group.

Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group One (COMCARSTRKGRU 1) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to Carrier Strike Group One. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 1 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 One reports to Commander, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet as one of six carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet. CARSTRKGRU 1's pre-deployment training and certification comes under the operational control (OPCON) of the U.S. Third Fleet. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group One comes under the command authority of the U.S. Seventh Fleet when operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

Type commands (TYCOM) are in administrative control (ADCON) and in some cases, operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (i.e., surface combatant ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The guided-missile cruisers USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), and Destroyer Squadron One (DESRON 1) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific.

Force composition in 2011
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 One is composed of the following units:
 * USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), flagship (pictured)
 * Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17)
 * USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)
 * USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)
 * Destroyer Squadron One (DESRON 1)
 * USS Stockdale (DDG-106)
 * USS Gridley (DDG-101)
 * USS Higgins (DDG-76)
 * USS Rentz (FFG-46)
 * USS McClusky (FFG-41)

2009 Operations
On 11 July 2009, the U.S. Navy took re-delivery of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) following successful completion of its Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News shipyard in Newport News, Virginia as well as its post-RCOH sea trials, with Vinson being the third Nimitz-class supercarrier to undergo its mid-life RCOH overhaul. Carl Vinson subsequently underwent a four-month post-refueling shipyard maintenance period in preparation for its scheduled homeport change from Norfolk to San Diego in 2010.

On 1 October 2009, the U.S. Navy formally re-established Carrier Strike Group One (CARSTRKGRU 1) based at Naval Base San Diego under the command of Rear Admiral Ted “Twig” Branch (pictured). This newly-re-established CARSTRKGRU 1 initially consisted of the carrier Carl Vinson as its flagship, Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, Destroyer Squadron One (DESRON-1), and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Lake Champlain (CG-57). Previously, the designation Carrier Strike Group One was used by a unit that has now become Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific.

Homeport change
On 12 January 2010, Carrier Strike Group One (CARSTRKGRU 1), led by the USS Carl Vinson (pictured), departed Naval Station Norfolk for its new homeport of San Diego. Squadrons from Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) embarked aboard Carl Vinson were:


 * Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA-81)
 * Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 (VAW-125)
 * Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40)
 * Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15 (HS-15)

The strike group's first mission was to transit around South America in the spring of 2010 as the Carl Vinson relocates to its new homeport of Naval Station San Diego, California. Carl Vinson also participates in bi-lateral exercises with naval units from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru while circumnavigating South America. Carl Vinson arrived at its new homeport on 12 April 2010 following a three-month underway period.

Operation Unified Response
Due to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the operational focus of Carrier Strike Group One and Carrier Air Wing 17 was changed to provide much needed humanitarian assistance and set up a preliminary base of operations for helicopter operations.

On 12 January 2010, just hours after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Carl Vinson was ordered to redirect from its current deployment in the North Atlantic Ocean to Haiti to contribute to the relief effort as part of Operation Unified Response. Upon receiving orders from the United States Southern Command, the CARSTRKGRU 1 proceeded to Mayport, Florida where the ships loitered offshore to receive additional supplies and helicopters. On 15 January, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince (pictured) to provide humanitarian aid, with its trained personnel, emergency relief supplies, and 19 helicopters on deck. On 16 January, the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) arrived in Haiti to assist the Carl Vinson.

In addition to providing medical relief, Carl Vinson's excess desalination capacity proved to be critical to providing fresh drinkable water to Haiti's population during the earthquake relief. In total, the Carl Vinson delivered 1,095,442 lbs. (496,884 kg.) of food; 147,591 gallons (558,693 litres) of potable water; and more than 40,000 lbs. (18,143 kg.) of medical supplies. The ship's medical team treated 60 patients. The 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.

On February 1, the carrier Carl Vinson, the cruiser Bunker Hill, and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson (T-AGS-63) ended their mission and departed Haiti although ten of Vinson's helicopters remained to support the relief effort.

Southern Seas 2010
On March 2010, during her transit around South America, the carrier strike group participated in Southern Seas 2010 naval maneuvers with the Brazilian, Uruguayan, and Argentine navies (pictured) as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command's Partnership of the Americas program. Carrier Strike Group One also paid port visits to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Callao, Peru.

CARSTRKGRU 1 training
Carrier Strike Group One prepared for its 2010 deployment through an Fleet Response Training Plan (FRTP) that included Fleet Synthetic Training Group (FSTGC) and Warfare Commander events, Navy Tactical Planners and Network Centric Warfare Commander's Courses, and a Combined Warfare Commander's Course. For example, during July 2010, the Vinson underwent its Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT), which included launching its newly installed Evolved Sea Sparrow Surface Missiles (ESSM) and Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) anti-aircraft weapon systems under simulated combat conditions. Additionally, CARSTRKGRU 1 was responsible for the training and readiness of CVW-17's deployment preparations through Squadron-level Advanced Readiness Program and Air Wing Integrated Fallon Detachment training.

2010-2011 WESTPAC deployment
On 30 November 2010, Carrier Strike Group One departed Naval Air Station North Island for a three-week composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) and its 2010–2011 deployment to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf under the command of Rear Adm. Samuel Perez. Also, 20 January 2010, the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) departed Naval Station San Diego for an independent deployment in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) and was subsequently assigned to Carrier Strike Group One.

This was the first Western Pacific deployment for Vinson in more than five years since the ship entered its Refueling Complex Overhaul in the fall of 2005. This was also the first deployment for Bunker Hill following the completion of its Cruiser Modernization overhaul, the first Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser to complete this mid-life modernization. Finally, this was the maiden deployment for the guided-missile destroyer Stockdale and the recently re-established Carrier Strike Group One itself.

On 31 December 2010, the strike group entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility, and on 6 May 2011, Carrier Strike Group One returned to the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) after spending 95 days supporting maritime theater security operations for Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A) and Operation New Dawn (OND) in the Fifth Fleet AOR. On 14 May 2011, a delegation led by President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III flew out to Carrier Strike Group One to tour its flagship, the carrier Carl Vinson. On 15 June 2011, the carrier Carl Vinson returned to its homebase of Naval Station San Diego, California.

Seventh Fleet operations
On 10 January 2011, two guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron One (DESRON 1), Stockdale and Gridley, and their embarked detachments from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 49 (HSL-49) participated in a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the JMSDF helicopter destroyer Kurama in the Sea of Japan. Later in the same day, Stockdale and Gridley participated in separate PASSEX maneuvers with units of the Republic of Korea Navy.

Carrier air operations
On 3 February 2011, the group began conducting combat air operations over Afghanistan, relieving the departing Carrier Strike Group Nine led by the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). On 13 April 2011, an F/A-18 strike fighter from squadron VFA-113 made a successful single-engine landing on board the Carl Vinson, bursting in flames in the process. However, no fatalities occurred due to the fire-fighting efforts of the flight deck personnel. Carrier Air Wing 17 flew 1,656 combat air sorties, logging a total of 9,140 flight hours while the ordnance expenditure added up to 33 bombs and 2,970 rounds of 20-mm ammunition.

Operation Neptune's Spear
On 2 May 2011, following Operation Neptune's Spear, the body of Osama bin Laden, the founder of the al-Qaeda terror group, was buried at sea after religious rites were conducted aboard the USS Carl Vinson operating in the Northern Arabian Sea.

Operation Ocean Shield
On 5 May 2011, as part of NATO's counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, the carrier Carl Vinson, the cruiser Bunker Hill, and the Turkish frigate Giresun responded to a distress call from the Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned bulk carrier Full City. An Indian Navy Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft located the Full City, and while Giresun boarded the merchant vessel, Bunker Hill and its embarked HS-49 helicopters intercepted a dhow believed to be the 'mothership' for the pirate attack (pictured). Bunker Hill's VBSS boarding party seized weapons and other equipment commonly used in piratcy, and the boarding party also sank a small skiff being towed by the dhow. Giresuns boarding party found the Full Citys Chinese crew safe and in control of their ship. Strike group commander Admiral Samuel Perez noted:


 * This operation demonstrated that our presence here successfully deters destabilizing activities and is effective in upholding lawful maritime order. The versatility inherent to a carrier strike group allowed for quick coordination with naval and Coast Guard assets from Turkey and India to successfully prevent a pirate attack against the motor vessel Full City.

2011 training exercises
On 9 September 2011, Carrier Strike Group One (CARSTRKGRU 1) returned to San Diego after a three-day underway period off the coast of southern California. The strike group got underway again on 12 September 2011 to begin Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications (FRS-CQ) flight training, and after returning to post, departed for carrier qualification (CQ) exercises with Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17). The Canadian destroyer HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283) and frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) joined CARSTRKGRU 1 in bi-lateral task group exercises off the coast of southern California. On 16 September 2011, Carrier Strike Group One was underway for its Carrier Strike Group Sustainment Exercise (SUSTEX).

On 26 September 2011, Carrier Strike Group One was visited by Vice Admiral Gerald R. Beaman, Commander U.S. Third Fleet, while the carrier Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen were completing operations off the coast of southern California prior to visiting San Francisco for Fleet Week between 8–11 October 2011 following a stop-over in Hawaii.

During composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) from the carrier Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) conducted numerous large-force strike drills for a joint task force exercise (JTFEX), an integrated battle force exercise designed to test the capabilities of strike groups operating with multinational forces in a join environment. Large-force air strikes involved simulated targeting and destruction of critical targets while suppressing enemy radars and anti-aircraft fire.

On 28 October 2011, Carrier Strike Group One completed a four-day Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint Exercise (FST-J) involving joint forces from with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, as well as coalition naval forces from Australia and Canada. These pierside exercises were completed in a virtual environment simulating real-world battle problems, and they integrate geographically-separated joint forces in a tactically and operationally demanding training environment. Within such a virtual environment, Tactical Group Training Pacific trainers have total control of the battle problems, and they make real-time adjustments based on the performance of the strike group, allowing battle problems to be tailored while maximizing training objectives.

Change of Command
On 11 November 2011, Rear Admiral Thomas K. Shannon relieved Rear Admiral Samuel Perez as Commander Carrier Strike Group One (CARSTRKGRU-1) in ceremonies held aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Admiral Shannon's previous assignment was as the deputy chief of staff for Operations, Training and Readiness, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

2011–2012 WESTPAC Deployment
On 30 November 2011, Carrier Strike Group One (CARSTRKGRU 1) departed Naval Air Station North Island, California, on its scheduled Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas K. Shannon, USN, the Commander Carrier Strike Group One (COMCARSTRKGRU 1).

Fifth Fleet operations
On 9 January 2012, Carrier Strike Group One entered the U.S. Fifth Fleet's area of responsibility. Also, on 9 January 2012, Carrier Strike Group One joined Carrier Strike Group Three, led by the carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), in the North Arabian Sea, with Carrier Strike Group Nine, led by the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), enroute to the Arabian Sea amid rising tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran over U.S. naval access to the Strait of Hormuz. Also, during its maiden deployment, the new British guided-missile destroyer HMS Daring (D32) operated with Carrier Strike Group One and Carrier Strike Group Nine in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea.

On 14 January 2012, Carrier Strike Group One began air combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A) when its embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 safely launched 58 scheduled combat sorties. On 19 March 2012, flight operations onboard the carrier Vinson was suspended due to dust storms sweeping across the Persia Gulf. Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Seventeen flew 1,085 missions in support of OEF-A, totaling 6,600 flight hours Carrier Strike Group One departed U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR) on 3 April 2012.