Ships from the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group returned to San Diego on June 28, concluding a seven-month deployment to U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet.
Sailors assigned to Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur and the embarked air wing of Carrier Air Wing 17 returned home with the arrival of USS Nimitz in San Diego.
Nimitz will depart San Diego for its return to homeport in Bremerton, Wash. at a later date, Navy officials said.
Hawaii-based ships attached to Carrier Strike Group 11, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon and USS Wayne E. Meyer, returned to homeport on June 20 and 27, respectively.
Commitment to partners
For seven months, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group demonstrated our ironclad commitment to partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region.”
-Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, commander, CSG-11
“For seven months, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group demonstrated our ironclad commitment to partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, commander, CSG-11. “During this deployment, Sailors of every rank and rate displayed a vigorous work ethic and a humble devotion to duty and I want to thank them and their families for their sacrifice… Our strike group returns home stronger, smarter, and more resilient than ever before.”
While in the U.S. 7th Fleet AO, CSG-11 conducted deterrence and presence operations; multinational exercises; integrated multi-domain training; long-range maritime strike exercises; anti-submarine warfare; information warfare operations; air defense operations; multiple ship navigation; and formation maneuvering and refueling-at-sea operations.
Six port calls
Nimitz executed six port calls – Guam; Singapore; Busan, South Korea; Laem Shabang, Thailand; Sasebo, Japan and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – and hosted two formal “Big Top” receptions in South Korea and Thailand.
The aircraft carrier also embarked foreign dignitaries, military officials, ambassadors, and international media, and operated with the joint force and several nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Singapore.
Alongside allies and partners, the Nimitz CSG’s presence in U.S. 7th Fleet reinforced the United States’ commitment to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Completed 350,000 aircraft landing
Nimitz – the oldest-serving U.S commissioned aircraft carrier in the world – completed its 350,000th arrested aircraft landing on April 22, 2023 while sailing in the South China Sea.
The milestone was piloted in an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 by Capt. Craig Sicola, Nimitz commanding officer, and Cmdr. Luke Edwards, commanding officer of VFA 22. Nimitz is the first active U.S. aircraft carrier to reach this milestone.
Nimitz’s embarked air wing consisted of the “Fighting Redcocks” of Fighter Attack Squadron 22, “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA-94, “Kestrels” of VFA-137, “Blue Diamonds” of VFA-146, “Sun Kings” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116, “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron 139, “Battlecats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, “Screamin’ Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 and “Providers” of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 30.
