Surface Forces

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 24, 2018

USNI News Graphic

The USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker is sponsored by CNA. These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Sept. 24, 2018, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the map reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:285Ships Underway

Deployed Ships UnderwayNon-deployed Ships UnderwayTotal Ships...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/24/usni-news-fleet-marine-tracker-sept-24-2018

Construction Starts on Future Oiler USNS John Lewis

NASSCO rendering of T-AO 205 class of oiler.

Construction started Thursday on the first of the Navy’s new class of fleet replenishment oiler, the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205).

The Navy and General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) held a ceremony at the San Diego shipyard celebrating the start of construction of John Lewis. The ship is named for long-time Congressman Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and pillar of the Civil Rights movement, once completed the oiler will provide...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/21/construction-starts-on-future-usns-john-lewis-first-of-navys-new-oilers

Major Navy Programs Likely Protected From Expected Tighter Pentagon Budgets

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pentagon is banking on billions in savings through operational efficiencies to sustain and modernize the military but if the plan doesn’t work the Department of Defense may have to cut major weapons programs to make up the difference, a defense expert told reporters on Thursday.

Between Fiscal Year 2019 and 2023, the Pentagon expects to save roughly $46 billion by cutting waste in the department. But at a time when future budgets are expected to remain flat at best,...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/20/36699

NAVSEA: New Pentagon Strategy Putting Pressure on Private, Public Maintenance Yards to Deliver Ships on Time

Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command Vice Adm. Tom Moore answers questions during a town hall meeting with Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City. US Navy Photo

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Pentagon’s new focus on high-end warfare with sophisticated adversaries will put increased emphasis and pressure on Navy readiness, and the service’s maintenance infrastructure needs to better in fixing ships on time, the head of Naval Sea Systems Command said on Tuesday.

Taking cues from Secretary of Defense...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/19/navsea-new-pentagon-strategy-putting-pressure-private-public-maintenance-yards-deliver-ships-time

‘Dirt Det’ Deployment: 15th MEU Command Element to Lead Middle East Special Purpose MAGTF

A U.S. Marine with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command, prepares to board an MV-22 Osprey at a site near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, Sept. 7, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

When the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element leaves home later this year for the Middle East, it will deploy without its usual complement of ships and amphibious force of Marines.

Instead, the 15th MEU command element will land in...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/19/dirt-det-deployment-15th-meu-command-element-lead-middle-east-special-purpose-magtf

Navy Identifies Sailor Killed Aboard USS George H.W. Bush

Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak. US Navy Photo

The Navy identified a sailor who was killed aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Monday on the carrier’s flight deck.

Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak was working on the flight deck of Bush struck by the propeller of an E-2C Hawkeye after he secured the plane to the deck. The carrier was conducting flight operations qualifications at the time.

He had served aboard Bush since completing training in Pensacola, Fla. after enlisting in the Navy...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/19/navy-identifies-sailor-killed-aboard-uss-george-h-w-bush

Austal USA, Lockheed Martin Awarded FY 2018 Littoral Combat Ship Hulls

Two Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships. US Navy Photo

Austal USA and Lockheed Martin were awarded contract modifications to build the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2018 batch of Littoral Combat Ships, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

“The three LCSs being awarded today are the future LCS-29, LCS-32 and LCS-34,” according to a Naval Sea Systems Command statement provided to USNI News on Tuesday.
“LCS 29 will be built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis. LCS-32 and LCS-34 will be built...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/18/austal-usa-lockheed-martin-awarded-fy-2018-littoral-combat-ship-hulls

Truman Carrier Strike Group Returns to Europe After Mid-Deployment Visit to Norfolk

A Sailor stands on the flight deck during flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in the North Atlantic, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. Navy photo.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) returned to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations for the second time this year after spending a month visiting its homeport of Norfolk.

The Truman CSG is expected to work with NATO allies and other European and African nations. Citing security concerns regarding...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/18/truman-csg-returns-to-europe

High-End Exercise Valiant Shield 2018 Features Joint Strike Fighters, 15,000 Personnel

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a formation of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 ships as U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets pass overhead for a photo exercise during Valiant Shield 2018 on Sept. 17. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to correct the hull number of the former USS St. Louis. It’s LKA-116, not LKA-117.

The high-end biennial Valiant Shield exercise kicked off in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on Sunday, with some of...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/18/high-end-exercise-valiant-shield-2018-features-f-35bs-12-ships-15000-personnel

China Sent Uninvited Spy Ship to Russian Vostok 2018 Exercise Alongside Troops, Tanks

An undated photo of Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) Tianwangxing (852).

Russia recently concluded the 2018 edition of the massive Vostok exercise series that included Chinese forces for the first time. At Moscow’s invitation, Beijing sent People’s Liberation Army soldiers, helicopters, tanks – and one uninvited Chinese surveillance ship.

A PLA Navy Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) shadowed Russian Navy assets for the length of the at-sea portion of the...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/17/china-sent-uninvited-spy-ship-russian-vostok-2018-exercise-alongside-troops-tanks

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