U.S. Fleet Forces Command

U.S. Fleet Created to Counter Russian Subs Now Fully Operational

USS Farragut (DDG-99) transits the Arctic Ocean beside Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) during a live-fire exercise on Sept. 25, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Navy’s fleet created to beef up its Atlantic presence against Russia is now fully operational, according to a Tuesday statement from the service.

Announced in May 2018, Norfolk, Va.-based U.S. 2nd Fleet was stood up after the release of the latest National Security Strategy that named Russia and China as the primary...

https://news.usni.org/2019/12/31/u-s-fleet-created-to-counter-russian-subs-now-fully-operational

Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves Middle East After 220 Days, Truman in Red Sea

An F/A-18F Super Hornet attached to the ‘Jolly Rogers’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Nov. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is now in the Indian Ocean after a seven-month stint in the Middle East as part of the U.S. maximum pressure campaign targeting Iran, defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Monday morning.

Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and unspecified...

https://news.usni.org/2019/12/16/carrier-uss-abraham-lincoln-leaves-middle-east-after-220-days-truman-in-red-sea

VCNO Burke: Navy Needs New Readiness Model for New Era of Conflict

USS George Washington (CVN-73) leaving dry dock on Sept. 27, 2019. HII Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy’s current carrier strike group readiness generation model may no longer work in today’s era of great power competition and struggling ship maintenance yards, the vice chief of naval operations said.

The Navy’s two fleet commanders are taking a “hard look” at the current model, the Optimized Fleet Response Plan, and will send the chief of naval operations ideas for better or different models for...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/25/vcno-burke-navy-needs-new-readiness-model-for-new-era-of-conflict

Truman Repairs Will Likely Stretch to November, Putting Pressure on U.S. Middle East Forces

Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group participates in a strait exercise in the Atlantic Ocean on April 7, 2019. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) continues to face electrical system challenges even as repairs are ongoing, and the ship may not be ready to deploy until mid-November or later, USNI News has learned.

This delay in the deployment has “not a significant impact” on operations in Europe, the head of Naval Forces Europe told USNI News on Tuesday but may present...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/02/truman-repairs-will-likely-stretch-to-november-putting-pressure-on-u-s-middle-east-forces

USS Harry S. Truman Suffers Major Electrical Malfunction, Raising Questions About Upcoming Deployment

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), left, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) transit behind the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) in the Atlantic Ocean on July 10, 2019. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is experiencing a malfunction of the ship’s electrical distribution system ahead of an expected deployment this fall, USNI News has learned.

The carrier is supposed to go out for a second deployment, after...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/31/uss-harry-s-truman-suffers-major-electrical-malfunction-raising-questions-about-upcoming-deployment

Navy Reducing East Coast Flight Hours to Cover Costs of Overflying P-8s

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 is parked on the flight line of Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. US Navy Photo

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 is parked on the flight line of Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland in 2016. US Navy Photo

Parts of the Atlantic fleet will reduce their flying hours for the remainder of the fiscal year to address a funding shortfall within the naval aviation flight hour budget, a Navy official told USNI News.

On the East Coast, non-deployed P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol squadrons will see a 10-percent flight hour reduction. Non-deployed expeditionary...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/16/navy-reducing-east-coast-flight-hours-to-cover-costs-of-overflying-p-8s

Truman Carrier Strike Group at Sea for Pre-Deployment Exercise

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducts flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 18, 2018. US Navy photo.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Station Norfolk over the holiday weekend to begin its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) ahead of a deployment later this year.

The Truman CSG deployed from April to December 2018 and is going out for a second deployment during the sustainment phase of its readiness cycle, where the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/08/truman-carrier-strike-group-at-sea-for-pre-deployment-exercise

U.S. 2nd Fleet Declares Operational Capability Ahead of Major European Exercise

Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, addresses the crew over the one-main circuit aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in Norfolk, Va., on May 16, 2019. US Navy Photo

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. – A year after it was established, the reborn U.S. 2nd Fleet has reached an initial operational capability ahead of leading a major European exercise next month.

The designation means the command, led by Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis, will be able to command and control...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/29/u-s-2nd-fleet-declares-operational-capability-ahead-of-major-european-exercise

Fleet Forces: Navy Short 6,200 At-Sea Sailors Now to Meet New Manning Requirements

Sailors attend an all-hands call aboard USS Porter (DDG-78) in celebration of Independence Day July 4, 2016. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – The Navy is short about 6,200 sailors to meet its at-sea requirements for its current force, and that gap could grow as the service adds new ships to the fleet, the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command told a House panel on Tuesday.

Those sailors will, in part, be used to plus-up crew numbers on each surface ship after the Navy had previously gone to a...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/26/fleet-forces-navy-short-6200-at-sea-sailors-now-to-meet-new-manning-requirements

Fleet Commanders Holding Firm on Readiness Standards for Surface Ships

Sailors heave in line aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) during a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200) on Nov. 16, 2018. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – The Navy’s Pacific and Atlantic fleet commanders have increased their ability to understand surface ship readiness at the individual ship level and have shown their willingness to cancel or delay deployments if a ship has not proven it...

https://news.usni.org/2019/02/26/fleet-commanders-holding-firm-readiness-standards-surface-ships

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