Carrier Strike Group 11

USS Princeton

From 11 to 24 March 2005, the group conducted a pre-deployment Joint Task Force exercise off California.[35] The group departed San Diego, California, on 7 May 2005 under the command of Rear Admiral Peter Daly.

On 21 July 2005 in the Persian Gulf, USS Princeton (pictured) responded to a radio call from the Iranian dhow Hamid which needed engineering assistance. A team was dispatched to the Hamid where it was determined that the engine problem was due to corroded batteries that were low on power. The batteries were removed and brought back to Princeton for maintenance, cleaning, and recharging. Princeton was able to restore the power on board Hamid, restart the engines, and then provided medical assistance and fresh water.[36]

On 22 September 2005, the group departed the Persian Gulf, after completing nine weeks of operations with the U.S. Fifth Fleet. During this period, 4,500 sorties totaling over 11,000 flight hours were flown by Carrier Air Wing Eleven, including over 1,100 sorties and 6,000 flight hours bombing Iraq War targets.[15] The group returned home on 8 November 2005.[37]

2005 deployment force composition[35][38][39]

2005 deployment exercises and port visits[37][40]

The group left San Diego on 2 April 2007 under the command of Rear Admiral John Blake.[44] The group entered the U.S. Fifth Fleet area on 8 May 2007 and began conducting missions over Afghanistan three days later.[45] The group joined Carrier Strike Group Three, led by the John C. Stennis, and relieved Carrier Strike Group Eight, led by the Dwight D. Eisenhower, that was currently operating in the Persian Gulf. The arrival of the strike group ensured the maintenance of the then two-U.S. carrier presence in the region.

Malabar 07-2 (5 September 2007)

Nimitz's escorts conducted maritime security operations.[44] Higgins boarded ships of interest in the Persian Gulf, as well as informing three Iraqi dhows on coalition aims and objectives. The VBSS teams boarded three Iraqi tugs and four super-tankers, thereby safeguarding the merchants in the region by deterring piracy and smuggling. Higgins was the only ship in the strike group to conduct a boarding of a tanker suspected of oil smuggling. After a thorough six-hour boarding, the VBSS team was able to clear the tanker.[18]

The guided-missile destroyer Pinckney participated in a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy and three other U.S. Navy ships. The ships conducted air defense, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and VBSS operations in the compressed waters of the South China Sea, validating current tactics, techniques and procedures and identifying areas for further development.[18]

Carrier Strike Group 11 joined Carrier Strike Group 5 and Carrier Strike Group 3 to participate in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, a joint U.S. exercise held off Guam.[18] Carrier Strike Group 11 subsequently joined the Carrier Strike Group Five and India's aircraft carrier Viraat in the Bay of Bengal for the multilateral Exercise Malabar 07-2 (pictured), an annual naval exercise involving India, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.[18] The group arrived back at San Diego on 30 September 2007.[44]

2007 deployment force composition[44][46][47]

2007 deployment exercises and port visits

Carrier Strike Group 11 departed from San Diego on 24 January 2008. It was announced that the group would operate in the Western Pacific while the forward-based USS Kitty Hawk of Carrier Strike Group Eight underwent scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan.[57] The strike group entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility on 8 February 2008.[58] On 9 February 2008, two Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bombers were detected by the strike group in the Western Pacific. Four F/A-18C Hornets intercepted the bombers 50 miles (80 km) south of Nimitz. Two F/A-18s trailed one of the bombers, which buzzed the deck of the carrier twice, while the other two F/A-18s trailed another Tu-95 circling about 50 miles (80 km) away from the carrier. Reportedly, there was no radio communication between the American and Russian aircraft. According to the Department of Defense, one of the two aircraft was said to have flown above Nimitz at an altitude of 2,000 feet (610 m).[59] The strike group returned to San Diego on 2 June 2008.[60]

2008 deployment force composition[57][61][62][63][64]

2008 deployment exercises and port visits

CSG 11 in South China Sea (15 Feb. 2010)

Carrier Strike Group 11 departed San Diego on 31 July 2009 on a regularly scheduled deployment commanded by Rear Admiral John W. Miller.[70][71] In September 2009, it was announced that the carrier strike group deployment schedule would be changed to accommodate the delay in the return of Enterprise from overhaul. This resulted in extending the deployment to eight months.[72]

On 4 December 2009, the group began five months in the northern Arabian Sea, providing air support to coalition forces in Afghanistan.[73] Carrier-based aircraft provided 30 percent of the combat air support for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) during the time that the group was in the northern Arabian Sea.[74] VAW-117's E-2C Hawkeye aircraft used their radar and communication systems to synchronize and direct air crews over Afghanistan.[75] Also, EA-6B Prowlers assigned to squadron VAQ-135 jammed electronic signals in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[76] Effective 2 July 2009, ISAF air-ground combat support operations were ordered to take steps to minimize Afghan civilian casualties.[76][77] In total, Carrier Air Wing 11 air crews flew more than 2,600 combat sorties supporting ISAF.[78] The other strike group ships contributed to counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, the protection of critical Iraqi infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, and other maritime security operations.[74][78] On 26 March 2010, the strike group returned to their homeport after an eight-month deployment.[79]

2009-2010 deployment force composition[62][63][70][71][80]

2009-2010 deployment exercises and port visits

RIMPAC 2012 (27 July 2012)

Sustainment Exercise (8 April 2013)

On 11 May 2011, the U.S. Navy announced a duty station change for Carrier Strike Group 11 from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, to Naval Station Everett, Washington, in December 2011.[2]

On 11 June 2012, Nimitz departed Everett and once Carrier Air Wing Eleven was embarked, departed Naval Air Station North Island, California, on 15 June 2012 for carrier qualifications.[85] The Air Wing consisted of U.S. Navy strike fighter squadrons VFA-154, VFA-147, and VFA-146; U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron VMFA-323; airborne early warning squadron VAW-117; electronic warfare squadron VAQ-142; helicopter squadrons HSC-6 and HSM-75; and Detachment 3 from squadron VRC-30.[86][87]

On 2 July 2012, Nimitz pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii, for a four-day port call prior to participating in Exercise RIMPAC 2012 that was scheduled from 29 June to 3 August 2012.[85][88] Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Eleven were the only aircraft carrier and carrier air wing to participate in RIMPAC 2012 (pictured).[89] Following RIMPAC 2012, Nimitz departed Pearl Harbor on 3 August 2012, arriving at North Island on 9 August 2012.[85] The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Eleven flew off Nimitz on 8 August 2012 to return to their home air stations.[90] Nimitz returned to Naval Station Everett, Washington, on 20 August 2012, completing a 70-day underway period.[85]

On 29 September 2012 Nimitz departed Naval Station Everett to begin its pre-deployment training cycle and certification exercises under the supervision of the Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific.[85][91][92] Joining Nimitz were Carrier Air Wing Eleven, the guided-missile cruiser Princeton, and the guided-missile destroyers Higgins, Shoup, Stockdale, and William P. Lawrence.[91]

On 17 October 2012, the group began its 18-day pre-deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise.[85][93] On 13 November 2012, Nimitz pulled into Naval Air Station North Island, California, to disembark part of the air wing.[85] On 21 November 2012, it was announced that the strike group's deployment would be delayed because a cooling pump aboard the Nimitz needed to be repaired. It was also announced that Nimitz would now deploy in summer 2013.[85][94]

Following repairs, on 5 April 2013, the Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Eleven departed Naval Air Station North Island, California, to begin their scheduled Sustainment Exercise (pictured) to re-certify the group's readiness to deploy.[95] They joined the guided-missile cruiser Princeton which had departed on 3 April 2013.[96]

With the Nimitz undergoing repairs, Carrier Strike Group 11 deployed in two waves. The first wave consisted of four destroyers operating initially as a surface action group until the Nimitz and the rest of the strike group deployed three months later.[25][85][94]

2013 deployment force composition[25][97][98][99][100][101]

On 14 January 2013, the destroyers Higgins, Shoup, Stockdale, and William P. Lawrence departed Naval Base San Diego, California, for a deployment to the Middle East.[102] These ships operated with the U.S. Fifth Fleet as a surface action group until the Nimitz, Carrier Air Wing Eleven, and the guided-missile cruiser Princeton deployed.[25][94]

Strait of Hormuz (14 March 2013)

On 1 March 2013, the William P. Lawrence entered the Persian Gulf for operations with Carrier Strike Group Three. On 11 March 2013, the Lawrence rendered assistance to a burning vessel while operating in the Strait of Hormuz (pictured).[103] In April 2012, on two separate occasions, the Lawrence joined the French frigate Montcalm in rendering assistance to civilian mariners in distress while operating in the Gulf of Oman as part of Combined Task Force 150.[104] Starting 2 September 2013, William P. Lawrence began operating in the Red Sea as part of Carrier Strike Group 11.[105][106]

Following bilateral mine countermeasure exercises in the Persian Gulf, the USS Higgins left the Fifth Fleet area. After paying port visits to Thailand, Japan, and Guam, the Higgins arrived at Naval Base San Diego, California, on 7 October 2013, completing a nine-month-long deployment.[107][108] [109] On 8 November 2013, the Stockdale and William P. Lawrence returned to Naval Base San Diego, California, completing a ten-month-long deployment.[105][110][111] On 18 November 2013, the USS Shoup arrived back at Naval Station Everett, Washington. At 313 days, the Shoup completed the longest deployment by a U.S. Navy destroyer since World War II.[112][113]

2013 deployment exercises and port visits

Flight deck ops in the Gulf of Oman (June 13, 2013)

Suez Canal (20 October 2013)

Nimitz alongside the Italian destroyer Francesco Mimbelli in the Mediterranean (October 26, 2013)

On 19 April 2013, the Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Eleven departed Naval Air Station North Island, California, joining the cruiser Princeton to begin their deployment.[97] On 3 May 2013, the two ships joined the U.S. Seventh Fleet.[98] Nimitz and Princeton exercised with the Republic of Korea Navy amid the ongoing 2013 Korean crisis over North Korean actions.[121][122][123] The strike group's deployment to the Seventh Fleet coincided with the joint exercises of the China's three operational fleets in the South China Sea amid the ongoing Spratly Islands dispute between China and the Philippines.[124]

Carrier Strike Group 11 entered the U.S. Fifth Fleet's area on 9 June 2013, relieving Carrier Strike Group Eight.[125] On 13 June 2013, Carrier Air Wing Eleven aircraft launched their first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (pictured).[123] The British Type 45 destroyer Dragon also joined the group in the Gulf of Oman. The Royal Navy warship maintained anti-aircraft defenses, directed aircraft sorties, and provided assistance to returning planes landing on the Nimitz.[126]

On 22 August 2013, USS Momsen returned to Naval Station Everett, Washington, after a four-month underway period of independent operations with the U.S. Seventh Fleet. During part of this period, Momsen operated with Carrier Strike Group Five led by the carrier George Washington.[127]

Carrier Strike Group 11 was relieved by Carrier Strike Group Ten on 26 August 2013.[128] At the time of this relief, Carrier Air Wing 11 had completed over 1,200 sorties in support of combat operations in Afghanistan for a total of 6,500 flight hours.[129] Both U.S. Navy carrier strike groups initially remained in the north Arabian Sea pending potential military action against Syria amid allegations that the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons during the ongoing Syrian civil war, including the gas attacks that occurred on 21 August 2013.[130]

On 2 September 2013, Carrier Strike Group 11 transited the Bab-el-Mandeb and moved northward into the Red Sea for potential combat operations against Syria. At this point, the strike group consisted of the carrier Nimitz with Carrier Air Wing 11 embarked, the cruiser Princeton, and the destroyers William P. Lawrence, Stockdale, and Shoup.[106][123] On 12 September 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that U.S. naval forces would remain in the region as Russian and American diplomats negotiated the turn-over of Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons to the United Nations, with spokesman George E. Little noting: "We’re prepared for any potential military contingencies that might involve Syria."[131][132]

On 20 October 2013, Carrier Strike Group 11 transited the Suez Canal to join the U.S. Sixth Fleet.[129][133] This was the first time that the carrier Nimitz had operated in the Mediterranean Sea since 1998 (pictured).[129] On 8 November 2013, Carrier Strike Group 11 transited the Suez Canal, leaving the U.S. Sixth Fleet's area of operations again.[123][134] Nimitz was initially intended to join Operation Damayan, the U.S. military's humanitarian mission to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, but plans were changed and the carrier was released to return home.[135]

On 29 October 2013, USS Princeton returned to Naval Station San Diego, California, following an extended seven-month deployment. Following operations with the U.S. Fifth and Seventh fleets, Princeton paid port-calls to the United Arab Emirates, Guam, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.[96] On 28 November 2013, USS Preble returned to Naval Station San Diego.[136] On 11 December 2013, squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) began departing the carrier Nimitz to return to their home naval air stations. During this 252-day deployment, CVW-11 aircraft made 9,344 launches and flew 1,374 sorties in support of combat operations in Afghanistan for a total of over 29,440 flight hours.[137][138] On 12 December 2013, the carrier Nimitz arrived at Naval Station San Diego, California, completing the 8+1⁄2-month-long 2013 overseas deployment for Carrier Strike Group Eleven.[138] Nimitz returned to Naval Station Everett, Washington, on 16 December 2013.[139]

2013 deployment exercises and port visits

On 23 June 2014, the Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet announced that the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Eleven, the Nimitz, is scheduled to change its home-port to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for its 2015 planned incremental maintenance period.[144] Between 20 and 31 October 2014, Carrier Strike Group Eleven participated in multi-lateral task group exercises with Canadian, Japanese and U.S. naval units.[145] On 13 January 2015, the Nimitz arrived at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, completing its home-port change-over.[146] On 13 January 2015, Nimitz began its 16-month Extended Planned Incremental Availability (EPIA) major maintenance cycle at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) at Bremerton, Washington.[147]

In late May 2017, the US Navy announced that CSG-11 would be deployed to the western Pacific Ocean, joining Carrier Strike Group 1 (USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)) and Carrier Strike Group 5 (USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)), amidst Trump administration concerns over North Korea.[148] Following the collision that damaged the destroyer USS Fitzgerald, its place within the strike group was taken up by the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha which was on deployment in the western Pacific after a request by US authorities.