Carrier Strike Group Three 2004–2009 operations included a world cruise, three western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments and a change-over of its flagship. During this period, CARSTRGRU-3 provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) as well as participated such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the "Screwbirds". Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment
Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG-3 or CARSTRGRU-3) is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. CARSTRGRU-3 is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, and it typically deploys 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 "Nimitz"-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier became the current flagship for Carrier Strike Group Three, replacing the which began its 36-month mid-life refueling and complex overhaul in 2005.
2004 operations.
Change of command.
On 26 June 2004, Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan ("pictured") relieved Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik, Jr., as Commander Carrier Group Three (ComCarGru 3). During his tenure as ComCarGru 3, Chanik led the "Carl Vinson" strike group which was the first to undergo the new, innovative Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), which greatly compressed the training required for oversea deployment. Admiral Chanik's next assignment was as director, Programming Division on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. A naval aviator, Admiral Clingan served as the commanding officer of U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship and the aircraft carrier , and prior to taking command of Carrier Group Three, he served as the deputy director of Operations, U.S. Central Command, during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Pre-deployment training.
In September 2004, Carrier Group Three (CarGru 3) departed for its 22-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California. COMPUTEX was an intermediate-level, two-phase strike group training exercise that was a critical step toward the final certification to deploy overseas for a carrier strike group. Phase I provided training for warfare commanders and the rest of the strike group in operational tasking and decision-making. Phase II measured the ability of the strike group to act as a coordinated, combat-ready force, and it was intended to closely resemble real-life conflict. On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3). A day later, on 2 October 2004, the newly renamed Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX.
2005 World Cruise.
On 17 January 2005, "Carl Vinson" departed Bremerton, Washington, with CVW-9 embarked for a six-month deployment, which included several months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 30 January 2005, COMCARSTKGRU 3 departed San Diego for its around the world voyage following the completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (FTFE 05-2) under the command of Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan. This overseas deployment also marked the final overseas mission for the fast combat support ship and Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the "Screwbirds". The carrier strike group paid a port visit to Dubai.
On 5 May 2005, during a visit to strike group flagship "Vinson" on 5 May 2005, United States Central Command commander General John Abizaid paid tribute to the personnel of Carrier Strike Group Three: "Whenever I see young Marines and young Sailors at work where they are doing what their country’s asking them to do in a hard place, I can only come away thankful and impressed." Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment and world cruise at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia on 31 July 2005.
Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2.
Carrier Strike Group Three participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (JTFEX 05-2) off the coast of southern California. The exercise was the final step in preparing the strike group for deployment by testing its ability to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces, which included an anti-submarine warfare exercise (ASWEX), numerous simulated Tomahawk strike missions, an air defense exercise, and exercises with naval special warfare forces. Other participating military forces included Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40); helicopter squadrons HSL-45 and HSL-49; and units from the Air Force Eighth Air Force. Admiral Clingan noted:
The Sailors and Marines of the "Carl Vinson" Strike Group have performed marvelously during the Joint Task Force Exercise. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the strike group came together as a team and outperformed all expectations. This was a challenging exercise that required all of us to have our head in the game and think critically about how we fight. Everyone rose to that challenge and met it head on. There is no doubt our team is ready to answer our nation’s call during deployment.
With the 22-day exercise successfully completed on 30 January 2005, U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Michael McCabe certified that Carrier Strike Group Three was ready for its upcoming 2005 western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.
2005 WESTPAC Deployment.
Carrier air operations.
Carrier Strike Group Three relieved Carrier Strike Group Ten, led by the carrier , on 19 March 2005. On 8 May 2005, F/A-18C Hornet fighter jets dropped six precision bombs against anti-Iraqi forces south of Samarra, Iraq, while conducting presence and security missions in support of Iraqi and coalition ground forces. The aircraft came from CVW-9 squadrons VMFA-323 and VFA-147 ("pictured"). Also, a detachment from helicopter squadron HS-3 patrolled southeastern Iraq and the northern Persian Gulf to protect vital infrastructure, including Khawr Abd Allah and Khawr As Sabiyah, the waterways that separate Iraq from Iran and Kuwait. The detachment was temporarily based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
In total, Carrier Strike Group Three launched more than 6,500 sorties, totaling more than 20,000 flight hours, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interdiction operations, including 2,600 flight hours logged by CVW-9's four F-18 squadrons. This overseas deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the "Screwbirds".
Maritime security operations.
Overall, ships under the control of DESRON 31 conducted more than 80 boarding evolutions while working in cooperation with British, Italian, Australian, Canadian and regional forces. On 11 June 2005, DESRON-31 destroyer "(pictured)" rendered at-sea medical assistance in response to a radio distress call from the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow "Henif". A rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) transported an ill Iranian crew member to "Mustin", where he was subsequently transported to "Carl Vinson" via an SH-60 helicopter. Once aboard "Vinson", the Iranian fisherman was taken to the ship's medical facilities where he underwent a battery of tests. It was discovered that the fisherman was suffering from a severe allergic reaction. The Iranian national was treated, and after a short period of recovery, he was returned to the "Henif" via one of the carrier's RHIBs.
CARSTRGRU-3 Flagship Changeover.
Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 deployment at Naval Station Norfolk on 31 July 2005, and the carrier began its scheduled 36-month Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard at Newport News, Virginia ("pictured"). The ship will spend nearly two-thirds of its RCOH in dry dock to accomplish planned repairs and install the latest technologies in computer software, combat systems, propulsion controls, and aviation support, including the installation of new propellers and a main master for its island superstructure. Following its RCOH, the "Vinson" became the flagship for Carrier Strike Group One.
The new Carrier Strike Group Three flagship, the aircraft carrier , changed its homeport to Bremerton in January 2005, and once there, underwent an 11-month Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) 05/06 maintenance and yard overhail period, the first time she had been dry-docked since its 1995 commissioning.
Reflecting the reduced responsibilities while the ships were undergoing overhauls, Rear Admiral Clingan was succeeded by Captain Scott A. Berg in September 2005 as Commander Carrier Strike Group Three (COMCARSTKGRU 3). Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn subsequently relieved Captain Berg in November 2005.
2006 Operations.
Pre-deployment training.
"Stennis"'s post-DPIA sea trials occurred between 12 December–17, 2005, and the carrier completed its post-overhaul flight deck operation certification on 8 February 2006. "Stennis" also completed its carrier qualifications (CQ) for Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) pilots in April 2006, and the ship passed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) certification on 21 April 2006. The carrier and CVW-9 began conducting cyclic flight operations off the coast of Southern California on 21 June 2006, and "Stennis" successfully completed a subsequent seven-week underway period on 18 July 2006, being declared surge ready for any unscheduled overseas deployment.
The warships of the group began pre-deployment training during composite training unit exercises (COMPTUEX) on 21 September 2006. DESRON-21 guided missile destroyers , , and joined the guided missile cruiser and the carrier "Stennis" in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) active/passive track training exercises. "O'Kane" practiced boarding and searching suspect vessels and fast attack craft/fast inshore attack craft countermeasure exercises. "Paul Hamilton" conducted visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team exercises as well Tomahawk land attack missile exercises (TLAMEX). "Stennis" and Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) completed surge flight operations certifications. Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX exercises on 12 October 2006.
Joint Task Force Exercise.
Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTKGRU 3) departed Naval Air Station North Island to conduct its Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) off the coast of Southern California on 8 November 2006. It consisted of the carrier "Stennis", Carrier Wing Nine; the guided missile cruiser "Antietam", the guided missile destroyers "O'Kane", "Paul Hamilton", and "Preble"; the nuclear attack submarine ;and the fast combat support ship . For this exercise, CARSTRKGRU 3 operated with Carrier Strike Group Seven which consists of the carrier ; the guided missile cruiser , and the guided missile destroyers and . The two carrier strike groups rendezvoused off the coast of Southern California to form Carrier Task Force 150 (CTF-150), which operated between 12 November–16, 2006, under the overall command of Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn, the commander of Carrier Strike Group Three. The group returned to Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington, on 21 November 2006 after completing the exercise.
2007 Operations.
2007 WESTPAC Deployment.
"Stennis" departed from its homeport in Bremerton, Washington, on 16 January 2007, spent one day in port on-loading the air wing onto the carrier, and departed San Diego on 20 January 2007. The carrier strike group commander, Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn, outlined the objectives of the deployment:
We will support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, the Horn of Africa and maritime security operations with the purpose to provide regional and global stability. We’ve been preparing for this deployment for more than one year, we have trained and trained so that we are completely combat ready.
The strike group returned to San Diego on 27 August 2007, and the carrier "John C. Stennis" returned to its homeport on 31 August 2007.
Seventh Fleet operations.
Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRGRU-3) entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) on 31 January 2007. and the Guam Operating area (GOA) on 4 February 2007, where CARSTRGRU-3 conducted integrated strike group (ISG) training exercises between 6 February–8, 2007. This training included maritime interdiction operations (MIO); visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS); combat-simulated flight operations; and various live-fire surface exercises.
Fifth Fleet operations.
Carrier Strike Group Three arrived in the Northern Arabian Sea on 19 February 2007, and the group began providing combat air support for ground forces operating in Afghanistan as well as conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in regional waters.
Carrier air operations.
The strike group joined the French carrier task group led by the nuclear carrier "Charles De Gaulle". Both carrier groups operated together through 16 April 2007. The group spent five months deployed to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. Carrier Air Wing 9 flew more than 7,900 sorties providing more than 22,000 flight hours and dropping nearly 90,000 pounds of ordnance in support of the International Security Assistance Force operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. Admiral Quinn commended the efforts of Carrier Air Wing 9:
Reports from ground forces in combat say our aircraft are providing the support they need and are making a real difference in the fight against