--- title: "Carrier Tracker As of April 20, 2026" date: "2026-04-20" modified: "2026-04-20" authors: - name: "Ian Ellis-Jones" job_title: "Head of Audience Development and Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/carrier-tracker-as-of-april-20-2026" categories: - "Carrier Tracker" - "Carriers" - "Sea" --- # Carrier Tracker As of April 20, 2026 ![TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information.]() *IAN ELLIS-JONES/TWZ* Here’s *TWZ’s* weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. The *Gerald R. Ford* CSG transited the Suez Canal southbound on April 16, the *[Associated Press]()* reported on Friday, once again entering the Red Sea and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). The second CSG in the region, led by *USS Abraham Lincoln*, is operating in the northern Arabian Sea, enforcing the naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas. The *George H.W. Bush* CSG is reportedly transiting around the Horn of Africa en route to the Middle East, according to [*USNI News*](), but *TWZ* has been unable to independently confirm via open sources. Following the arrival of *USS George H.W. Bush*, the U.S. will have three carriers positioned in the Middle East should the ceasefire fail and combat operations resume. The *Tripoli* ARG is also supporting blockade measures, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) [boarding and seizing Iranian-flagged M/V *Touska*]() on April 19 after *USS Spruance* fired multiple 5-inch rounds, targeting the engine room and disabling the vessel's propulsion. "American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade. After *Touska’s* crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, *Spruance* directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room." The second ARG-MEU tasked to CENTCOM, the *Boxer* ARG-11th MEU, is currently transiting through U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at an undisclosed location. ![]() At a [press conference]() on Thursday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine and CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper provided a detailed briefing on the opening hours of the blockade, which *TWZ* covered [here](), and shared unclassified slides of ship positions before and after implementation. Below is an animation visualizing the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade, and confirmed Navy ships operating in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean at the time. ![]() "Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port," CENTCOM said in the release. “In addition to this blockade, the joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility, under the command of Adm. Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Gen. Caine added. Back stateside, the *Theodore Roosevelt* CSG departed San Diego on April 15, according to [local ship spotters](). A U.S. 3rd Fleet spokesperson told *TWZ* the CSG is underway conducting routine operations and integrated training in the 3rd Fleet AOR and “remains ready to respond to crisis or contingency at any time.” Elements of the group were recently outfitted with a [new Raytheon Coyote counter-UAS 8-cell launcher](), which could be tested during upcoming training periods. *Note: Positions are general approximations.* *Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.* Contact the author: *ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io* ## Author Ian is the Head of Audience Development and Writer at *TWZ*. He executes our full-spectrum social media strategy and brings his interpretive graphics skills to our editorial team as an OSINT analyst and researcher. Ian [joined]() *TWZ* in early 2026 and maintains our weekly [carrier tracker]() and [newsletter](). ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()