--- title: "Littoral Combat Force Takes Up Station In Caribbean Under Navy’s New Deployment Concept" date: "2026-06-01" modified: "2026-06-01" authors: - name: "Ian Ellis-Jones" job_title: "Head of Audience Development" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/littoral-combat-force-takes-up-station-in-caribbean-under-navys-new-deployment-concept" categories: - "Carrier Tracker" - "Carriers" - "Sea" --- # Littoral Combat Force Takes Up Station In Caribbean Under Navy’s New Deployment Concept ![TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG).]() *IAN ELLIS-JONES/TWZ* Here’s *TWZ’s* weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Given the carrier picture is largely unchanged compared to [last week](), this week’s tracker highlights the big-deck amphibious fleet. Much of America’s fleet of nine amphibious assault ships is hard at work as the U.S. opts to replace the *Iwo Jima* ARG in Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with a ["sub-optimized"]() Littoral Combat Force (LCF). The LCF appears to be the first deployment that embodies the Navy's new more [flexible deployment strategy](), which could have wider impacts across the fleet in the future. “It’s the way to have force multiplication, to punch bigger than yourself, and that’s done through tailored offsets,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said at SNA earlier this year about the new tailored deployments concept. “That whole thing builds a way to present forces to allow me to do more with less.” ![]() *Approximate position and status of the U.S. Navy's nine amphibious assault ships (LHA and LHD). *IAN ELLIS-JONES/TWZ** The 24th MEU, [operating under the designation]() LCF-24, deployed to SOUTHCOM and replaced the *Iwo Jima* ARG. “Distinct from a standard Amphibious Ready Group/MEU deployment, LCF-24 is a purpose-built MAGTF engineered for distributed operations,” SOUTHCOM explained in a statement. The Marine Air-Ground Task Force, with more than 1,300 Marines and Sailors, will operate from both shore-based nodes and aboard *Fort Lauderdale*, and is certified to “execute a wide array of mission essential tasks, including but not limited to Quick Reaction Force operations such as embassy reinforcement and the tactical recovery of aircraft \[and\] personnel, while standing ready to support disaster relief activities.” https://twitter.com/The24MEU/status/2060347578630193553?s=20 Amphibious assault ship USS *Boxer* departed Singapore on May 30 after spending 12 days in port. “USS *Boxer* (LHD 4) pulled into Sembawang, Singapore, May 19, for maintenance and resupply,” a U.S. Navy spokesperson told *TWZ*. Notably, the nearly two-week stop coincided with a visit from Sec. Hegseth, who spoke at the [Shangri-La Dialogue]() over the weekend. *Boxer* transited [the Singapore Strait]() eastbound and entered the South China Sea, according to ship spotters and [public AIS data](). https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/2060709790037233992?s=20 The three-ship *Boxer* ARG disaggregated despite [initial reports]() the group was headed to the Middle East to join the war. Dock landing ship USS *Comstock* [is operating in]() the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR), alongside the three-ship *Tripoli* ARG, enforcing the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. Amphibious transport dock USS *Portland* was [last spotted]() training in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) AOR. https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2057815148572586204?s=20 USS *Iwo Jima* and the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are [heading home]() after an almost 10-month deployment in the SOUTHCOM AOR, and were [spotted today]() off Topsail Beach, North Carolina. USS *San Antonio* returned to Norfolk in late April, while USS *Fort Lauderdale* remains in the Caribbean to support the recently announced LCF-24 and Operation Southern Spear. https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2060738005908787297?s=20 Back stateside, USS *Kearsarge* is in New Orleans for [Sail 250](), a “global gathering of tall ships and military ships to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the U.S.” After completing landing deck certifications earlier this year, *Kearsarge* has been working up off the east coast and participating in public events. USS *Makin Island* is training in preparation for an upcoming deployment and completed Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) on May 28. USS *Essex* returned to homeport in San Diego after a week-long visit for L.A. Fleet Week. USS *America*, USS *Bataan*, and USS *Wasp* are, or have recently been, in maintenance. https://twitter.com/SA_Defensa/status/2061134155442721029?s=20 *Note: Positions are general approximations.* Contact the author: *ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io* ## Author Ian is the Head of Audience Development 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]()