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. Check out last week’s map here.
The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in full effect and, despite the shaky ceasefire amid ongoing, but uncertain, negotiations, the Navy’s force posture remains unchanged. Enforced by two CSGs and one ARG, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have redirected over 100 commercial vessels, disabled four using force, and allowed more than 25 carrying humanitarian aid to pass through.
The Boxer ARG, still operating under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), doubled back from the Indian Ocean to the Malacca Strait and pulled into Singapore on May 19. The purpose of the port call is unknown, but, as of publication, Planet satellite imagery reviewed by TWZ shows Boxer moored at Sembawang Terminal for the past week. Previous reports indicated the ARG was headed to CENTCOM; however, the group does not appear to be in a hurry.
Also operating in INDOPACOM, forward-deployed USS George Washington departed Yokosuka, Japan, on May 23. While the composition of the CSG is unconfirmed, destroyer USS Shoup and cruiser USS Robert Smalls also got underway, according to public AIS data, and will likely escort the carrier during her upcoming Western Pacific patrol. A George Washington spokesperson recently told us the CSG was “underway conducting routine operations to sharpen our Sailors’ warfighting edge.” The underway coincides with a recent surge of Chinese naval activity in the region.
USS Nimitz arrived in the Caribbean Sea as a flurry of USAF surveillance flights around Cuba has driven speculation about potential future military operations. Officially, Nimitz is participating in exercise Southern Seas and “scheduled to conduct passing exercises and operations at sea with partner nation maritime forces as the ships circumnavigate the continent of South America.” The CSG did not embark a full nine squadron carrier air wing and, with only one destroyer escort, the ODIN-equipped USS Gridley, is not the combat-capable force we’d expect if major combat ops were imminent.
The Iwo Jima ARG is also on station in the Caribbean and facilitated the transport of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan to Caracas, Venezuela, via MV-22B Ospreys over the weekend. During his second official visit to the country following Operation Absolute Resolve, the general “took part in bilateral discussions with senior interim government leaders, met with U.S. Embassy leadership and staff, and observed the joint force conduct a military response exercise.”
Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io