USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 12, 2025

Ships Underway

Total Battle Force	Deployed	Underway
293 (USS 234, USNS 59)	103 (USS 74, USNS 29)	74 (51 Deployed, 23 Local)

In Japan

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan.

Amphibious warship USS America (LHA-6) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

America is set to leave Japan and shift homeports to San Diego later this year, USNI News learned. USS Tripoli (LHA-7) will replace America as the forward-deployed big-deck amphibious warship.

In the Coral Sea

Command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is in the Coral Sea following a regularly scheduled port visit to Suva, Fiji, last week.

In the South China Sea

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is operating in the South China Sea.

Carrier Strike Group 11

Carrier

USS Nimitz (CVN-68), homeported at Naval Station Bremerton, Wash.

Carrier Air Wing 17

• The “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA 94 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Kestrels” of VFA 137 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Blue Diamonds” of VFA 146 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Bluetails” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 121 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
• The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 Det. – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
• The “BattleCats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
• The “Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Destroyer Squadron 9

Destroyer Squadron 9 is based in Naval Station Everett, Wash., and embarked on Nimitz. These are the destroyers that embarked on the initial deployment.

• USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
• USS Gridley (DDG-101), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
• USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
• USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

In the Eastern Mediterranean

As of Monday, the Navy had two independently deployed guided-missile surface warships in the Mediterranean.

• USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
• USS Truxtun (DDG-103), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

In the Atlantic Ocean

Command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) departed Cape Verde on Wednesday after supporting the Obangame Express 2025 exercise.

“Obangame Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. 6th Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns,” reads a description of the exercise.

In the Red Sea

U.S. ships have paused a campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen as part of Operation Rough Rider. The operation in the Red Sea is running in parallel with Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led multinational effort to protect merchant vessels moving through the region.

Although the Houthis are now targeting American warships and Israeli ships, there have not been any reports of Houthi attacks on commercial ships in 2025.

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked, is operating in the Red Sea. The strike group deployed on Sept. 23, 2024.

Carrier Strike Group 8

Carrier

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

• The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
• The “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA 143 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Sunliners” of VFA 81 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Knighthawks” of VFA 136 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
• The “Main Battery” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 144 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Seahawks” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
• The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 Det. – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
• The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
• The “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.

Cruiser

• USS Gettysburg (CG-64), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Destroyer Squadron 28 is based in Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and embarked on Harry S. Truman.

• USS Stout (DDG-55), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
• USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

Guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) is operating in the Middle East. The Ohio-class submarine carries 154 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, as well as special operations forces.

As of Monday, the Navy had one independently deployed guided-missile surface warship in the Red Sea.

• USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), homeported at Naval Station Rota.

In the Persian Gulf

U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA).

PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships with U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In the Arabian Sea

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), with Carrier Air Wing 2 embarked, is operating in U.S. Central Command, supporting a two-carrier presence in the region, USNI News reported.

Carrier Strike Group 1

Carrier

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 2

• The “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
• The “Stingers” of VFA-113 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “World Famous Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Warhawks” of VFA-97 – F-35C – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
• The “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• The “Black Eagles” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 113 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
• The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 – CMV-22Bs – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
• The “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Squadron (HSC) 4 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
• The “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser 

USS Princeton (CG-59), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Destroyer Squadron 1

Destroyer Squadron 1 is based in San Diego, Calif., and is embarked on Carl Vinson.

• USS Sterett (DDG-104), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
• USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In the Western Atlantic

Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on Monday, according to ship spotters.

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) returned to Norfolk, Va., on Friday, according to ship spotters.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) departed Norfolk, Va., last Monday, according to ship spotters.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Seabees, EOD Mobile Units and more serving throughout the globe.

source : news.usni