[dragoon500ly]

At the start of the Twilight War (1996), the United States navy deployed fourteen carrier air wings as well as two reserve carrier air wings. These wings, their assigned squadrons and aircraft types are listed in the table below:

Air Wing Ship Squadrons
CVW-1 America VF-33 & VF-102 (12 F-14A ea); VA-34 (10
A-6E, 4 KA-6D);VA-46 & VA-72 (12 A-7E ea); VMAQ-2 (4 EA-6B); VAW-123 (4 E-2C); VS-32 (10 S-3A), HS-11 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-2 Ranger VF1 & VF-2 (12 F-14A ea); VMA(AW)-121 (10
A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VA-145 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D), VAQ-131 (4 E-6B);VAW-116
(4 E-2C), VS-38 (10 S-3A), HS-14 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-3 John F. Kennedy VF-14 & VF-32 (12 F-14A ea); VA-75 (10 A-6E,
4 KA-6D), VMA(AW)-533 (10 A-6E); VAQ-140 (4 EA-6B); VAW-126 (4
E-2C); VS-22 (10 S-3A), HS-7 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-5 Midway VFA-192, VFA-195 & VFA-151 (12 F/A-18A ea);
VA-185 & VA-115 (10 A-6E, 2 KA-6D ea); VAQ-136 (4 EA-6B); VAW-115
(4 E-2C); HS-12 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-6 Forrestal VF-11 & VF-31 (12 F-14A ea); VA-37 & VA-105 (
12 A-7E ea); VA-176 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D), VAQ-132 (4 EA-6B); VAW-122
(4 E-2C); VS-28 (10 S-3A); HS-15 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-7 Dwight G. Eisenhower
VF-142 & VF-143 (12 F-14A ea); VA-46 & VA-72 (12 A-7E ea); VA-34 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-? (4 EA-6B); VAW-121 (4 E-2C); VS-31 (10 S-3A);
HS-5 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-8 Theodore Roosevelt
VF-41 & VF-84 (12 F-14A ea); VA-35 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VA-82 & VA-86
(12 A-7E ea); VAQ-138 (4 EA-6B); VAW-124 (4 E-2C); VS-24 (10 S-3A);
HS-9 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-9 Nimitz VF-24 & VF-211 (12 F-14A ea); VA-146 &
VA-147 (12 A-7E ea); VA-165 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-130 (4 EA-6B);
VAW-112 (4 E-2C); VS-33 (10 S-3A); HS-2 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-10 Independence VF-192 & VF-194 (12 F-14A); VFA-161, VFA-168
(12 F/A-18A ea); VA-155 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAW-111 (4 E-2C); VS-35
(10 S-3A); HS-16 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-11 Enterprise VF-114 & VF-213 (12 F-14A ea); VA-22 & VA-94
(12 A-7E ea); VA-95 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-123 (4 EA-6B); VAW-117
(4 E-2C); VS-21 (10 S-3A); HS-6 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-13 Coral Sea VFA-131, VFA-136 & VFA-137 (12 F/A-18A ea);
VA-55 & VA-65 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-4D ea); VAQ-135 (4 EA-6B); VAW-127
(4 E-2C); HS-17 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-14 Constellation VF-21 & VF-154 (12 F-14A ea); VFA-25 &
VFA-113 (12 F/A-18A ea); VA-196 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-139 (4
EA-6B); VAW-113 (4 E-2C); VS-37 (10 S-3A); HS-8 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-15 Carl Vinson VF-51 & VF-111 (12 F-14A); VA-27 & VA-97
(12 A-7E ea); VA-52 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-137 (4 EA-6B); VAW-125 (
4 E-2C); VS-30 (10 S-3A); HS-4 (6 SH-3H)

CVW-17 Saratoga VF-74 & VF-103 (12 F-14A ea); VA-81 & VA-83
(12 A-7E ea) , VA-85 (10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D); VAQ-137 (4 EA-6B); VAW-125
(4 E-2C); VS-30 (10 S-3A); HS-3 (6 SH-3H)

CVWR-20 unassigned VF-201 & VF-102 (12 F-14A ea); VA-203,
VA-204 & VA-205 (12 A-7E ea); VAK-208 (8 KA-3B); VAQ-209 (4 EA-6A);
VAW-78 (4 E-2C)

CVWR-30 unassigned VF 301 & VF-302 (12 F-14A ea); VFA-303 &
VFA-305 (12 F/A-18A ea); VA-304 (12 A-7E); VAK-308 (8 KA-3B);
VAQ-309 (4 EA-6A); VAW-88 (4 E-2C)

Two Patrol Wings are assigned to the Atlantic:

Patrol Wing 5: VP-9, VP-10, VP-11, VP-23, VP-26, VP-30 and VP-44, each with 9 P-3C

Patrol Wing 11: Vp-5, VP-16, VP-24, VP-24, VP-45, VP-49, VP-56, each with 9 P-3C

Three Patrol Wings are assigned to the Pacific:

Patrol Wing 1: VP-31, with nine P-3C

Patrol Wing 2: VP-1, VP-4, VP-6, VP-17, VP-22, each with 9 P-3C

Patrol Wing 10: VP-9, VP-19, VP-40, VP-46, VP-47, VP-48, VP-50, each with 9 P-3C

In addition, a variety of independent squadrons are in service:

Patrol Squadrons (Reserve): These squadrons each fly nine aircraft. The reserve squadrons regularly supplement active squadrons in US and overseas operational deployments.

VP-60: P-3B NAS Glenview, IL
VP-62: P-3B NAS Detroit, MI
VP-64: P-3A NAS Willow Grove, PA
VP-65: P-3B NAS Point Mugu, CA
VP-66: P-3A NAS Willow Grove, PA
VP-67: P-3B NAS Millington, TN
VP-68: P-3B NAS Washington DC
VP-69: P-3A NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VP-90: P-3B NAS Glenview, IL
VP-91: P-3B NAS Moffett, CA
VP-92: P-3B NAS South Weymouth, MA
VP-93: P-3B NAS Detroit, MI
VP-94: P-3B NAS New Orleans, LA

Fleet Composite Squadrons are used for dissimilar air combat maneuvering; noncombat photography; aerial targets; radar calibration and transport Two, VC-1 and VC-10 have air defense roles for the Hawaiian islands and Guantanamo Bay, respectively. Squadron strengths vary from ten to twelve aircraft.

VC-1: TA-4J, UH-3A, SH-3G, P-3A, VP-3A
VC-5: A-4E, TA-4J, SH-3G
VC-6: air and surface drones
VC-8: TA-4J, SH-3G
VC-10: TA-4J
VC-12 (Reserve): A-4F, TA-4J NAS Oceana
VC-13 (Reserve): A-4E/F, TA-4J NAS Miramar

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons are used to provide electronic surveillance and special reconnaissance, they typically operate in 1-3 aircraft detachments on carriers. VQ-3 and VQ-4 fly specially equipped C-130s that provide LF/VLF communications relay to SSBNs. These squadrons have ten aircraft each.

VQ-1: P-3B, EP-3B/E, EA-3B NAS Agana, Gaum
VQ-2: UP-3A, EP-3E, EA/UA-3B NAS Rota, Spain
VQ-3: EC-130G/Q
VQ-4: EC-130G/Q

Fleet Logistic Support Squadrons carry passengers and high-priority cargo in direct support of fleet operations. The fleet squadrons consist of twelve aircraft each, reserve squadrons consist of 3 C-9B or 2 C-131H.

VR-22: C-130 NAS Rota, Spain
VR-24: C-2A, CT-39G NAS Sigonella, Sicily
VRC-30: C-2A NAS North Island
VRC-40: C-2A, CT-39G NAS Norfolk
VRC-50: C-2A, US-3A, CT-39G, C-130 NAS Cubi Point, Philippines
VR-48 (Reserve): C-131H NAS Washington DC
VR-51 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Glenview, IL
VR-52 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Willow Grove, PA
VR-55 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Alameda, CA
VR-56 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Norfolk, VA
VR-57 (Reserve): C-9B NAS North Island, CA
VR-58 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Jacksonville, FL
VR-59 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Dallas, TX
VR-60 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Memphis, TN
VR-62 (Reserve): C-9B NAS Detroit, MI

Helicopter Light Attack Squadrons: The navy current has only two helicopter gunship squadrons, both are assigned to the reserve. Squadron strength is ten aircraft each.

HAL-4: HH-1K NAS Norfolk, VA
HAL-5: HH-1K NAS Point Mugu, CA

Fleet Training Squadrons provide fixed-wing training for USN, USMC, Cost Guard and foreign pilots and aircrew. The TA-4J and T-2C are both carrier capable and have some strike capability. These squadrons consist of twelve aircraft each.

VT-2: T-34C NAS Whiting Field
VT-3: T-34C NAS Whiting Field
VT-4: T-2C NAS Pensacola
VT-6: T-34C NAS Whiting Field
VT-7: TA-4J NAS Meridan
VT-9: T-2C NAS Meridan
VT-10: T-2C NAS Pensacola
VT-19: T-2C NAS Meridan
VT-21: TA-4J NAS Kingsville
VT-22: TA-4J NAS Kingsville
VT-23: T-2C NAS Kingsville
VT-24: TA-4J NAS Chase Field
VT-25: TA-4J NAS Chase Field
VT-26: T-2C NAS Chase Field
VT-27: T-34C NAS Corpus Christi
VT-28: T-44A NAS Corpus Christi
VT-31: T-44A NAS Corpus Christi
VT-86: TA-4J, T-47A NAS Pensacola

Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons are responsible for the testing and evaluation of air weapon systems. VX-1 at NAS Patuxent River is responsible for ASW, EW and TACAMO systems; VX-4 at NAS Point Mugu, specialises in fighter weapons and tactics; VX-5 at NAS China Lake, specializes in air-to-surface weapons and tactics. Squadron strength varies from ten to eighteen aircraft.

VX-1: UP-3A, P-3C, S-3A/B, SH-2F, SH-3H, SH-60B
VX-4: TA-4J, F-14A, F/A-18A, TF-18A
VX-5: A-4M/T, TA-4J, A-6E, A-7E, AV-8A, F/A-18A, OV-10A/D, AH-1J/T/W

Antarctic Development Squadron: Based at NAS Point Mugu, VXE-6 supports US Anatarctic programs under the National Science Foundation mandate. It operates 2 LC-130F, 5 LC-130R ski-equipped aircraft as well as 6 UH-1N helos.

Oceanographic Development Squadron: VXN-8 at NAS Patuxent River operates 2 UP-3A, 1 RP-3A and 2 RP-3D in support of worldwide research projects such as gravity and geomagnetic studies ice reconnaissance and physical ocean study and aerial oceanographic studies

Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons: These squadrons provide helicopter detachments ofr Search and Rescue and VERTREP/VOD replenishment operations in direct support of the fleet. Squadrons average twelve aircraft each and normally operate in 1-4 ac detachments attached to a carrier.

HC-1: SH-3G, CH-53E NAS North Island
HC-2: SH-3G, H-53E NAS Norfolk
HC-3: HH-46A/D, CH-46D NAS North Island
HC-4: CH-53E NAS Sigonella, Sicily
HC-5: HH-46A NAS Agano, Guam
HC-6: CH-46A/D, HH-46D, UH-46A/D NAS Norfolk
HC-8: CH-46A/D, HH-46A, UH-46A/D NAS Norfolk
HC-9 (Reserve): HH-3A NAS North Island, CA
HC-11: CH-46A/D, HH-46A, UH-46A NAS North Island
HC-16: SH-3D, UH-1N NAS Pensacola

Helicopter Combat SAR/Special Warfare Support Squadrons: These squadrons, both assigned to the reserve, are the Navy’s only combat SAR units. Squadron strength is ten ac each.

HCS-4: HH-60H NAS Norfolk, VA
HCS-5: HH-60H NAS Point Mugu, CA

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons: Charged with the aerial mine countermeasures mission. Squadron strength averages nine aircraft each.

HM-12: RH-53D, CH/MH-53E NAS Norfolk
HM-14: RH-53D, MH-53E NAS Norfolk
HM-15: RH-53D, MH-53E NAS Alameda
HM-18 (Reserve): RH-53D NAS Norfolk, VA
HM-19 (Reserve): RH-53D NAS Alameda

Helicopter Training Squadrons: Provide helicopter training for USN, USMC and USCG and foreign pilots. Students first fly fixed-wing T-28 or T-34 ac before going into helicopters. The are based at NAS Whiting Field.

HT-8: TH-57A/B
HY-18: TH-57C

Source: “13th,14th and 15th editions, The Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet”