Status of the United States Navy in 2005, Part 1

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Sources include the 18th Edition, The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet’ by Norman Polmar and ‘The Naval Institute’s Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2000-2001’ by A. D. Baker III.

Following the end of the Cold War, the USN’s fleet organization continues to change in the wake of the reduction in air, surface and submarine forces and the shifts in deployments initiated under the “Sea Power 21” concepts.

Sea Power 21’s latest changes were announced in September 2004, when the Cruiser-Destroyer Groups and the Carrier Groups were redesignated as Carrier Strike Groups (CSG). Accordingly, there are now fourteen CSGS---numbered 1 through 12, 14 and 15.

The CSG organization moves group commanders to positions more closely aligned with the manner in which their forces train and deploy. The CSG’s commanders and staffs are now under their numbered fleet commanders, as well as their type commanders. However, the change causes some confusions as not all CSGs will include aircraft carriers.

Similarly, in 2003, Amphibious Groups were redesignated as Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs). The ESGs will include surface combatants and, possibly, attack submarines as well as amphibious ships.

Each CSG nominally consists of an aircraft carrier and two missile cruisers. All located at the same base when possible. This has been done less frequently as the size of the fleet has been reduced and with the limited number of ports at which carriers are based.

As of 2004, the USN is organized as follows:
PACIFIC FLEET TF 10 Temporary Operations Force TF 11 Training Force TF 12 Anti Submarine Force TF 14 Submarine Force TF 15 Surface Force TF 16 Maritime Defense Zone (commanded by a Coast Guard officer) TF 17 Naval Air Force TF 18 Sealift Forces TF 19 Fleet Marine Force (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 91 Naval Forces Alaska

THIRD FLEET TF 30 Battle Force TF 31 Command and Coordination Force TF 32 Ready Force TF 33 Combat Logistics Support Force TF 34 Submarine Force TF 35 Surface Combatant Force TF 36 Amphibious Force TF 37 Carrier Strike Force TF 39 Landing Force (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 150 Maritime Interception Operations (multi-national force that patrols the Arabian Sea)

SEVENTH FLEET TF 70 Battle Force TF 71 Command and Coordination Force TF 72 Patrol and Reconnaissance Force TF 74 Submarine Force TF 75 Surface Combatant Force TF 76 Amphibious Force TF 79 Landing Force (commanded by a Marine officer)

CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS Carrier Strike Group 1, Homeport: North Island, California Carrier Strike Group 3 (USS Carl Vinson), Homeport: Alameda, California Carrier Strike Group 5 (USS Kitty Hawk), Homeport: Bremerton, Washington Carrier Strike Group 7 (USS John C. Stennis), Homeport: North Island, California
Carrier Strike Group 9 (USS Abraham Lincoln), Homeport: San Diego, California
Carrier Strike Group 11 (USS Nimitz), Homeport: San Diego, California Carrier Strike Group 15 (USS Ronald Regan), Homeport: San Diego, California

ATLANTIC FLEET TF 40 Naval Surface Force TF 41 Naval Air Force TF 42 Submarine Force TF 43 Training Command TF 44 Coast Guard Force (commanded by a Coast Guard officer) TF 45 Marine Force (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 46 Mine Warfare Force TF 47 Naval Construction Battalions TF 49 Poseidon Operational Test Force TF 80 Naval Patrol and Protection of Shipping TF 81 Sea Control and Surveillance Force TF 82 Amphibious Task Force TF 83 Landing Force (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 84 ASW Task Force TF 85 Mobile Logistic Support Force TF 86 Patrol Air Task Force TF 87 Tactical Development and Evaluation and Transit Force TF 88 Training Force TF 89 Maritime Defense Zone (commanded by a Coast Guard officer) TF 134 Naval Forces Caribbean TF 137 Eastern Atlantic TF 138 South Atlantic Force TF 139 Multilateral Special Operations Forces TF 142 Operational Test and Evaluation Force

SECOND FLEET TF 20 Battle Force TF 21 Sea Control and Surveillance Force TF 22 Amphibious Force TF 23 Landing Force (commanded by Marine officer) TF 24 ASW Task Force TF 25 Mobile Logistics Support Force TF 26 Patrol Air Force TF 28 Caribbean Contingency Force

CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS Carrier Strike Group 2 (USS Harry S. Truman), Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia Carrier Strike Group 4 (USS Theodore Roosevelt), Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Carrier Strike Group 6 (USS John F. Kennedy), Homeport: Mayport, Florida Carrier Strike Group 8, Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia Carrier Strike Group 10 (USS George Washington), Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Carrier Strike Group 12 (USS Dwight D. Eisenhower), Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Carrier Strike Group 14 (USS Enterprise), Homeport: Mayport, Florida

FIFTH FLEET (Bahrain) TF 50 Naval Expeditionary Force TF 51 Amphibious Force TF 53 Logistics Force Destroyer Squadron 50 (Middle East Force Surface Action Group)

SIXTH FLEET (Gaeta, Italy) TF 60 Battle Force TF 60.1 Battle Group TF 60.2 Battle Group (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 61 Amphibious Force TF 62 Landing Force (commanded by a Marine officer) TF 63 Service Force TF 66 ASW Force TF 67 Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force TF 68 Special Operations Force TF 69 Attack Submarine Force