Carrier Strike Group 7
Carrier Strike Group Seven was a U.S. Navy carrier strike group active from October 2004 until 30 December 2011. The strike group's antecendants included two previous aircraft carrier formations, Carrier Division Seven and Carrier Group Seven. Its heritage thus includes the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War, as well as the first and the second Persian Gulf wars, encompassing a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf.
Historical sketch 1944–2004
Carrier Strike Group Seven traced its lineage back to Night Carrier Division Seven, the U.S. Navy's first and only aircraft carrier formation exclusively dedicated to night air operations. Established on 19 December 1944, its aircraft carriers provided night air combat patrols for the U.S. Pacific Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force during World War Two. Night Carrier Division Seven participated in the Philippine and Okinawa campaigns as well as carrier air raids against the Japanese home islands. According to Clark G. Reynolds' The Fast Carrier and Edward P Stafford's Big E, the Enterprise and Saratoga operated very briefly off Okinawa in February 1945 until Saratoga was detached to cover the escort carrier and amphibious force. Initially, Night Carrier Division Seven operated as a separate carrier task group within Task Force 38 and operated only at night. When arrived, it was integrated into an existing task group, and the commander of Night Carrier Division Seven directed the night operations within that task group.Carrier Division Seven was re-established at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 22 March 1956. The group commander and staff first deployed to the Western Pacific on board in 1957. USS Coral Sea, fresh from refit, arrived at Alameda on 1 April 1960 and was assigned to Carrier Division Seven. During the Vietnam War, division aircraft carriers operated as part of Task Force 77 from Yankee Station and Dixie Station. During its third Vietnam combat deployment, the implemented a new anti-MiG combat patrol plan developed by the Carrier Division Seven staff. Other aircraft carriers assigned to the division included,,, ,, and. On 13 September 1962, Rear Admiral Ralph L. Shifley, Commander, Carrier Division Seven, embarked aboard for her first Pacific deployment. In January 1963, the division conducted the major Pacific Fleet exercise 'Red Wheel.'
On 6 April 1964, Rear Admiral William F. Bringle assumed command of Carrier Division Seven. In addition to commanding Carrier Division Seven, Admiral Bringle served as Commander Task Group 77.6, during the period of 29 March, to 29 June 1965 and as Commander Task Force 77 from 28 May, to 27 June 1965.
Carrier Division Seven was re-designated as Carrier Group Seven on 30 June 1973. reached Cubi Point in the Philippines in time for Christmas Eve 1974. An extended deployment in the Indian Ocean lay ahead. "On the morning of 5 February 1975, Enterprise anchored four miles outside of Mombasa, while guided missile destroyer and ocean escort moored to buoys.. Two days later, Rear Admiral William L. Harris, Jr., relieved Rear Admiral Owen H. Oberg, as Commander, Carrier Group Seven." After Cyclone Gervais struck Mauritius on 6 February 1975, Enterprise,, and were sent to provide disaster relief. In the last days of April 1975 the Enterprise and attack carrier groups stood off South Vietnam covering Operation Frequent Wind, the final evacuation of Americans and associated Vietnamese from the doomed country. In 1978, the group was homeported at Alameda as part of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet. By 1984, as always part of COMNAVAIRPAC, the staff had moved to NAS North Island and controlled.
On 2 July 1985, a group change of command ceremony was held on Kitty Hawk flight deck, and Read Admiral Stan Arthur hauled down his flag. Rear Admiral D. M. Brooks then took command of the group, with his flag in Kitty Hawk. On 24 July 1985, Kitty Hawk, with Rear Admiral Brooks, Commander Destroyer Squadron 13, and Carrier Air Wing 9 embarked, departed San Diego to commence its fifteenth Western Pacific deployment. Kitty Hawk spent two days in the Southern California Operating Area on 25–26 July to conduct an abbreviated Operational Readiness Exercise which included AAW defense, long-range conventional strikes and a 39-hour ASW exercise. The group commenced TRANSITEX 85–14 en route to Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines on 27 July. Kitty Hawk conducted Exercise Busy Observer, with USAF B-52s simulating
Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear D aircraft on 29 July. An encounter exercise was held with the USS New Jersey Surface Action Group on 1 August and then Carrier Air Wing Nine participated in COPE CANINE 85-02, a Hawaiian air defence exercise, on 2–3 August. USS Pintado then practiced anti-submarine warfare with the group on 3–4 August.
On 9–10 August an ENCOUNTEREX/INCHOPEX was held with as they returned from a Western Pacific deployment. On each of these days, Kitty Hawk was monitored by a pair of Soviet Tu-95 aircraft. Kitty Hawk came under the operational control of the U.S. Seventh Fleet on 12 August and transited the Bashi Channel five days later. The ship the operated briefly in the South China Sea.
During 1986, Kitty Hawk was under the group's control from January to 28 June 1986, and then was transferred to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5 for later work ups, which included READIEX 87–1. In 1987, the group controlled Kitty Hawk, which was in the process of shifting to the Atlantic Fleet, and. In 1990–91, the group saw action during the First Gulf War. Rear Admiral R.J. Zlatoper commanded the group from the carrier Ranger. Later, the group made several Middle East deployments, taking part in Operation Southern Watch.
| Carrier Air Wing 9, 1993 |
| VF-211 |
| VF-24 |
| VFA-146 |
| VFA-147 |
| VA-165 |
| VAW-112 |
| HS-2 |
| VAQ-138 |
| VS-33 |
Rear Admiral Thomas A. Mercer commanded the group before becoming Commander, Naval Forces Philippines. From the summer of 1992, the guided-missile cruisers,,,, and ; Destroyer Squadron 23; Carrier Air Wing Nine; and the carrier were assigned as permanent units of the group. However the group did not deploy again until 1993.
Carrier Group Seven, led by Rear Admiral Lyle Bien aboard Nimitz, crossed the Pacific Ocean from 2 to 20 December 1995 headed for Hong Kong. Early the next year, as part of the U.S. response to the developing Third Taiwan Straits Crisis, the group transited at high speed from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea. As of 11 March 1996 Nimitz was taking part in Operation Southern Watch in the Gulf, but a week later the carrier was in the Indian Ocean, en route to South China Sea. Accompanying Nimitz were, USS Callaghan, USS Oldendorf,, USS Willamette, USS Shasta and. Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 9 were embarked aboard Nimitz. Nimitz and six additional ships arrived near Taiwan before 23 March 1996 presidential election. The Nimitz battle group received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations, formally for the period 13 December 1995 to 3 May 1996. Later in 1996, Rear Admiral John B. Nathman commanded Carrier Group Seven, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and Battle Force FIFTY in the Persian Gulf.
On 26 February 1998, Carrier Group Seven departed Naval Station Norfolk, the commander and staff embarked aboard, which was making her maiden deployment. The group consisted of the carrier Stennis; Carrier Air Wing Seven; the cruiser ; the destroyers and ; the destroyer ; the attack submarines and ; and the fast combat support ship.
On 12 November 2001, two months ahead of schedule, the group left for an accelerated Middle East deployment, and became involved in the War in Afghanistan. The carrier strike group consisted of the carrier John C. Stennis; Carrier Air Wing Nine; the cruisers and ; destroyers and ; the guided-missile frigate ; the submarines and ; and the fast combat support ship. The group later saw action in Operation Anaconda and the Second Gulf War.
From June 2002 to January 2003, Stennis underwent a seven-month refit. On 15 November 2003, Rear Admiral Matt Moffit turned over command of the group to Rear Admiral Patrick M. Walsh. On 21 November 2003, the group completed a 26-day Composite Training Unit Exercise.
Since 1956, aircraft carriers assigned to the group and division not already mentioned have included,,,,,, and.
2004–2006 operations
In May 2004, the battle group deployed for the Western Pacific. During the deployment, the group consisted of the cruiser Lake Champlain, the replenishment ship Rainier, the frigate Ford, the destroyer Howard, and the submarine Salt Lake City. During the deployment, the group took part in exercises Northern Edge 2004, JASEX 2004, and RIMPAC 2004. Also in 2004 the group provided humanitarian relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.Carrier Group Seven was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Seven on 1 October 2004. Rear Admiral Michael H. Miller took command of the group on 15 April 2005. The aircraft carrier became the new group flagship in 2005 after the John C. Stennis changed its homeport.
On 17 October 2005, the group departed Naval Base San Diego, California to begin its pre-deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise. The exercise was designed to train the whole carrier strike group to function as one, and consisted of two distinct phases evaluated by Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific. In addition to Carrier Strike Group Seven, several Canadian Navy ships also participated in the exercise, including the destroyer ; the frigates,, and ; and the replenishment tanker. On 6 December 2005, the group departed San Diego for its final predeployment exercise, Joint Task Force Exercise 06-2 off the coast of southern California. The exercise was completed on 17 December 2005. During this exercise, later reports indicate the leased Swedish AIP attack submarine managed to penetrate the defences of the group and 'sink' the Ronald Reagan.
The group deployed to the Middle East on 4 January 2006. Escorts for the deployment included Lake Champlain, ''McCampbell, Paul Hamilton, and Decatur, accompanied by Rainier. Also part of the group for the deployment was United States Navy EOD Unit 11, Det. 15. Carrier Air Wing Fourteen included strike fighter squadrons VFA-22, VFA-25, VFA-113, VFA-115, tactical electronic warfare squadron VAQ-139, airborne early warning squadron VAW-113, helicopter squadron HS-4, and a detachment from logistics unit VRC-30. Off Hawaii, the group completed a four-day anti-submarine warfare exercise on 12 January 2006. During the exercise, an improved sonar system installed in both participating destroyers was used for the first time. The group entered the U.S. Fifth Fleet area on 18 February 2006, and fleet commander Vice Admiral Patrick M. Walsh visited Reagan'' on 27 February 2006. Carrier Strike Group Seven completed operations with the Fifth Fleet on 29 May 2006. During the deployment, Carrier Air Wing Fourteen flew about 2940 sorties over Iraq and Afghanistan. The group then participated in Valiant Shield 2006, a major U.S. Pacific Command joint exercise. Valiant Shield, held near Guam from 19–23 June 2006, involved three carrier strike groups: Carrier Strike Group Five, Carrier Strike Group Seven, and Carrier Strike Group Nine.
On 9 November 2006, Carrier Strike Group Seven departed San Diego to sustain multi-ship warfare skills through carrying out Joint Task Force Exercise 07-1. During the exercise, between 12–16 November 2006, Carrier Strike Group Seven combined with Carrier Strike Group Three, to form Carrier Task Force 150 under the overall command of Rear Admiral Kevin Quinn, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Three. This was the first time the two groups had operated together. JTFEX 07-1 was not a normal pre-deployment exercise; it aimed to sustain multi-ship warfighting skills in the event either strike group had to make an unexpected deployment. To maintain all the skills necessary to fight the entire two-carrier group together, the exercise tested individual ships, the two carrier air wings, and the ships and aircraft of the strike group fighting as a team. With the two carrier air wings operating together, the normal 12-hour cycle of flight operations could be doubled to a continuous 24-hour cycle.
Surface warships operating with CTF-150 practiced the full spectrum of surface warfare scenarios. Led by the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21 acting as CTF-150s Sea Combat Commander, the surface warships conducted sustained operations in maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and mine warfare. ASW continued to be the top war-fighting priority.