The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is operating in the South China Sea for the second time during its 2021 deployment.
While in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy say that the strike group will conduct fixed and rotary-wing flight operations, maritime strike exercises, anti-submarine operations, and coordinated tactical training.
“The carrier strike group includes the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and embarked staffs of Task Force 70 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, as well as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).
The strike group enters the South China Sea after concluding successful naval operations in U.S. 5th Fleet, upholding maritime security and stability while Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 provided airpower to protect U.S. and coalition forces as they conducted drawdown operations from Afghanistan.”
“Ronald Reagan and all components of its strike group have operated with relentless energy and commitment throughout the deployment, showcasing the strength and resilience of America,” said Capt. Fred Goldhammer, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer.
“As we continue our mission in the South China Sea, we remain vigilant and ready to answer the call.”
People always say the yank carriers carry all 90 aircraft all the time, but they rarely carry that many I was told. As it actually slows things down and hampers OPs. I wonder how many is just the right amount.
Check out the CAW on Carl Vinson, she’s trialling a future air wing composition at the moment
https://news.usni.org/2021/09/27/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-sept-27-2021
Ok mate cheers đź‘Ť
The carrier airwings are transitioning to a much more lethal format. 33 superhornets, 10x F35C, 6 E10 awacs, 12 EF18G growlers. Add 6 cmv22 osprey, the new air to air refuelling drones and SAR/ASW SH60R x4-6 and it might not get to 90 aircraft but it is a very much more lethal strike wing than previous. Solely intended to face PLAN aggression and win.
I Worked on Shiloh a few weeks ago.
As is normal the part we where given was defective on receipt but you never discover that until you have spent 2 days installing it!
Nice, the more the CCP complains, the more carrier groups we operate in that Sea.
Nothing only provocation. Just keep pushing hard enough and we will all end up as a pile of ashes. Once you light the fuse it will blow up in your faces. All it needs some nut to press the button.
Looks as if everyman and his Dog, is goading the Tigers cage again China will state “Evil intentions by the US and UK carrier groups , even though both Gtoups have transitted through Internatioal waters The Chinese state media will claim the CPA Navy chased them out of their territorial waters YAWN
What the CPA claim is for the domestic Chinese market. They are attempting to make their populace believe the West is an evil empire, whilst lying about origins of cv19, subjecting the Ulghur population to internment and forced political correction and then theeatening all their neighbours.
The West does need to confront China but more effectively would be better withdrawing funding, investment and crucially manufacturing capacity back to USA/ UK etc. It is China’s manufacturing capacity and trade surplus that is enabling rapid military expansion.
They are not just attempting to make their populace believe the west is an Evil Empire, they are succeeding! The internal propaganda right now is very poisonous and we should have no further illusions about the direction the CCP is taking things.
Hi Mr Bell, quite correct in withdrawing funding and investments but Critical Manufacturing , most of that has been through subterfuge and blatant design copyright theft anything they can get their hands on they’ll reverse engineer and claim its their own R+D creation till the wheels fall off
I agree they are international waters and China does not interfere with the scores of merchant vessels that pass through the area every day from China herself, Japan, and South Korea three of the worlds’ largest traders. How many times do the Americans need to send carrier task groups through the area? It would be interesting to see America’s reaction to a Chinese carrier force exercising 100 miles off San Francisco. I am English, and I do not think my country should have a special relationship with America because your foreign policy is flawed. You will push too hard one
day and we will all be in the shit.
I dont think we should be afraid of China…..yet. i think if there is likely to be a conflict in the future then we as in NATO has the ability to restrict and contain China’s growing military might as long as we stay united and ALL keep investing or more accurately reinvesting in defence capabilities.
Japan, USA, Australia and South Korea together should be able to limit China’s potential scope for military adventurism.
You talk of investing in defence capabilities, this to me is escalation. You cannot keep a conflict from going nuclear. Once war begins all sense and reason goes out of the window. Whatever happens in China is her own affair. This foreign policy of trying to change countries is foolhardy. And remember, every country has something to hide or has in the past. China claims the South China Seas. It is only words, means nothing. All the push and provocation is being done by America and her allies.
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Reinvesting in conventional forces to keep pace with China’s rampant military expansion isnt provocation it is simply sensible precaution.
China is provoking the need for freedom of navigation patrols by claiming international waters as there own. Building artifical reefs and islands then making these newly constructed islands military fortresses.
They have just passed a maritime law stating any vessel entering the South China Sea has to request permission from China to pass through and submit to inspection.
Not sure what amongst that is not provocation, but China is definetly not faultless. Nor is it only America and allies doing the provoking.
I agree. It isn’t like China doesn’t have more ability than than the taliban to create chaos. Maintaining a civil relationship seems most important. We can both launch nukes when worst comes to worst.
John ,International waters , are that open too all ships of all nations , The world’s trade passes through these waters.Whar would nations such as Norway,Denmark, Germany, Holland be like if Britain declared the North Sea as British waters , The UN would condem Such actions, As they have with China’s Claim over the South China Seas , If countries such a Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, wish Warships from US or Britian to visit them but China ,doesn’t like it there’s the UN go and complain about it ,All we and the US have done is give Assurance too those 3 countries who are feeling bullied by China’s outlandish claims of Sovrenty of International waters like the Saying says “The Door Swings Both Ways “
Claiming sovereignty over the South China Sea are just words. They mean nothing. When China deliberately stops merchant vessels in their lawful trade that is another matter. There are scores of merchantmen sailing through these waters every day. I am not referring to the Straits of Taiwan.I am referring to the open waters between China and the Philippines. How many times does America need to send carrier task groups through the Straits of Taiwan ? It is provocation. How can the west keep criticising China for inhuman acts, when they themselves are guilty of having millions of their populations living on the poverty line. You have heard of food banks, nappy banks and food stamps? Look at the hundreds of comments on line of many Americans working in the food industry who cannot live of one wage. You will know by now that I am against war and I hate nuclear weapons. It is great to have a vast arsenal but not at the expense of giving your citizens a decent standard of living.
Agree on the claim of China just saying that the South China Sea is theirs ,but building man made islands up from the Philippines is another ,along with Various Airspace infringement around Taiwan isn’t that Provocation ( Formosa ) Taiwan was Never a part of Communist Chins Cheng ki shek established that island as a Nationist Island after 1948s defeat too Mao and repelled them their , China of today should just accept that Bullying your Neighbours is now being seen as unacceptable behaviour from a member of the UN security Council
China could have invaded Taiwan many times over the past 70 years, but has not done so. Why? To me the obvious answer is that she knows then she will have to face the might of America, Japan and South Korea. All the rhetoric comes from the west. If you want to hurt China bring economic sanctions against her. The west won’t do that because they will hurt themselves from china’s vast trading agreements. We
Then stop idiots in the west purchasing Pirate copies of western technology at a fraction of price of legitimate products if it looks too good to be true then it probable is A carpet ban on Goods from China with no provenance that wouldn’t just hurt China but also Organised Crime
If there is a profit then they will carry on. I think that governments should note your comment. On the other hand they may already have considered it and found it impracticable.
Border control at Felixstowe are forever filling warehouses full of counterfeit products it should be dealt with at source an embargo would hurt their pockets and stop Idiots from electrocuting customers looking for a cheap deal or burning down their homes
CORONAVIRUS – an attack against the Free world.! That is why the entire free world’s naval fleets are in the vicinity of the south china sea! I have witnessed the corruption of America over the last 30+ years , and the communistic takeover of our former free media. As it is said “It is easier to fool someone , than to convince them they have been fooled!”
Where is the attack? I only see China using empty words. Admitted the words of a bully, but she is not attacking anyone. Not Taiwan, not lawful merchant ships. Her internal affairs are her own business. I would not be making comments in her favour if she was actively engaged in belligerency. All the stone throwing is coming from the west. All the provocation ship sailing is coming from the west, principally America. I do know that you can push too hard and the consequences will be devastating.
America plays offense. If you don’t like it, don’t play with America. Simple as that.
China left to it’s own devices will rewrite international law in Asia through force, not a court room. While they obviously do not like these FONOP’s in the SCS; Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Brunei, South Korea, Austrailia and the Philippines do. Do they not matter? Or is it only what CCP CHINA wants?
When has China used force?. I keep reading all the time of how we must do this to the Chinese, we must do that to the Chinese. All China has done is mouth off, just words. All the provocation comes from the West. If China builds three aircraft carriers she is threatening the world. If we or America or France build new carriers it’s for freedom and Liberty on the high seas. When China actually carries out a belligerent act then I will stop writing in her favour.
Building and militarising islands in other peoples territories is being belligerent. Sending scores of fighters/bombers up to and into someone’s airspace is being belligerent. What do you think China is doing building up their armed forces for? Why do you think they have militarised the SCS? Could it be to launch an an attack on Taiwan and deny the area to allied warships maybe?
Whose islands are they?
American carrier groups frequently go through the Straits of Taiwan, provocation. All the show and talk mean nothing.
When have the Chinese committed an act of war. All the talk of war comes from the West. Even your last sentence is surmising. The west’s foreign policy has always been aggressive, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan. All we do is leave the area in most cases still troubled. You do realise the consequences if the Chinese do commit an act of aggression? Then you can kiss your arse goodbye.