The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group joined forces in the South China Sea to conduct Expeditionary Strike Force operations, say the U.S. Navy.
Ships and aircraft from both strike groups coordinated operations in international waters and conducted multi-domain naval integration exercises in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Combining the capabilities of the carrier strike group with those of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group sharpens our tactical skills and demonstrates our continued dedication to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine.
“The combined Navy and Marine Corps team has been a stabilizing force in this region for more than a century and will continue to support all who share in the collective vision of peace, stability, and freedom of the seas.”
According to the U.S. Navy news release:
“The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group consists of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59).
The Makin Island ARG is comprised of three ships; amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22); and detachments from the āWildcardsā of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, āScorpionsā of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49, Tactical Air Control Squadron (VTC) 11, and Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5.”
Hope it keeps the Chinese at bay and think twice
Be great if there’s a US CSG in the SCS when QE goes there and they link up. That would be quite a sight, and a powerful message, especially if there are a large number of international ships involved.
Makin ARG was recently in the Gulf. One of the 2 LPDs attached to the group along with a Tico, had a huge COVID issue and spent a good 3 weeks alongside while they contained and isolated the crews.
So, because I am bored, the weather is hot and windy (Which means lots of dust so I cannot paint the hull of the ship I am working on) I will throw this cat amongst the pigeons…
A USN CVN and its being escorted by 1 Tico and 3 ABs , no doubt a sub is there as well and it has 2 x LPDs and an LHD tagging along…
The USN CVN escort group looks a lot like an RN escort group …But surely that cannot be correct?
“The RN doesn’t have enough escorts for QE ….the USN has far bigger escort groups with its carriers….the RN should be in the SCS with 6 T45s , 13 T23 and half a dozen rivers and all the LPDs and Bays…thats how the USN would do it!”
Well obviously the USN as I have said before, dont…
QE Escort group is comparable in vessels and capabilities with a USN CVN Escort group and in my opinion is slightly more well rounded across all of the warfighting domains ( Air, Surface and Sub-surface).
Discuss!
He pulls the pin and rolls in the grenade through the open door…..
Covers his ears, leaves his mouth open….BANG…then runs away and hides giggling to himself…
What do you expect …its Virtual Friday tomorrow and ramadan has started so I cannot get a beer except at home!
And for info there are currently 2 ABs alongside from the Eisenhower CVN group which means she is now sailing around in the NAG with only 2 ABs and a Tico as escort!
Shock Horror!
haha…..fire starter.
The USNI link below is usually pretty good in tracking the USN fleet and gives a good break down of the assets involved.
https://news.usni.org/2021/04/12/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-12-2021
It is a good resource. So is my drive to work to see what’s in on the jetty.
2 x ABS from the USN, BDF OHP Frigate and the former RN FI patrol boat, CHID who is a bit battered and not going anywhere for a while and an assortment of other MCMVs and PCs
I’m genuinely envious.
Well said mate, and it’s certainly a reality check for those you enjoy putting down our RN, and playing fantasy fleets. Our QE task group is a fantastic achievement for all involved, especially against the backdrop of covid. And we are still in very early day’s of carrier strike. It’s a huge undertaking to get these vessels, crews, aircraft working together as a integrated force. And in 10 years time it will be on another level again in capability. I’m envious of those deploying in May, what a fantastic opportunity for those young matelots. š¬š§š
It does seem light on escorts for such a force. I would’ve thought the amphibious group would have more protection.
The fact remains that with a UK GSG deployed elsewhere, the UK has little to protect it given all our other commitments & ships in refit etc. Allies are always welcome, but we must be ready do go alone when needed, without undue risk.
Off topic, looks like the Taliban are being given Afghanistan now the US & UK are pulling out.
We can deploy the carrier task group without robbing escorts from other standing taskings. And even with a considerable amount of the force in refits and life extension refits.
I will nibble at this GB, not sure I entirely agree with you on this!
1 X Tyco and 3xAB v 2×23 and 2×45, the subs pretty much cancel each other out, so just leaves ships.
4 US ships all do strike/asw/aaw.
RN ships 2 do asw(limited aaw) 2 do aaw, none do strike!
We have more dedicated asw helicopters via our ships, but, they have Asroc!
We lose one T23, that’s 50% of our asw capability gone, the US lose one AB, that’s only 25% lost.
Bit simplistic I know, the US ships are multi purpose units and armed accordingly, ours are more specialist units, so I suppose a bit of horses for courses, take your pick and role the dice!!!
I did say surface, air and subsurface and specifically did not mention land strike which UK vessels are very lacking in.
However multi purpose ABs are jack of all trades and masters of none. They are exceptionally bad at asw and I mean bad. They are comparable to 1980s era RN T22 B2 and B 3
In the AAW sphere they mostly shoot 2 semi active homer AAW missiles at targets and need to illuminate a target. T45 and T23 have active homers.
For tactical ballistic missile defence certain ABS do have the edge but not all, only a limited number have that capability.
ABS are not particularly stealthy and the current version SPY Radar is looking very dated as are the internal mechanicals in the engine rooms… Again the engine rooms are comparable to T22s or late batch T42s with the associated noise and reliability issues…
Until the Flight 3s come online in 3-5 years with SPY 6 AESA to take over from the Ticos as AAW commander the USN is struggling with old ships and systems
Even then though Flight 3 will still have a ship designed over 3 decades ago with machinery from 3 decades ago that is becoming more and more difficult to maintain.
As for ASROC… its got basically a MK46 torpedo in it from the 1960s with a new front end. It can detect a target but it cannot catch it or keep up with it. Mk 46 being so bad was why the RN developed Sting ray. Helos with Sting Ray be they Merlin or Wildcat ponies are far more capable and have far longer legs.
Take your point ref an old design, with all the limitations that brings, especially when it comes to noise reduction, ABs were always noisy units, we would hear them coming over the horizon, bit like the T45 when it first came out.
Can’t comment on their competence at any given discipline, but, they always had a good go during JW.
I agree that our setup appears better given we are not really jack’s of all trades, just a little of full specialist units.
As good as T45s are in the AAW role, they were sold woefully short on the mainframe sonar side, hopefully T83 will rectify that short coming.
I expect the USN is chomping at the bit for F3 AB and the introduction of the Constellation class.
Anyway, hope you get to have a beer, I’m enjoying a bottle of rouge as I post.
The Chinese certainly have been also been ”Makin’ Islands” in the region…haha!
[applauds]
Well thatāll certainly keep the peace.
Further reply. At the moment all the initiatives have been from the Chinese side. We should start playing their game.
Definition of irony, prattling on about tanks and lawns whilst rattling on about how people from North America should start invading things 1000s miles away in the China sea.
Some chap a long, long time ago told a story about an eye, a mote and a plank. Some things never change.
Roll over on your back then Beethoven. Mr Hitler springs to mind – nobody stopped him until it was too late.
Beethoven? Deaf and yet still wrote some of the finest music humanity has ever acheived, still acclaimed two centuries later across the globe. He could be on his front, back, side or end frankly, history has already judged him a legend.
You on the other hand? Well I suppose if you like a hammer, and I mean you really really really like that hammer, on a āthis is my hammer, there are many like it…ā kind of level, then everything can really look like a nail and just like that red āDont Pushā button on the wall, the compulsion to hit everything really is overwhelmingly compelling.
But how did it work out for the Japanese when not a million miles away, they initiated a war with a larger and more latently powerful country that was on the up and they perceived was cramping their style?
Iirc it could be described as ābadlyā.
Hopefully there are enough grown ups not to repeat that mistake, especially after Jan 20.
My dear friend Rogbob. I expect this little back and forward could go on for some time. You obviously are an appeaser -prepared to look the other way – a 1930ās kind of person I think. Would you make a stand for anything? Perhaps if you were a Filipino fisherman being bullied out of your livelihood by Chinese bullies might make you change your mind. Why do you contribute to this website which gives the low down on lots of really good hammers?
I certainly intend to keep my hammer.
Go on for some time? I very much doubt it, boredom will soon set in and that paint wonāt dry itself. Plus I doubt youāve any more 1930/Hitler parallels left, although there is always the ground under the barrel to search. Obviously a historical parallel less tediously wrong would be nice, but Iām probably expecting too much.
Wrt hammers, Iām reminded of a qoute āthere are many ways to skin a cat, but few good reasonsā.
2nd World War – 40 million dead, gas chambers etc because of the likes of gutless people like you. Plenty of ground under the barrel to search for there.
Iām still keeping my hammer.
Yeah, I figured youād be at the bottom of the barrel. Good luck wielding your special hammer from there, Iām sure it looks really big too.
Actually I feel honoured that someone with such guts as yourself is on this forum. Truly a priviledge and doesnt come across as sad posturing at all.
Mr Roger Baker I presume alias Rogbob. From your other posts on this website you seem to be very interested and knowledgeable in hammers. Why?
Who? wtf?
Are you seriously so stupid that aka Highlander, āthere can be only oneā set of beliefs or something? Ffs, crawl out of your barrel, use the hammer if you need to.
Given your history appears to be ww2 and quite literally nothing else, Iām sure you already know that in 1945 it was the service vote who had fought the war, including people like my grandfather who liberated places with the chambers that you just think are something you can use to try and insult those that disagree with you; that ousted Churchill.
Those are the giants upon whose shoulders we sit, or as some warmongering scum do, shit.
What a mixed up rant. I have certainly rattled your can! Cheerio – over and out.
āOver and outā. well, that answers the āhave you any actual military service?ā Question.
It truly is that cowards and idiots always have the biggest mouths when it comes to wanting to start wars.
Polar Icebreakers, what on earth for? Surely they’re not looking to pop round to Blighty via the Northern passage for a cuppa!
26.03.2021
U.S. admiral warns China could invade Taiwan in next six years
āUnfavourableā situation in the US
“Davidson also cautioned against the expansion of Chinaās military assets in the region that according to the top US admiral creates an āunfavourableā situation for the United States and reduces the level of deterrence. He said, āWe are accumulating risk that may embolden China to unilaterally change the status quo before our forces may be able to deliver an effective response.ā
“Already commanding the world’s largest naval force, the People’s Republic of China is building modern surface combatants, submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, amphibious assault ships, ballistic nuclear missile submarines, large coast guard cutters, and polar icebreakers at alarming speed.”
Some of those will be the equal or better of anything the US or other naval powers can put in the water.
“The PLAN is not receiving junk from China’s shipbuilding industry but rather increasingly sophisticated, capable vessels,” Andrew Erickson, a professor at the US Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute,”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/05/china/china-world-biggest-navy-intl-hnk-ml-dst/index.html
And yet they are still a regional power, and a very long way from global deployments with useful aircraft carrier’s and nuclear submarines. Don’t write off the Americans just yet.
Yet what could be more clearly the Chinese becoming a global power than its huge expansion of its fleet & deploying its wealth globally as leverage? I think they’re far beyond regional power right now. Freedom & democracy for them are just targets to undermine.
They have a huge navy, but they can’t deploy it far beyond there own region. They lack the key enables, like modern useful carrier’s, and nuclear submarines
and a global support chain. Allied nations will have 29 vessels capable of putting 5th gen F35 capability to sea. China has nothing like that. They certainly could not do what we are about to do with the QE task group.
Sends American forces there to risk American lives but China Joe puts a freeze on all further defensive military sales to Taiwan to appease his Chicom masters. Ugh
China’s window of opportunity on Taiwan is now. The US currently has to assess it’s degree of response to the defence of Europe, in the immediate shape of Ukraine, and also the remarkably similar (to the extent of in-concert?) marked increase in Chinese aggression towards the PRC. This all whilst national economies are impaled by Covid and a new US administration straight way sorely tested.
America has a long-standing sympathy for Taiwan, bordering on affection, which probably outweighs the nevertheless genuine concern they share with us for the Ukraine, a new democracy. Under the above scenario, the States are likely to expect much greater input from our side of the pond, both in the political/economic realms and under the auspices of NATO with regard to Russia.
Undoubtedly response planning is somewhere in the pipeline on both issues but, at what appears very near the crisis point, one would expect to hear some leakage of them soon.
If the crisis is looming large, I’d not be surprised to see our CSG kept to more local waters, possibly whilst Med bound.
There is obviously no win-win situation in any of this. But certainly there can be no eventual assessment of lose-lose.
Regards
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-04-07/china-taiwan-conflict-could-come-sooner-rather-than-later?sref=YNlUDsaj
Article from Bloomberg supporting what you say. Matsu and Quemoy just off the coast of China may well be the first test of Biden’s resolve.
Thanks, there are similarities. Hardly surprising since the main difference between politicians and the rest of us is they have their hands on the levers that can make the obvious actual.
As an aside, it does seem a historical truism that political dictatorships i.e. simplistic option merchants, are so concerned with maintaining their status quo that rigidity sets in, such that they eventually fall behind freer societies. It’s true of Russia and will be true of China at the current rate (whose general population are among the world’s natural ‘free enterprisers’, ironically). Perhaps the ultimate example of that over the centuries has been Afghanistan, whose traditional vested interests regularly win against invaders whilst the nation itself loses, to the extent that the country remains essentially medieval. Nothing against the country fighting off invasion, just the true motivation behind it.
I believe our task is to fight the democratic option to the bitter end. Notwithstanding any short term disadvantage or the known intention of some elected to abuse it.
Question: I keep reading about how old and knackered the RN fleet is and it being too old creates issues: but the ships in this battle group are all pretty old (USS Theodore Roosevel: 1984, a Tico (’80s), USS Russel (’95). How can the US keep older ships operational when we cannot?
The newest ship is the LPD…. which makes our decision to lay up our LPDs look particularly stupid.