The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group sailed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the South China Sea on the 9th of this month.
The ships and aircraft of the two strike groups coordinated operations in a highly trafficked area to demonstrate the U.S. Navy’s ability to operate in challenging environments.
As a part of dual-carrier operations, the U.S Navy say that the strike groups conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities.
“Training with Carrier Strike Group Eleven in the South China Sea is a tremendously valuable opportunity,” said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Nine.
“Through operations like this, we ensure that we are tactically proficient to meet the challenge of maintaining peace and we are able to continue to show our partners and allies in the region that we are committed to promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
The last time the U.S. conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea was in July 2020, when the Ronald Reagan and Nimitz carrier strike groups twice operated together in the South China Sea.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the frequent moves by U.S. warships and aircraft into the South China Sea in a “show of force” was not conducive to regional peace and stability.
“China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security and work with countries in the region to firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
“In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the frequent moves by U.S. warships and aircraft into the South China Sea in a “show of force” was not conducive to regional peace and stability.”
You have got to admire their nerve for coming out with comments like that after militarising the SCS.
With the negative comments regarding QE TG composition ( 2 x T45 and 2 x T23 and a sub and stores ship) in other articles I am surprised that nobody negativley commented on the USN battle groups.
2 x carrier escorted by 1 x tico and 3 x ABs plus sun and stores ship.
Different ships …different cap tallies!
I’m glad you brought that up Gunbuster.
I counted up the number of escorts in the USN a few months ago and ignoring the LCS’ they have about 90 escorts, mostly AB’s and a shrinking number of Ticos. With 10 or 11 carriers that’s about 8 escort per carrier. The RN has 2 carriers about about 18 escorts…
I realise actual availability numbers will be hugely different and that the US carriers are nuclear powered which if I understand it correctly that means they have longer maintenance / safety check periods than a conventionally powered carrier so the deployable numbers / ratios are different.
The point is that RN and USN have similar fleet ratios – which is worrying because by my reconing there is not much left to escort merchant ships in the North Atlantic. Given the New Cold War both the RN and USN are going to need many more escorts. They are traditionally, along with the French, NATO’s leading blue water navies.
Cheers CR
Nimitz having left the Gulf area is heading back to the US with one escort only. A lone Tico.
Considering how carp a Tico and an AB are at ASW the QE TG with 2x T23 is streets ahead in Asw capability.
The same could be said for surface warfare. Most AB don’t have harpoon. QE TG will have at least 2 X T23 Harpoon shooters, possibly the T45s equipped as well plus the Wildcats with Venom and Martlett which I have heard will also be going on the deployment. That’s not a bad package at all.
I was under the impression the ABs now have LRASM in their VLS cells therefore no need having the Harpoons.
LRASM has been test launched from the MK41 VLS, but the USN has yet to purchase any for the surface fleet. So far, they are air delivery only.
LRASM VL has not been bought. LRASM IS Air launch only at present. Tomahawk has now been dual hatted with the latest version just being recently test fired. It can do anti ship and land attack. The USN is restoring a capability it retired over a decade or more ago. This is to give some of the AB surface units back some anti ship punch.
ABs and Ticos can use Standard 6 in the anti ship role. 4. 5 mil dollar a pop to use an anti aircraft missile with a relatively small warhead against a surface target.. Ticos do have harpoon and some ABs have it as well but the ABs with Harpoon don’t have a Helo Hangar and don’t carry a helo limiting over the horizon targeting to other units.
Come on we all know our ships and technology are great but RN always seem to lack offensive punch if compared to China Russia usa.
Just sheer amount of offensive capability they put in compared to ours. Lrasm tomahawk (anti ship) harpoon SM missles. And the numbers of missles in modern era of cheap missle swarms.
Really? I’m honestly surprised by that. I thought each CVN had a Tico and a destroyer squadron of several Burkes. Any reason for the comparatively weak escort?
Nimitz has left the Gulf and an ARG of LPD x 2 and LHD is in place. They have a couple of ABs with them and a tico. That’s it.
Most Carrier groups are a tico and 2 or 3 ABs
Beautiful stuff.
““China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty”
You don’t own SCS so no sovereignty issues.
Hi folks hope are all well.
Great to see this article. China should realise they don’t own the sea ways, and presume they are the only power in the region.
It would be great to have our QE strike group join up with the yanks, now that would be a show.
Cheers,
George
The time will come, George, I’m sure.
As it is, the QE CSG will have the USMC squadron embarked so in a way it is inherently a Joint deployment in the first instance, but it would be nice to see as QE CSG with an all UK air wing embarked operating with a USN CSG.
Throw in the French CSG and that would be quite the demonstration of Western resolve… I’ll get back to me fantasy fleet 🙂
Cheers CR
This is indeed quite interesting, this is the latest operation and the last one was only just 6 or 7 months ago. These things take time I guess to put together but clearly the new administration is continuing to oppose the hegemony of China.
Well, if we all just stopped buying their stuff, the World might just become a safer place. pfft.