Carrier Strike Group Fourteen
Encyclopedia
Carrier Strike Group Fourteen, designated CSG-14 or CARSTRKGRU 14, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike group
s currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command
.
Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is currently based at Naval Station Mayport
, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean
and the Persian Gulf
. Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is currently the only U.S. carrier strike group that does not have an assigned aircraft carrier
or carrier air wing
.
Carrier Strike Group Two reports to the Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
(USFLTFORCOM) as one of its six carrier strike groups currently assigned to that command. CARSTRKGRU 2's pre-deployment training and certification
comes under the operational control (OPCON) of USFLTFORCOM following the disestablisment of the U.S. Second Fleet on 30 September 2011. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean
and the Persian Gulf
.
Carrier strike groups are not only operational commands, but U.S. Navy ships and aircraft assigned to such formations are also under the administrative control (ADCON) of their respective U.S. Navy type commands
. Gettysburg and Philippine Sea are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
.
(flagship
), an embarked carrier air wing
, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
, and a destroyer squadron
. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is composed of the following units:
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers
, such as and assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fourteen (COMCARSTRKGRU 14), provide a wide range of capabilities, including ballistic missile defense (BMD)
, regional air defense (RAD), battlespace
management (BSM), maritime interdiction operations (MIO)
, maritime security operations (MSO)
, and precision strike tomahawk (PST) strike missions.
, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Medusa
during 2006.
, for a four-month surge deployment in support of Maritime Inerdiction Operations (MIO) in the Persian Gulf
and Mediterranean Sea
, returning on 8 December 2005. USS Gettysburg and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET)
completed a six-month Counter Narco-Terrorism operations in the western Hemisphere as part of Joint Interagency Task Force South
which ended on 4 April 2006.
, returning 8 December.
in preparation for its 2008 overseas deployment. On 6 July, USS Gettysburg departed Naval Station Mayport on a five-and-a-half month deployment involving Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf, including 71 consecutive days supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) before returning on 19 December 2007.
, for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
tracked a contact of interest, the motor vessel Iran Bagheri, between 11–13 March 2008. Following 3-day port visit to Souda Bay, Crete
, Philippine Sea participated in Caya Green 08, a bilateral two-phased military exercise with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
. Between 16–19 March, Phase I involved Philippine Sea leading U.S. naval assets conducting maritime patrols and harbor sweeps in Haifa
with Israeli air assets. Following pre-sail planning meetings in Haifa, Phase II began on 24 March, and Philippine Sea and the Israeli Navy participated in small-boat defense
, convoying operations
, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
against a non-nuclear diesel-electric submarine in a littoral environment. Following the conclusion of Caya Green 08, Philippine Sea departed Haifa on 26 March.
On 29 March 2008, Philippine Sea transited the Suez Canal with the vehicle cargo ship and the guided-missile destroyers and . On 9 April, Philippine Sea escorted the departing amphibious assault ship , and following a port visit to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
, Philippine Sea participated in Arabian Shark ’08/SHAREM, a multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the Gulf of Oman
held between 14–20 April 2008. Following Arabian Shark ’08/SHAREM, between 22–20 April, Philippine Sea operated with Combined Task Force 158
(CTF-158) protecting the Al Basrah Oil Terminal
, as well as conducting maritime security operations and maritime interception operation for the CTF-158, in the Persian Gulf
. Following its second port visit to Jebel Ali, Philippine Sea participated in Goal Keeper III, a multilateral maritime security operation exercise (pictured), before returning to the CTF-158 area of responsibiliity (AOR)
on 14 May. Following a four-day port visit ro Bahrain
, Philippine Sea completed its Persian Gulf tour of duty by escorting the amphibious assault ship , the dock landing ship , and the guided-missile destroyer through the Straits of Hormuz on 31 April 2008. Philippine Sea completed its 2008 MED deployment with port visits to Aksaz, Turkey
; Split, Croatia; and Sicily, Italy, before returning to Naval Station Norfolk
on 11 July 2008.
departed Naval Station Mayport
. During its 2009 overseas deployment, Gettysburg served as the flagship of Combined Task Force (CTF-151)
, an international naval task force
to counter piracy activity off the coast of Somalia
, under the overall command of Rear Admiral Caner Bener of the Turkish Navy
.
The most significant accomplishment during Gettysburgs tour of duty as CTF-151 was the capture of of more than a dozen suspected pirates aboard an alleged "mothership" on 13 May 2009. The Republic of Korea destroyer Munmu the Great
and Gettysburg responded to a distress call from the Egyptian-flagged merchantship MV Amira, which was under attack 75 nautical miles (138.9 km) south of Mukalla, Yemen
. Helicopters were launched from Munmu and Gettysburg, which located Amira and a nearby dhow suspected of serving as a pirate "mothership" with approximately 17 people on board. Gettysburgs visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team
and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 409 (LEDET-409)
board the suspected dhow and discovered eight assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). All 17 passengers were transferred to Gettysburg for further questioning.
On 28 June 2009, the guided-missile cruiser relieved USS Gettysburg (CG-64) as the flagship for Combined Task Force 151. Commenting on Gettysburgs three-month tour of duty as CTF-151's flagship, Admiral Bener noted:
USS Gettysburg and embarked Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Detachment 9 returned to Naval Station Mayport
on 28 July 2009.
, and Faslane, Scotland
. Both Gettysburg and USS Philippine Sea are undergoing training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
as part of the Carrier Strike Group Two
on 10 February 2011. Gettysburg deployed with an embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 (HSM-70) detachment as part of Carrier Strike Group Two, departing Naval Station Mayport
on 10 May 2011. Gettysburg subsequently participated in NATO naval exercise Saxon Warrior 2011 off the coast of England
.
On 3 June 2011, Philippine Sea paid a port visit to Kiel, Germany, prior to participating with the multi-national exercise Baltic Operations 2011 (BLATOPS-2011). This exercise included naval units from the United States, Russian, Danish, Polish and French navies, and BALTOPS-2011
ended on 21 June 2011.
On 6 July 2011, Philippine Sea rescued 26 Filipino crew members from the Marshall Islands-owned, Liberian-flagged supertanker Brilliante Virtuoso
{pictured) southwest of Aden, Yemen, after the ship's superstructure was set on fire following a reported pirate attack from the rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). Philippine Sea transited the Suez Canal
on 1 July 2011.
Carrier Strike Group
A carrier strike group is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft...
s currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
.
Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is currently based at Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is currently the only U.S. carrier strike group that does not have an assigned aircraft carrier
Nimitz class aircraft carrier
The Nimitz-class supercarriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. With an overall length of and full-load displacements of over 100,000 long tons, they are the largest capital ships in the world...
or carrier air wing
Carrier air wing
A Carrier Air Wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft...
.
Command structure
As of December 2010, Commander Carrier Strike Group Fourteen (COMCARSTRKGRU 14) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg and Philippine Sea. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 14 exercises oversight of unit-level training, integrated training, and readiness for assigned ships and units, as well as maintains administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the strike group.Carrier Strike Group Two reports to the Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
(USFLTFORCOM) as one of its six carrier strike groups currently assigned to that command. CARSTRKGRU 2's pre-deployment training and certification
Composite Unit Training Exercise
COMPTUEX, or Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performs before departing for deployment. Each ship and aircraft in the battle group trains in its speciality, COMPTUEX brings ships together to project force as a battle group...
comes under the operational control (OPCON) of USFLTFORCOM following the disestablisment of the U.S. Second Fleet on 30 September 2011. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
(MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
Carrier strike groups are not only operational commands, but U.S. Navy ships and aircraft assigned to such formations are also under the administrative control (ADCON) of their respective U.S. Navy type commands
U.S. Navy type commands
U.S. Navy type commands perform vital administrative, personnel, and operational training functions for a "type" of weapon system within a fleet organization.-Overview:...
. Gettysburg and Philippine Sea are under the administrative authority of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic is a post within the United States Fleet Forces Command. As Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic, it is a military formation, but the organization is often known as COMNAVSURFLANT. Its headquarters are at the Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia. The commander,...
.
Force composition in 2011
U.S. Navy carrier strike groups typically consist of an aircraft carrierSupercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
(flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
), an embarked carrier air wing
Carrier air wing
A Carrier Air Wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft...
, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
, and a destroyer squadron
DESRON
A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels, both may be used...
. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Fourteen is composed of the following units:
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
, such as and assigned to Carrier Strike Group Fourteen (COMCARSTRKGRU 14), provide a wide range of capabilities, including ballistic missile defense (BMD)
Missile defense
Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception and destruction of attacking missiles. Originally conceived as a defence against nuclear-armed Intercontinental ballistic missiles , its application has broadened to include shorter-ranged...
, regional air defense (RAD), battlespace
Battlespace
Battlespace is a term used to signify a unified military strategy to integrate and combine armed forces for the military theatre of operations, including air, information, land, sea, and space to achieve military goals. It includes the environment, factors, and conditions that must be understood...
management (BSM), maritime interdiction operations (MIO)
Maritime Interdiction Operations
Maritime Interdiction Operations are naval conducted operations, that aim to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area before they do any harm against friendly forces, similar to Air Interdiction Operations....
, maritime security operations (MSO)
Maritime Security Operations
Maritime Security Operations is a term for the actions of modern naval forces to "combat sea–based terrorism and other illegal activities, such as hijacking, piracy, and slavery, also known as human trafficking." Ships assigned to such operations may also assist seafaring vessels in distress...
, and precision strike tomahawk (PST) strike missions.
2004 Operations
On 1 October 2004 Cruiser-Destroyer Group Twelve (CruDesGru 12) was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Nine (CARSTRKGRU 9). Following its 2005 Extended Selected Restricted Availability (ESRA), the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was subsequently assigned to Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CARSTRKGRU 12) as its flagship beginning with CARSTRKGRU 12's overseas deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa was a Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Army and an A-Team from the 3rd Special Forces Group, as part of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It aimed to establish government control over an area of Kandahar...
during 2006.
2005 Operations
On 25 May 2005, USS Philippine Sea departed Naval Station Mayport, FloridaNaval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
, for a four-month surge deployment in support of Maritime Inerdiction Operations (MIO) in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, returning on 8 December 2005. USS Gettysburg and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET)
Law Enforcement Detachments
Law Enforcement Detachments or LEDETs are specialized, deployable maritime law enforcement teams of the United States Coast Guard. First established in 1982, their primary mission is to deploy aboard U.S. and allied naval vessels to conduct and support law enforcement, interdiction, or security...
completed a six-month Counter Narco-Terrorism operations in the western Hemisphere as part of Joint Interagency Task Force South
Joint Interagency Task Force South
Joint Interagency Task Force South is a multiservice, multiagency national task force based at Naval Air Station Key West , Key West, Florida....
which ended on 4 April 2006.
2006 Operations
On 6 June 2006, USS Philippine Sea departed Naval Station Mayport for a six-months in support of maritime security operations (MSO) and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Persian GulfPersian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, returning 8 December.
2007 Operations
USS Philippine Sea completed an Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT) exercise and a 17-day Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX)Composite Unit Training Exercise
COMPTUEX, or Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performs before departing for deployment. Each ship and aircraft in the battle group trains in its speciality, COMPTUEX brings ships together to project force as a battle group...
in preparation for its 2008 overseas deployment. On 6 July, USS Gettysburg departed Naval Station Mayport on a five-and-a-half month deployment involving Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf, including 71 consecutive days supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) before returning on 19 December 2007.
2008 Operations
During its overseas deployment to the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
tracked a contact of interest, the motor vessel Iran Bagheri, between 11–13 March 2008. Following 3-day port visit to Souda Bay, Crete
Souda Bay
Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
, Philippine Sea participated in Caya Green 08, a bilateral two-phased military exercise with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. Between 16–19 March, Phase I involved Philippine Sea leading U.S. naval assets conducting maritime patrols and harbor sweeps in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
with Israeli air assets. Following pre-sail planning meetings in Haifa, Phase II began on 24 March, and Philippine Sea and the Israeli Navy participated in small-boat defense
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
, convoying operations
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
against a non-nuclear diesel-electric submarine in a littoral environment. Following the conclusion of Caya Green 08, Philippine Sea departed Haifa on 26 March.
On 29 March 2008, Philippine Sea transited the Suez Canal with the vehicle cargo ship and the guided-missile destroyers and . On 9 April, Philippine Sea escorted the departing amphibious assault ship , and following a port visit to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Fujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
, Philippine Sea participated in Arabian Shark ’08/SHAREM, a multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
held between 14–20 April 2008. Following Arabian Shark ’08/SHAREM, between 22–20 April, Philippine Sea operated with Combined Task Force 158
Combined Task Force 158
Combined Task Force Iraqi Maritime or CTF IM is an international naval task group, established as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It consists of naval assets from the United States Navy and Coast Guard, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Navy, working alongside elements of the Iraqi...
(CTF-158) protecting the Al Basrah Oil Terminal
Al Basrah Oil Terminal
Al Basrah Oil Terminal is an Iraqi oil port. It lies southeast of the Al Faw peninsula in the Persian Gulf.Al Basrah Oil Terminal is more commonly referred to as "ABOT" and it, along with its sister terminal, the Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal or 'KAAOT", provides platforms from which a large majority...
, as well as conducting maritime security operations and maritime interception operation for the CTF-158, in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. Following its second port visit to Jebel Ali, Philippine Sea participated in Goal Keeper III, a multilateral maritime security operation exercise (pictured), before returning to the CTF-158 area of responsibiliity (AOR)
Area of responsibility
Area Of Responsibility is a pre-defined geographic region assigned to a Combatant commanders of the Unified Command Plan , that are used to define an area with specific geographic boundaries where they have the authority to plan and conduct operations; for which a force, or component commander...
on 14 May. Following a four-day port visit ro Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, Philippine Sea completed its Persian Gulf tour of duty by escorting the amphibious assault ship , the dock landing ship , and the guided-missile destroyer through the Straits of Hormuz on 31 April 2008. Philippine Sea completed its 2008 MED deployment with port visits to Aksaz, Turkey
Aksaz Naval Base
Aksaz Naval Base is a base of the Turkish Navy on the south-east coast of the Aegean Sea in Marmaris, Muğla. In addition to the military buildings, the base houses apartment-like barracks and social facilities stretched over of land...
; Split, Croatia; and Sicily, Italy, before returning to Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
on 11 July 2008.
2009 Operations
On 21 February 2009, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiserTiconderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
departed Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
. During its 2009 overseas deployment, Gettysburg served as the flagship of Combined Task Force (CTF-151)
Combined Task Force 151
Combined Task Force 151 or CTF-151 or Combined Task Force One Five One is an international naval task force, set up in response to piracy attacks in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia...
, an international naval task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
to counter piracy activity off the coast of Somalia
Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
, under the overall command of Rear Admiral Caner Bener of the Turkish Navy
Turkish Navy
The Turkish Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.- Ottoman fleet after Mudros :Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I, on November 3, 1918, the fleet commander of the Ottoman Navy, Liva Amiral Arif Pasha, ordered all flags to be...
.
The most significant accomplishment during Gettysburgs tour of duty as CTF-151 was the capture of of more than a dozen suspected pirates aboard an alleged "mothership" on 13 May 2009. The Republic of Korea destroyer Munmu the Great
ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976)
ROKS Munmu the Great is a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin class destroyer in the South Korean navy. It was named after the Korean king Munmu of Silla.-History:...
and Gettysburg responded to a distress call from the Egyptian-flagged merchantship MV Amira, which was under attack 75 nautical miles (138.9 km) south of Mukalla, Yemen
Al Mukalla
Al Mukalla is a main sea port and the capital city of the Hadramaut coastal region in Yemen in the southern part of Arabia on the Gulf of Aden close to the Arabian Sea...
. Helicopters were launched from Munmu and Gettysburg, which located Amira and a nearby dhow suspected of serving as a pirate "mothership" with approximately 17 people on board. Gettysburgs visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team
Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
Visit, board, search, and seizure is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and...
and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 409 (LEDET-409)
Law Enforcement Detachments
Law Enforcement Detachments or LEDETs are specialized, deployable maritime law enforcement teams of the United States Coast Guard. First established in 1982, their primary mission is to deploy aboard U.S. and allied naval vessels to conduct and support law enforcement, interdiction, or security...
board the suspected dhow and discovered eight assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). All 17 passengers were transferred to Gettysburg for further questioning.
On 28 June 2009, the guided-missile cruiser relieved USS Gettysburg (CG-64) as the flagship for Combined Task Force 151. Commenting on Gettysburgs three-month tour of duty as CTF-151's flagship, Admiral Bener noted:
- Whatever the situation, whether engaged in the boarding or the safe and secure holding of suspected pirates for 28 days, Gettysburg undertook them all without complaint. The experience Gettysburg and her crew brought to our mission as flagship was a major key to our success in counterpiracy operations over the last couple months.
USS Gettysburg and embarked Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Detachment 9 returned to Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
on 28 July 2009.
2010 Operations
USS Philippine Sea participated in a multinational NATO exercise called Joint Warrior, held 11–21 May 2010; it was then followed by a two-day port visit to Plymouth, EnglandPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, and Faslane, Scotland
HMNB Clyde
Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
. Both Gettysburg and USS Philippine Sea are undergoing training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
2011 Operations
Gettysburg completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX)Composite Unit Training Exercise
COMPTUEX, or Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performs before departing for deployment. Each ship and aircraft in the battle group trains in its speciality, COMPTUEX brings ships together to project force as a battle group...
as part of the Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two, abbreviated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...
on 10 February 2011. Gettysburg deployed with an embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 (HSM-70) detachment as part of Carrier Strike Group Two, departing Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
on 10 May 2011. Gettysburg subsequently participated in NATO naval exercise Saxon Warrior 2011 off the coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
On 3 June 2011, Philippine Sea paid a port visit to Kiel, Germany, prior to participating with the multi-national exercise Baltic Operations 2011 (BLATOPS-2011). This exercise included naval units from the United States, Russian, Danish, Polish and French navies, and BALTOPS-2011
BALTOPS
BALTOPS is an annual military exercise, held and sponsored by the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe since 1971, in the Baltic Sea and the regions surrounding it....
ended on 21 June 2011.
On 6 July 2011, Philippine Sea rescued 26 Filipino crew members from the Marshall Islands-owned, Liberian-flagged supertanker Brilliante Virtuoso
Brilliante Virtuoso
Brilliante Virtuoso is a large oil tanker that was endangered by fire on July 6, 2011.The crew reported they thought they were being attacked by Somalian pirates, while south of the port of Aden. Subsequently they reported that their ship was endangered by an uncontrollable fire, and they were...
{pictured) southwest of Aden, Yemen, after the ship's superstructure was set on fire following a reported pirate attack from the rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). Philippine Sea transited the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
on 1 July 2011.
External links
- Cruiser Destroyer Group Twelve - GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- Story Archive - U.S. Navy