Third Fleet which directs the group's pre-deployment training and certifications including its Composite Training Unit Exercises. When it is not deployed, the group reports to Commander, U.S. The strike group commander is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the group's ships and aviation squadrons.
On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three. During his tenure, Admiral Chanik led the group through a reorganized Inter-Deployment Training Cycle which greatly compressed the training required for overseas deployment. Chanik was the last commander of Carrier Group 3. Task Force 50 comprised over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers, stretching over 800 nautical miles. The Task Force conducted strikes against Al Quida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Zelibor, arrived in the Arabian Sea on 12 September 2001 and was subsequently designated Commander Task Force 50 (CTF 50), commanding multiple carrier task groups and coalition forces. Commander, Carrier Group 3, Rear Admiral Thomas E. At the time the group comprised USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Destroyer Squadron 9 and Carrier Air Wing Eleven. Ĭarrier Group 3 formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001. On Carrier Air Wing Eleven was reassigned to Commander, Carrier Group 3 and the USS Carl Vinson. In 1993, the battle group provided support to the multinational military forces assigned to Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and the group subsequently made three Western Pacific/ Persian Gulf deployments for Operation Southern Watch and Operation Vigilant Sentinel. Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6: SH-60F, HH-60Hįrom June 1993, Commander Carrier Group 3 had his flag aboard Abraham Lincoln. Carrier Group Three, late 1992 Guided-Missile CruisersĬarrier Air Wing 11 squadrons embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)Īirborne Early Warning Squadron 117: E-2C The chart below shows the ships and aircraft of the group after the reorganization. Each of the Navy's twelve carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier an embarked carrier air wing cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. This change resulted in the Navy flag officer at NAVCENT Riyadh's remaining relatively junior to other Service representatives, particularly the Air Force. In November, the NAVCENT-Riyadh command was transferred from COMCARGRU 3 to Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5. During succeeding months, the NAVCENT-Riyadh staff was augmented substantially but remained small, relative to the United States Army Central and CENTAF staffs. This mission was assigned initially to Commander, Carrier Group Three. Since ComUSNAVCENT operated from on board ship, he established NAVCENT-Riyadh as a staff organization to provide continuous Navy representation at United States Central Command headquarters. Naval Forces Central Command (ComUSNAVCENT) following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Seventh Fleet was deployed to Bahrain in order to serve as Commander, U.S. During this period, Carrier Group 3 was one of three battle groups that took part in PACEX '89. From 1989 to 1991, USS Carl Vinson served as the flagship for Carrier Group 3. As part of these deployments, the Carl Vinson carrier battle group participated in Exercise RIMPAC '84, RIMPAC '86, RIMPAC '98, PACEX '89, Exercise Rugged Nautilus, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Desert Strike, Operation Desert Fox, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On returning home, the cycle begins once more. Navy carrier battle groups have, since the mid-Cold War period, maintained a pattern of deployments to trouble spots, beginning with an overhaul, individual ship training, battle group training, group preparation exercise, and then the deployment. On 30 June 1973, Carrier Division 3 was redesignated Carrier Group 3. In 1966, Carrier Division Three was embarked aboard USS Enterprise flying missions in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam. Commander Carrier Division Three served as Commander Task Force 77 during the Korean War. On 7 December 1941, in the Atlantic Fleet, Carrier Division Three comprises Wasp and Ranger under Rear Admiral A.B. It comprised Carrier Division Three, the cruisers Quincy and Vincennes, and Destroyer Squadron 11. In April 1941, a Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol was established under Admiral A.B.
The aircraft carrier Wasp was assigned to Carrier Division Three from November 1940. Historical background Carrier Division Three