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SAN DIEGO (Feb 14, 2022) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returns to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned to San Diego after an eight-month deployment to U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets in support of regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Kevin Johnson.

Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returns home to San Diego from deployment
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned to San Diego, marking the end of an eight-month deployment to U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets areas of operation, Feb. 14.
After an accelerated departure from San Diego, the Carl Vinson CSG supported integrated operations in the Hawaiian Islands operating area with the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard as part of the Defense Department’s ongoing presence in the Indo-Pacific region. They continued into the western Pacific demonstrating U.S. commitment to partnerships and alliances in the region while upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The tireless dedication and professionalism of our Sailors, through a global pandemic, challenging operational tempo, and sacrificed time away from family, is truly humbling,” said Capt. P. Scott Miller, commanding officer of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the strike group’s flagship. “Their efforts have demonstrated flexibility and resiliency and ensured mission success in every task. They have directly supported a free and open Indo-Pacific and have underscored our Navy’s readiness, strength, and lethality.”
Ships in the Carl Vinson CSG sailed more than 80,000 nautical miles while underway for 262 days, conducted dual carrier operations and multinational exercises, including maritime security operations, integrated training between surface and air units, long-range maritime strike, anti-submarine warfare, information warfare operations, maritime interdiction operations, personnel recovery, air defense operations, multiple ship navigation and formation maneuvering, and refueling-at-sea operations. While deployed, the strike group operated in some of the most heavily navigated waters of the Indo-Pacific including the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.
Carl Vinson is the first aircraft carrier to deploy with a combination of fourth and fifth-generation platforms within Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 that predominantly represent the “Air Wing of the Future,” including the F-35C Lightning IIs of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, the CMV-22B Ospreys of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets of VFAs 2, 113, and 192, the EA-18G Growlers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 113, the MH-60R Sea Hawks of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, and the MH-60S Sea Hawks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4. The complete Air Wing of the Future will also include the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aircraft system, which is planned to be incorporated into carrier air wings in 2025.
During the deployment, the air wing executed more than 15,000 fixed-wing and helicopter flight hours comprising of 7,791 sorties, 7,702 launches and 7,761 aircraft arrestments.
The strike group successfully completed operations and exercises alongside multiple partners and allies including navies from Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom as well as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Notable multinational, bilateral, and U.S.-only exercises included Large Scale Exercise 2021 in August, Operation Malabar and Maritime Partnership Exercise 2021 in October, Annual Exercise 2021 in November, U.S. and Australia’s bilateral exercise in December and Expeditionary Strike Force and dual carrier operations in January 2022.
“Alongside our partners and allies, we have aggressively pursued every opportunity to elevate our combat readiness in a drive to continue upholding regional stability,” said Rear Adm. Dan Martin, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. “We’ve been doing this for 75 years and I’m proud to say that our team has relentlessly paid tribute to this legacy with many long hours of sweat and determination that started well before we left San Diego.”
The strike group operated alongside several other strike and ready groups including: the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, led by Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); Carrier Strike Group 21, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08); the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, led by Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2); Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Escort Flotilla 2, led by Izumo-class helicopter destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184); and, most recently, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
The Carl Vinson CSG consists of Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG 1, CVW-2 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1; nine embarked air wing squadrons; guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); and DESRON 1 guided-missile destroyers USS Chafee (DDG 90), USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112).
CSG 1 provides a combat-ready force to protect and defend the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its regional allies and partners. Collectively, the Carl Vinson CSG consists of more than 7,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe.
An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations—from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 14, 2022) Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) transits San Diego bay upon its return to homeport. Lake Champlain, part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, returned to Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 14, following a deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets in support of regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Kelby Sanders.

USS Lake Champlain returns to SD: Deployment wrap up
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) returned home to Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 14, completing an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 to U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleets.
Lake Champlain departed San Diego en route to U.S. 7th Fleet, July 2, 2021. The cruiser served as air and missile defense commander for CSG 1 and the primary escort for Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The ship executed operations alongside multinational allies as part of more than half a dozen exercises, including Large Scale Exercise 2021, Maritime Partnership Exercise 2021, Malabar 2021, Annual Exercise 2021, expeditionary strike force operations with Essex Amphibious Ready Group, and several multi-carrier operations.
“Lake Champlain maintained a high level of operational readiness throughout a complex and demanding Indo-Pacific deployment,” said Capt. Steven M. Foley, commanding officer of Lake Champlain. “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of all of my Sailors throughout this deployment. Their dedication and sacrifice on a daily basis is impressive, and it is truly an honor and privilege to serve with them at sea.”
The ship played an integral role in the first Indo-Pacific deployment with the “Air Wing of the Future.” Serving as air and missile defense commander, Lake Champlain conducted multiple South China Sea presence operations, supporting the Navy’s mission of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Lake Champlain’s hangar bay housed Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 and supported deck landing qualifications for Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, embarked aboard Carl Vinson, and joint helicopter training from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian navy. Additionally, Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, embarked on Carl Vinson, conducted multiple fast-rope and helicopter recovery drills aboard Lake Champlain.
The ship conducted more than 40 underway replenishments. Operating weekly with Commander Task Force 73 to conduct replenishments-at-sea with ten different Military Sealift Command ships, and fueling-at-sea evolutions with HMAS Sirius (O 266), and three FAS evolutions with Carl Vinson.
During an in-port visit to Guam, Lake Champlain Sailors exemplified their dedication to the community through the performance of two community relations projects. The projects brought Sailors and residents together to paint the interior of a community center that serves the population of Guam. Sailors also completed a beautification project at Yigo Village, the second largest village on the island.


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