page_title: Carrier Strike Group 3
section_title: 2012–2013 deployment
hierarchical_section_title: Carrier Strike Group 3 / Operational history / 2012–2013 deployment
caption_attribution_description: English: The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), the guided-missile destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and the guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) steam together in formation in the Andaman Sea. Ships and aircraft of the George Washington and John C. Stennis carrier strike groups are currently exercising to hone their collective interoperability, readiness, and the capability to respond quickly to various potential crises in the region, ranging from combat operations to humanitarian assistance. As two of the Navy’s 11 global force carrier strike groups, the strike groups are further ensuring security, stability and peace in the vital Asian-Pacific region.
context_page_description: Carrier Strike Group 3 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is the group's current flagship. Other units assigned include Carrier Air Wing Nine; the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Mobile Bay and USS Antietam; and the ships of Destroyer Squadron 21.
  Between 2005 and 2013, the group made five deployments to the U.S. Fifth Fleet supporting U.S. ground forces in Iraq, and Afghanistan. On 18 December 2011, strike group aircraft flew the final carrier-based air mission over Iraq, effectively ending U.S. naval support for Operation New Dawn.
context_section_description: Between 29 June and 17 July 2012, Stennis conducted Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications and Sustainment Exercises off the coast of southern California.  On 27 August 2012, four months ahead of schedule, the group departed for an eight-month U.S. Fifth Fleet deployment under the command of Rear Admiral Charles M. Gaouette. On 30 August 2012, Stennis arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, California, to embark Carrier Air Wing Nine, departing on 1 September 2012 with the guided-missile cruiser Mobile Bay. On 31 August 2012, the carrier Stennis embarked additional Carrier Air Wing Nine personnel during a port visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, departing on 1 September 2012, with the guided-missile Paul Hamilton joining the strike group.
  On 11 September 2012, the group came under U.S. Seventh Fleet command and soon began taking part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2012 off Guam (pictured). The deployment of two carrier strike groups for this exercise coincided with the ongoing Senkaku Islands dispute between China and Japan. After four weeks underway, the first port call of the deployment followed at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, the first such visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier to that port. Following its port visit to Phuket, Thailand, the group participated in joint operations with Carrier Strike Group 5 in the Andaman Sea (pictured).
  On 17 October 2012, the strike group entered the Fifth Fleet area, joining Carrier Strike Group 8 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation missions. On 21 October 2012, Carrier Air Wing Nine began strikes supporting the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. On 22 March 2013, the group concluded air operations over Afghanistan, with its aircraft having flown around 1,200 sorties totaling over 7,400 flight hours.
  On 27 October 2012, Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral John W. Miller ordered the temporary reassignment of Rear Admiral Gaouette pending the results of an investigation by the Naval Inspector General.  Gaouette's chief of staff, Captain William C. Minter, led the strike group until the arrival of Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker as Gaouette's replacement. Later it emerged that Gaouette was dismissed for misconduct including '..for misconduct including foul language, flipping off lieutenants, speculation that black admirals were chosen because of their race and sending fellow officers a racially charged email about a black sailor.'
  On 6 February 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the upcoming deployment of the carrier Harry S. Truman and the cruiser Gettysburg would be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration, leaving Carrier Strike Group 3 as the only U.S. carrier force operating in the Persian Gulf region.
  In an March 2013 interview, group commander Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker noted that the shortfall of U.S. escort ships was being off-set by the assignment of the British destroyer Diamond and the French frigate Chevalier Paul, to operate with the strike group. Two destroyers from Carrier Strike Group 8, the Winston S. Churchill and Farragut, also joined Carrier Strike Group 3 temporarily. In that capacity, on 2 March 2013, the Farragut joined the guided-missile frigate Nicholas is aiding distressed mariners aboard a dhow in the Gulf of Aden. Both Farragut and Churchill left the U.S. Fifth Fleet via the Suez Canal on 8 March 2013. On 1 March 2013, the destroyer William P. Lawrence from Carrier Strike Group Eleven entered the Persian Gulf for operations with the strike group.
  On 26 March 2013, the strike group departed the Fifth Fleet.  During over five months of operations, Carrier Air Wing Nine had flown a total of more than 9,000 sorties and more than 23,000 flight hours in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Also on that date, the carrier Stennis and Carrier Air Wing Nine received the 2012 Ramage Award for carrier/air wing operational excellence during the 2012–2013 deployment.
  On 29 April 2013, the carrier Vinson and the cruiser Mobi
caption: Andaman Sea (12 October 2012)
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