Carrier Strike Group Seven Carrier Strike Group Seven ( CSG - 7 or CARSTRKGRU 7 ) was a U . S . Navy carrier strike group active from October 2004 until 30 December 2011 . The strike group ' s antecendants included two previous aircraft carrier formations , Carrier Division Seven and Carrier Group Seven . Its heritage thus includes the Second World War , the Vietnam War , and the Cold War , as well as the first and the second Persian Gulf wars , encompassing a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf . At the time of its disestablishment , the group consisted of the aircraft carrier , Carrier Air Wing Fourteen , the guided - missile cruiser , and the destroyers and frigates assigned to Destroyer Squadron 7 . The group was based at Naval Air Station North Island , California . Historical sketch 1944 - 2004 . Carrier Strike Group Seven traced its lineage back to Night Carrier Division Seven , the U . S . Navy ' s first and only aircraft carrier formation exclusively dedicated to night air operations . Established on 19 December 1944 , its aircraft carriers provided night air combat patrols for the U . S . Pacific Fleet ' s Fast Carrier Task Force during World War Two . Night Carrier Division Seven participated in the Philippine and Okinawa campaigns as well as carrier air raids against the Japanese home islands . According to Clark G . Reynolds ' " The Fast Carrier " and Edward P Stafford ' s " Big E " , the " Enterprise " and " Saratoga " operated very briefly off Okinawa in February 1945 until " Saratoga " was detached to cover the escort carrier and amphibious force . Initially , Night Carrier Division Seven operated as a separate carrier task group within Task Force 38 and operated only at night . When arrived , it was integrated into an existing task group , and the commander of Night Carrier Division Seven directed the night operations within that task group . Carrier Division Seven was re - established at Naval Air Station Alameda , California , on 22 March 1956 . The group commander and staff first deployed to the Western Pacific Ocean onboard in 1957 . USS " Coral Sea , " fresh from refit , arrived at Alameda on 1 April 1960 and was assigned to Carrier Division Seven . During the Vietnam War , division aircraft carriers operated as part of Task Force 77 from Yankee Station and Dixie Station . During its third Vietnam combat deployment , the implemented a new anti - MiG combat patrol plan developed by the Carrier Division Seven staff . Other aircraft carriers assigned to the division included , , , , , and . On 13 September 1962 , Rear Admiral Ralph L . Shifley , Commander , Carrier Division Seven , embarked aboard for her first Pacific deployment . In January 1963 , the division conducted the major Pacific Fleet exercise ' Red Wheel . ' On April 6 , 1964 , Rear Admiral William F . Bringle assumed command of Carrier Division Seven . In addition to commanding Carrier Division Seven , Admiral Bringle served as Commander Task Group 77 . 6 , during the period of March 29 , to June 29 , 1965 and as Commander Task Force 77 from May 28 , to June 27 , 1965 . Carrier Division Seven was re - designated as Carrier Group Seven on 30 June 1973 , and in 1978 , was homeported at Alameda as part of Commander , Naval Air Forces , Pacific Fleet ( COMNAVAIRPAC ) . By 1984 , as always part of COMNAVAIRPAC , the staff had moved to NAS North Island and controlled . On 2 July 1985 , a group change of command ceremony was held on " Kitty Hawk " ' s flight deck , and Read Admiral Stan Arthur hauled down his flag . Rear Admiral D . M . Brooks then took command of the group , with his flag in " Kitty Hawk " . On 24 July 1985 , " Kitty Hawk " , with Rear Admiral Brooks , Commander Destroyer Squadron 13 , and Carrier Air Wing 9 embarked , departed San Diego to commence its fifteenth Western Pacific deployment . " Kitty Hawk " spent two days in the Southern California Operating Area on 25 – 26 July to conduct an abbreviated Operational Readiness Exercise which included AAW defense , long - range conventional strikes and a 39 - hour ASW exercise . The group commenced TRANSITEX 85 - 14 en route to Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines on 27 July . " Kitty Hawk " conducted Exercise Busy Observer , with USAF B - 52s simulating Soviet Tupolev Tu - 95 Bear D aircraft on 29 July . An Encounter Exercise was held with the USS NEW JERSEY Surface Action Group on 1 August and then Carrier Air Wing Nine participated in COPE CANINE 85 - 02 , a Hawaiian air defence exercise , on 2 – 3 August . USS " Pintado " then practiced anti - submarine warfare with the group on 3 – 4 August . On 9 – 10 August an ENCOUNTEREX / INCHOPEX was held with USS " Constellation " ( Battle Group Delta ) as they returned from a Western Pacific deployment . On each of these days , " Kitty Hawk " was monitored by a pair of Soviet Tu - 95 aircraft . " Kitty Hawk " came under the operational control of the U . S . Seventh Fleet on 12 August and transited the Bashi Channel five days later . The ship the operated briefly in the South China Sea . During 1986 , " Kitty Hawk " was under the group ' s control from January to 28 June 1986 , and then was transferred to Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 for later work ups , which included READIEX 87 - 1 . In 1987 , the group controlled " Kitty Hawk " , which was in the process of shifting to the Atlantic Fleet , and . In 1990 - 91 , the group saw action during the First Gulf War , and later made several Middle East deployments in which its aircraft took part in Operation Southern Watch . Rear Admiral Thomas A . Mercer commanded the group ( aboard " Ranger " , " Midway " , and " Nimitz " ) before becoming Commander , Naval Forces Philippines . From the summer of 1992 , the guided - missile cruisers , , , , and ; Destroyer Squadron 23 ; Carrier Air Wing Nine ; and the carrier were assigned as permanent units of the group . However the group did not deploy again until 1993 . Carrier Group Seven , led by Rear Admiral Lyle Bien aboard " Nimitz " , crossed the Pacific Ocean from 2 – 20 December 1995 headed for Hong Kong . Early the next year , as part of the U . S . response to the developing Third Taiwan Straits Crisis , the group transited at high speed from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea . As of 11 March 1996 " Nimitz " was taking part in Operation Southern Watch in the Gulf , but a week later the carrier was in the Indian Ocean , en route to South China Sea . Accompanying Nimitz were , USS Callaghan ( DD 994 ) , USS Oldendorf ( DD 972 ) , , USS Willamette ( AO 180 ) , USS Shasta ( AE 33 ) and . Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 9 were embarked aboard Nimitz . The Nimitz and six additional ships arrived near Taiwan before the 23 March 1996 presidential election . The " Nimitz " battle group received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations , formally for the period 13 December 1995 to 3 May 1996 . Later in 1996 , Rear Admiral John B . Nathman commanded Carrier Group Seven , the " Nimitz " Carrier Strike Group and Battle Force FIFTY in the Persian Gulf . On 26 February 1998 , Carrier Group Seven departed Naval Station Norfolk , the commander and staff embarked aboard the , which was making her maiden deployment . The group consisted of the carrier " Stennis " ; Carrier Air Wing Seven ; the cruiser ; the destroyers and ; the destroyer ; the attack submarines and ; and the fast combat support ship . On 12 November 2001 , two months ahead of schedule , the group left for an accelerated Middle East deployment , and became involved in the War in Afghanistan . The carrier strike group consisted of the carrier " Stennis " ; Carrier Air Wing Nine ; the cruisers and ; destroyers and ; the guided - missile frigate ; the submarines and ; and the fast combat support ship . The group later saw action in Operation Anaconda and the Second Gulf War . From June 2002 to January 2003 , the " Stennis " underwent a seven - month refit . On 15 November 2003 , Rear Admiral Matt Moffit turned over command of the group to Rear Admiral Patrick M . Walsh . On 21 November 2003 , the group completed a 26 - day Composite Training Unit Exercise . Since 1956 , aircraft carriers assigned to the group and division not already mentioned have included , , , , , , and . 2004 – 2006 operations . In May 2004 , the battle group deployed for the Western Pacific . During the deployment , the group consisted of the cruiser " Lake Champlain , " the replenishment ship " Rainier " , the frigate " Ford " , the destroyer " Howard " , and the submarine " Salt Lake City . " During the deployment , the group took part in exercises Northern Edge 2004 , JASEX 2004 , and RIMPAC 2004 . Also in 2004 the group provided humanitarian relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake . Carrier Group Seven was re - designated as Carrier Strike Group Seven on 1 October 2004 . Rear Admiral Michael H . Miller took command of the group on 15 April 2005 . The aircraft carrier became the new group flagship in 2005 after the " John C . Stennis " changed its homeport . On 17 October 2005 , the group departed Naval Base San Diego , California to began its pre - deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise . The exercise was designed to train the whole carrier strike group to function as one , and consisted of two distinct phases evaluated by Commander , Strike Force Training Pacific . In addition to Carrier Strike Group Seven , several Canadian Navy ships also participated in the exercise , including the destroyer ; the frigates , , and ; and the replenishment tanker . On 6 December 2005 , the group departed San Diego for its final predeployment exercise , Joint Task Force Exercise 06 - 2 ( JTFEX 06 - 2 ) off the coast of southern California . A JTFEX is a battle force exercise designed to test the capabilities of carrier strike groups operating with multi - national forces . The exercise was completed on 17 December 2005 . During this exercise , later reports indicate the leased Swedish AIP attack submarine HSwMS " Gotland " managed to penetrate the defences of the group and ' sink ' the " Ronald Reagan " . The group deployed to the Middle East on 4 January 2006 . Escorts for the deployment included " Lake Champlain , " " McCampbell , " " Paul Hamilton , " and " Decatur " , accompanied by " Rainier . " Also part of the group for the deployment was United States Navy EOD Unit 11 , Det . 15 . Carrier Air Wing Fourteen included strike fighter squadrons VFA - 22 , VFA - 25 , VFA - 113 , VFA - 115 , tactical electronic warfare squadron VAQ - 139 , airborne early warning squadron VAW - 113 , helicopter squadron HS - 4 , and a detachment from logistics unit VRC - 30 . Off Hawaii , the group completed a four - day anti - submarine warfare exercise on 12 January 2006 . During the exercise , an improved sonar system installed in both participating destroyers was used for the first time . The group entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet area on 18 February 2006 , and fleet commander Vice Admiral Patrick M . Walsh visited " Reagan " on 27 February 2006 . Carrier Strike Group Seven completed operations with the Fifth Fleet on 29 May 2006 . During the deployment , Carrier Air Wing Fourteen flew about 2940 sorties over Iraq and Afghanistan . The group then participated in Valiant Shield 2006 , a major U . S . Pacific Command joint exercise . Valiant Shield , held near Guam from 19 – 23 June 2006 , involved three carrier strike groups : Carrier Strike Group Five , Carrier Strike Group Seven , and Carrier Strike Group Nine . On 9 November 2006 , Carrier Strike Group Seven departed San Diego to sustain multi - ship warfare skills through carrying out Joint Task Force Exercise 07 - 1 ( JTFEX 07 - 1 ) . During the exercise , between 12 – 16 November 2006 , Carrier Strike Group Seven combined with Carrier Strike Group Three , to form Carrier Task Force 150 under the overall command of Rear Admiral Kevin Quinn , Commander , Carrier Strike Group Three . This was the first time the two groups had operated together . JTFEX 07 - 1 was not a normal pre - deployment exercise ; it aimed to sustain multi - ship warfighting skills in the event either strike group had to make an unexpected deployment . To maintain all the skills necessary to fight the entire two - carrier group together , the exercise tested individual ships ( in general quarters and usage of weapons ) , the two carrier air wings , and the ships and aircraft of the strike group ( s ) fighting as a team . With the two carrier air wings operating together , the normal 12 - hour cycle of flight operations could be doubled to a continuous 24 - hour cycle . Surface warships operating with CTF - 150 practiced the full spectrum of surface warfare scenarios . Led by the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21 ( DESRON - 21 ) acting as CTF - 150 ’ s Sea Combat Commander ( SCC ) , the surface warships conducted sustained operations in maritime interdiction operations ( MIO ) , anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) , anti - surface warfare ( ASUW ) , and mine warfare ( MW ) . ASW continued to be the top war - fighting priority . 2007 – 2009 operations . On 25 January 2007 Rear Admiral Charles W . Martoglio relieved Rear Admiral Miller , and commanded the group until 16 November 2007 , when he was relieved himself by Rear Admiral James P . Wisecup . Following Wisecup , Rear Admiral Scott P . Hebner held command from 27 October 2008 to 27 October 2009 . On 27 January 2007 , the group departed from San Diego for its Western Pacific surge deployment . The group operated in the western Pacific while Carrier Strike Group Five ' s flagship , , began maintenance in Yokosuka , Japan . Between 16 – 18 March 2007 , the group took part in a passing exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force in the Philippine Sea . " Ronald Reagan " also conducted a fueling at sea with each of the four JMSDF ships . On 25 March 2007 , the group began its involvement in Exercise RSOI / Foal Eagle 2007 , a seven - day combined / joint exercise conducted annually involving forces from both the United States and the Republic of Korea . On 7 April 2007 , " Reagan " concluded its three - day munitions offload to the Military Sealift Command ammunition ship , signifying the end of its Seventh Fleet deployment . The group returned to North Island on 20 April 2007 . Amongst the escorts for the deployment were , , and . Following the group ' s return in April 2007 , " Ronald Reagan " entered a six - month , $ 150 - million refit . On 31 October 2007 , " Ronald Reagan " returned to North Island , following two days of sea trials to evaluate its material readiness to rejoin the fleet . On 9 November 2007 , " Reagan " returned to Naval Air Station North Island , California , after completing its flight deck certification . On 16 November 2007 , Rear Admiral James P . Wisecup relieved Rear Admiral Charles W . Martoglio as group commander . On 27 November 2007 , the left San Diego to carry out their Tailored Ship ' s Training Assessment , designed to prepare the ship and embarked air wing for combat operations . Joining the " Reagan " and CVW - 14 were the guided - missile cruiser ; the guided - missile destroyers and ; and the guided - missile frigate . During the exercises , during the early morning hours of 15 December 2007 , " Ronald Reagan " responded to a medical emergency aboard the Bermuda - flagged cruise ship " Dawn Princess " off the coast of southern Baja California , Mexico . Two HH - 60 helicopters from HS - 2 were dispatched to carry out an emergency medical evacuation of a 14 - year - old American girl back to the carrier . Once aboard the " Reagan " ( " pictured " ) , an emergency appendectomy was performed by the ship ' s medical department . The " Reagan " returned to NAS San Diego on 18 December 2007 , having achieved an outstanding score during the workup . On 17 March 2008 , the group departed NAS North Island , to conduct its Composite Training Unit Exercise . The exercise was designed to test the strike group ' s ability to operate in complex , hostile environments as a single unit , and was evaluated by Commander , Strike Force Training Pacific . On 7 April 2008 , the group returned to its home base of NAS North Island . Four days later , on 11 April 2008 , the group left port again to begin Joint Task Force Exercise 08 - 5 . Joining the " Reagan " and CVW - 14 were the guided - missile cruiser " Chancellorsville " ; the guided - missile destroyers " Gridley " ( " pictured " ) , " Howard " , and ; and the guided - missile frigate " Thach " . The exercise was the final preparative step for the 2008 deployment . On 22 April 2008 , the group returned to base . On 19 May 2008 , the group departed from NAS North Island for its 2008 Western Pacific / Middle East deployment . Escorts for the deployment included , , , and . On 27 May 2008 , the group began an undersea warfare exercise in the waters off Hawaii which included two attack submarines . The group cut short its port visit to Hong Kong and was ordered to provide humanitarian assistance for the island of Panay in the Philippines , in the aftermath of Typhoon Fengshen . The group ' s helicopters made 19 relief sorties to deliver food and bottled water to areas most affected by Typhoon Fengshen , and C - 2 Greyhounds from the " Reagan " flew in additional supplies . In addition to the relief flights , a four - man engineering team from the " Ronald Reagan " engineers repaired Iloilo City ' s hospital generators damaged by the floods . After bringing a mud - damaged fuel pump aboard the ship for repair , the team returned to Iloilo City ' s Barotac Viejo Hospital and restored electrical power . On 3 July 2008 , the group departed the Sulu Sea and Panay . During its relief mission , the strike group flew 332 sorties over eight consecutive days delivering more than 235 , 000 kg of fresh water , rice , and medical supplies to typhoon victims in Panay . Soon afterwards , was detached to take part on the fourth annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism ( SEACAT ) exercise which began in Singapore on 18 August 2008 . The group then participated in Exercise Malabar 2008 with the Indian Navy from 20 – 24 October 2008 . The Arabian Sea exercise involved surface , air and sub - surface training . On 28 August 2008 , the group relieved Carrier Strike Group Nine and launched its first sorties supporting U . S . and coalition ground forces of the International Security Assistance Force . A total of more than 1 , 150 ground support sorties were flown during the deployment . Meanwhile , " Decatur " and " Thach " joined Combined Task Force 152 operating in the Persian Gulf , while the guided - missile destroyers " Gridley " and " Howard " patrolled the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 150 . On 28 May 2009 , the group departed San Diego , California , to begin its 2009 Western Pacific / Middle East deployment . The group entered the U . S . Seventh Fleet ' s area on 9 June 2009 . During the deployment , Carrier Air Wing Fourteen flew more than 1 , 600 sorties supporting troops in Afghanistan . The destroyers " Decatur " , " Howard " , and " Gridley " , and the frigate " Thach " , supported maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf , Arabian Sea , Gulf of Oman , Gulf of Aden , and Red Sea . For example , during July 2009 , the " Thatch " was assigned by Commander , Task Group Iraqi Maritime ( CTG - IM ) to serve as a picket ship patrolling the Al Basrah Oil Terminal in the northern Persian Gulf . On 18 September 2009 , Rear Admiral Thomas S . Rowden relieved Rear Admiral Hebner as strike group commander . The group returned to its home base at NAS North Island on 31 October 2009 . 2010 operations . In late 2009 a six - month maintenance period on the began at NAS North Island . Ship refurbishments ranged from hi - tech combat systems and firefighting equipment to improved ship ' s laundry services and living spaces . On 18 May 2010 , " Ronald Reagan " departed NAS North Island for sea trials . The " Reagan " returned after the sea trials to NAS North Island on 19 May 2010 . " Reagan " conducted flight deck certification from 2 June 2010 . On 28 June 2010 , " Ronald Reagan " arrived in Pearl Harbor to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific ( RIMPAC ) 2010 . " Ronald Reagan " was the only aircraft carrier to participate ( " pictured " ) . During the in - port phase of RIMPAC , officers and crew of the 14 participating navies interacted in receptions , meetings , and athletic events . At sea such as live fire gunnery and missile exercises ; maritime interdiction and vessel boardings , and anti - surface warfare , undersea warfare , and air defense training serials took place followed by scenario exercises in Phase III . During RIMPAC 2010 , naval personnel from Singapore , Japan , Australia , Chile , Peru , and Colombia directed combat exercises while aboard the " Reagan " . They managed anti - submarine warfare and surface warfare for the group and the entire RIMPAC force . Also , " Reagan " conducted a live RIM - 116 Rolling Airframe Missile launch , the first since 2007 . On 30 July 2010 , RIMPAC 2010 ended with a Pearl Harbor press conference . A reception for over 1 , 500 participants , distinguished visitors and special guests was held in the " Reagan " ' s hangar bay . On 8 August 2010 , she returned to her homeport after a nearly two - month underway period . On 18 October 2010 " Ronald Reagan " departed for its Composite Training Unit Exercise . Over the next three weeks , flight operations were conducted nearly continuously under simulated combat conditions . " Ronald Reagan " also simulated a straits transit with four ships from the strike group , participated in three opposed replenishments at sea , a vertical replenishment , and ran many general quarters and man overboard drills . On 9 November 2010 , the " Reagan " was diverted to provide assistance to the disabled cruise ship " Carnival Splendor " ( " pictured " ) . On 14 November , the " Ronald Reagan " and its embarked carrier air wing completed its COMPTUEX successfully , and it returned to port on 17 December 2010 . 2011 deployment . In February 2011 , Rear Admiral Robert P . Girrier took command of the group . On 2 February 2011 , the group departed NAS North Island for its Joint Task Force Exercise final deployment preparations . On 5 March 2011 the group completed the JTFEX , and began its 2011 deployment . Carrier Strike Group Seven entered the U . S . Seventh Fleet area of responsibility ( AOR ) on 9 March 2011 . On 9 May 2011 , Carrier Strike Group Seven entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet ' s area of responsibility , and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen ( CVW - 14 ) launched its first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan ( OEF - A ) ( " pictured " ) . On 9 May 2011 , the group entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet area , and its air wing began to launch combat sorties against the Taliban and al - Qaeda in Afghanistan . U . S . Army liaison officers were embarked to coordinate with coalition ground troops . The carrier strike group launched over 900 air sorties supporting ground forces in Afghanistan . During a visit to the carrier " Ronald Reagan " on 15 June 2011 , Fifth Fleet commander Vice Admiral Mark I . Fox noted the contribution that strike group made : Carrier Strike Group Seven returned to its home base Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado , California , on 9 September 2011 , completing its 2011 WESTPAC deployment . A deployment highlight occurred on 18 April 2011 when Captain Kevin " Nix " Mannix made his 1 , 000th arrested landing when he landed his F / A - 18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 154 on the flight deck of the " Ronald Reagan " ( " pictured " ) . Captain Mannix was the deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 14 . Operation Tomodachi . In the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , Carrier Strike Group Seven was dispatched to take part in the U . S . military relief effort , Operation Tomodachi . It appears that the unplanned Japan disaster relief operations meant the carrier strike group ' s planned participation in Exercise Key Resolve / Foal Eagle 2011 in Korea was cancelled . A planned port call to Busan , in South Korea was cancelled , and the group was the first U . S . naval force to arrive . It arrived off the east coast of Honshu on 13 March 2011 and immediately began supporting relief operations . " Ronald Reagan " served as a platform for refueling Japan Self Defense Force and other helicopters involved in rescue and recovery efforts ashore ( " pictured " ) . " Chancellorsville " also began providing relief support while operating off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture . " Preble " provided more than 700 pounds of supplies to earthquake and tsunami survivors , and also used its embarked helicopters to survey the coastline . Approaching Sendai , Japan on 13 March 2011 , sensors aboard " Reagan " detected nuclear radiation . " Reagan " ' s nuclear - trained personnel established a Radiation Control Central in response . Ten days later , on 23 March 2011 , the " Reagan " conducted a fresh water washdown on its flight deck and embarked aircraft , to remove any traces of radioactive contamination . On 4 April 2011 , Carrier Strike Group Seven concluded its involvement in Operation Tomodachi after being thanked by Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and U . S . ambassador to Japan John Roos during a visit to the " Reagan " . Exercise Malabar 2011 . Because of its involvement in Operation Tomodachi , the group was able to participate in the U . S . / Indian Exercise Malabar 2011 ( " pictured " ) between 2 – 9 April 2011 . It was held east of the Luzon Strait , and east of Okinawa . U . S . naval units initially included guided - missile destroyers and ; the guided - missile frigate ; and a nuclear powered attack submarine . Indian naval units included the guided - missile destroyers , , and ; the corvette ; and the replenishment tanker " Jyoti " . A deployment highlight occurred on 18 April 2011 when Captain Kevin " Nix " Mannix made his 1 , 000th arrested landing when he landed his F / A - 18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 154 on the flight deck of the " Ronald Reagan " ( " pictured " ) . Captain Mannix was the deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 14 . Deactivation . On 1 August 2011 the Navy announced that Carrier Strike Group Seven was scheduled for deactivation effective 30 December 2011 . Following the de - activation of Carrier Strike Group Seven , " Ronald Reagan " was re - assigned as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Nine . At the time of its disestablishment in 2011 , Carrier Strike Group Seven was composed of the following units : In total , aircraft carriers assigned to the formation made a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf .