Carrier Strike Group Three Carrier Strike Group Three ( CSG - 3 or CARSTRKGRU 3 ) is one of five U . S . Navy carrier strike group s currently assigned to the U . S . Pacific Fleet . Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore . The aircraft carrier is the strike group ' s current flagship , and as of 2012 , other units assigned to Carrier Strike Group Three include Carrier Air Wing Nine ; the guided - missile cruisers and ; and the ships of Destroyer Squadron 21 , the guided - missile destroyers , , , and . The group traces its history to the establishment of Carrier Division 3 in 1940 or earlier . In 1941 the division took part in the Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic . The division later operated off Korea and Vietnam . It took part in many exercises during the Cold War and during the initial months of Operation Desert Shield in 1990 served as the U . S . Navy ' s representative in the Riyadh headquarters of U . S . Central Command . Carrier Group Three formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 . On 18 December 2011 , aircraft from Carrier Strike Group Three flew the final carrier - based air mission over Iraq , effectively ending U . S . naval support for . Historical background . Carrier Division Three . The aircraft carrier was assigned to Carrier Division Three from November 1940 . In April 1941 a Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol was established under Admiral A . B . Cook , based at Bermuda . It comprised Carrier Division Three , the cruisers and , and Destroyer Squadron 11 . On 7 December 1941 , in the Atlantic Fleet , Carrier Division Three comprises " Wasp " and under Rear Admiral A . B . Cook . Commander Carrier Division Three served as Commander Task Force 77 during the Korean War . In 1966 , Carrier Division Three was embarked aboard USS " Enterprise " flying missions in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam . Carrier Group Three . On 30 June 1973 , Carrier Division Three was redesignated Carrier Group Three . U . S . 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 returning home , the cycle begins once more . 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 . From 1989 – 91 , USS " Carl Vinson " served as the flagship for Carrier Group Three . During this period , Carrier Group Three was one of three battle groups that took part in PACEX ' 89 . In August 1990 , Commander , U . S . Seventh Fleet was deployed to Bahrain in order to serve as Commander , U . S . Naval Forces Central Command ( ComUSNAVCENT ) following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait . Since ComUSNAVCENT operated from onboard ship , he established NAVCENT - Riyadh as a staff organization to provide continuous Navy representation at United States Central Command headquarters . This mission was assigned initially to Commander , Carrier Group Three . During succeeding months , the NAVCENT - Riyadh staff was augmented substantially but remained small , relative to the United States Army Central and CENTAF staffs . In November , the NAVCENT - Riyadh command was transferred from COMCARGRU 3 to Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 . This change resulted in the Navy flag officer at NAVCENT Riyadh ' s remaining relatively junior to other Service representatives , particularly the Air Force . In the Summer of 1992 , the U . S . Navy began to attempt to affiliate certain escorts more permanently with the carriers they escorted . Each of the Navy ' s 12 existing carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier ; an embarked carrier air wing ; cruisers , destroyers , and frigates ; and two nuclear - powered attack submarines . From June 1993 , Commander Carrier Group Three had his flag aboard " Abraham Lincoln " . 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 . On 13 May 1997 Carrier Air Wing Eleven was reassigned to Commander , Carrier Group Three and the USS " Carl Vinson " . Carrier Group Three formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 . At the time the group comprised , Destroyer Squadron 9 and Carrier Air Wing Eleven . Commander , Carrier Group Three ( Rear Admiral Thomas E . Zelibor ) arrived in the Arabian Sea on 12 September 2001 and was subsequently designated Commander Task Force 50 ( CTF 50 ) , commanding multiple Carrier Strike Groups and coalition forces . The Task Force conducted strikes against Al Quida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan . Task Force 50 comprised over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers , stretching over 800 nautical miles . Rear Admiral Evan M . Chanik was the last commander of Carrier 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 . On 1 October 2004 , Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three . Command structure . Commander Carrier Strike Group Three ( COMCARSTRKGRU 3 or CCSG 3 ) is responsible for unit - level training , integrated training , and material readiness for the ships and aviation squadrons assigned to the group . When it is not deployed , Carrier Strike Group Three comes under the authority of the Commander , U . S . Third Fleet which directs the group ' s pre - deployment training and certifications including its Composite Training Unit Exercise s . When deployed beyond U . S . coastal waters , Carrier Strike Group Eleven comes under the command authority of the numbered fleet commander in the area in which it is operating – either Third , Fourth , Fifth , Sixth , or Seventh Fleets . When deployed in this fashion , the group utilizes a task force or task group designator , for example , Task Group 50 . 1 in the Fifth Fleet area . Group commanders since 2004 have included : Operational history . 2005 deployment . On 17 January 2005 , " Carl Vinson " departed Bremerton , Washington , with Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked for a six - month deployment , which included several months in the Persian Gulf supporting U . S . forces fighting the War in Iraq . On 30 January 2005 , the group departed San Diego following the completion of its 22 - day pre - deployment Joint Task Force Exercise . In total , the group launched more than 6 , 500 sorties , totaling more than 20 , 000 flight hours , in support of Multi - National Force - Iraq troops and various maritime interdiction operations , including 2 , 600 flight hours logged by its four F / A - 18 strike - fighter squadrons . Destroyer Squadron 31 conducted more than 80 boardings in conjunction with British , Italian , Australian , Canadian and regional forces . On 11 June 2005 , rendered assistance in response to a distress call from the Iranian fishing dhow " Henif " . A boat transported an ill Iranian fisherman to " Mustin " , where he was subsequently transferred to " Vinson " by helicopter . Once aboard " Vinson " , the fisherman was taken to the ship ’ s infirmary where he underwent tests . The fisherman was apparently suffering from a severe allergic reaction . He was treated , and after a short recovery period , he was returned to the " Henif " via one of the carrier ’ s boats . The group completed its 2005 deployment at Naval Station Norfolk on 31 July 2005 . " Vinson " then began a scheduled 36 - month Refueling and Complex Overhaul , prior to becoming flagship for Carrier Strike Group One . The new group flagship , the aircraft carrier , changed its homeport to Bremerton in January 2005 , and once there , underwent an 11 - month Docking Planned Incremental Availability overhaul period . Reflecting the reduced responsibilities while the ships were undergoing overhauls , Rear Admiral Clingan was succeeded by Captain Scott A . Berg in September 2005 as Commander Carrier Strike Group Three . Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn subsequently relieved Captain Berg in November 2005 . 2007 deployment . " Stennis " departed from its homeport in Bremerton , Washington , on 16 January 2007 , spent one day in port on - loading Carrier Air Wing Nine onto the carrier , and Carrier Strike Group Three departed San Diego on 20 January 2006 for its 2007 deployment . Carrier Air Wing Nine flew more than 7 , 900 sorties providing more than 22 , 000 flight hours and dropping nearly 90 , 000 pounds of ordnance in support of the International Security Assistance Force operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq . The guided - missile destroyers and were primarily responsible for carrying out Maritime Security Operations , Maritime Interdiction Operations , and Visit , Board , Search and Seizure operations for the strike group during the deployment . On 23 May 2007 , " Stennis " , along with eight other warships including the aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship , passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf " ( pictured ) " . US Navy officials said it was the largest such move of warships since 2003 . The group subsequently participated in Expeditionary Strike Force ( ESF ) training while simultaneously providing close - air support to coalition ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan . The ESF training brought together Carrier Strike Group Three , the Carrier Strike Group Eleven led by " Nimitz " , and " Bonhomme Richard " Expeditionary Strike Group to test their ability to plan and conduct multi - task force operations across a broad spectrum of naval disciplines . Thereafter , the group participated in Exercise Valiant Shield off the coast of Guam between 7 – 14 August 2007 . The joint military exercise brought together more than 30 ships , including carrier strike groups led by the and ; 280 aircraft ; and more than 20 , 000 service members from the U . S . Navy , U . S . Air Force , U . S . Marine Corps , and U . S . Coast Guard . Valiant Shield 2007 tested the military ’ s ability to rapidly bring together joint forces in response to any regional contingency . Valiant Shield was the last operational portion of the group ' s 2007 deployment . The group entered Pearl Harbor on 20 August 2007 . The strike group returned to San Diego on 27 August 2007 , and the carrier " John C . Stennis " returned to its homeport on 31 August 2007 . 2009 deployment . " John C . Stennis " departed Bremerton on 13 January 2009 , and the group departed Naval Air Station North Island on 17 January 2009 after embarking Carrier Air Wing Nine . Carrier Air Wing Nine flew more than 7250 sorties , consisting of approximately 12 , 747 flight hours with a sortie completion rate of 97 percent during its 2009 deployment . Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 ( HSM - 71 ) , a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine , was the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing " ( pictured ) " . The squadron flew more than 4 , 690 hours with a 95 percent sortie completion rate and earned the right to fly the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Pennant . The highlight for the squadron occurred during the undersea warfare exercise when HSM - 71 deployed multiple aircraft to practice engagements on U . S . and Japanese submarines . The squadron kept three helicopters aloft throughout the entire four - day exercise for a total of 222 flight hours and conducted 28 simulated attacks on two U . S . and two Japanese submarines . Carrier Strike Group Three participated in the Key Resolve / Foal Eagle 2009 exercises which began on 28 February 2009 . Key Resolve / Foal Eagle was held in the aftermath of the sinking of the ROK corvette " Cheonan " and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea . During the exercise , the aircraft carrier " Stennis " was overflown by two Russian Ilyushin Il - 38 maritime patrol aircraft on 16 March and two Tupolev Tu - 95 long - range bombers on 17 March . Both time the Russian aircraft were intercepted and escorted by F / A - 18 Hornets until the Russian aircraft left the exercise area . The strike group then split . Both " Kidd " and " Preble " returned to port on 16 June 2009 . " John C . Stennis " and " Antietam " sailed north to the Gulf of Alaska to participate in Operation Northern Edge , held between 15 – 26 June 2009 . " Stennis " returned to port on 10 July 2009 . 2011 – 2012 deployment . On 25 July 2011 , the aircraft carrier " John C . Stennis " departed from its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton , Washington . " Stennis " was subsequently joined by Carrier Air Wing Nine , Destroyer Squadron Twenty - one , and the guided - missile cruiser " Mobile Bay " . On 29 July 2011 , Carrier Strike Group Three departed from Naval Air Station San Diego near San Diego , California , for its 2011 – 2012 deployment . The first port - of - call for Carrier Strike Group Three was to have been Manila , the Philippines , but that port - call was cancelled because of Typhoon Mina . On 13 October 2011 , the guided - missile destroyer was directed to join Carrier Strike Group Five , led by the aircraft carrier , to provide humanitarian assistance / disaster relief to flood - ravaged Thailand . During the deployment , the strike group and Carrier Air Wing Nine launched a combined total of 13 , 389 sorties in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan . On 18 December 2011 , Carrier Strike Group Three flew the final carrier - based air sortie over Iraq , effectively ending U . S . naval support for Operation New Dawn . The final command - and - control mission for U . S . forces over Iraq was flown by an E - 2C Hawkeye ( " pictured " ) From Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 , catapulting off the carrier " Stennis " at 7 : 32 am and returning at 11 : 04 a . m , both local time . While operating with Combined Task Force 151 , on 13 December 2011 , the guided - missile destroyer disrupted a group of suspected pirates south of Yemen near the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor . At approximately 8 : 40 am local time , the merchant vessel M / V " Nordic Apollo " reported to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization of being fired upon by pirates in a skiff . At approximately 11 : 00 am , the M / V " Heather " , operating 30 nautical miles from " Nordic Apollo " , reported suspicious activity by a skiff . CTF - 151commander Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat , Pakistan Navy , ordered " Pinckney " to investigate . " Pinckney " got underway and launched its MH - 60R helicopter which located a suspicious skiff . Once under observation , the helicopter reported that the skiff had nine suspected pirates aboard , as well as several ladders , weapons and fuel containers that the suspected pirates attempted to cover up or throw overboard . As " Pinckney " closed , the skiff stopped and the suspected pirates threw their weapons overboard , which were identified as five AK - 47 rifles , one rocket propelled grenade ( RPG ) launcher . and three RPG rounds . " Pinckney " conduct a boarding using their visit , board , search and seizure ( VBSS ) team ( " pictured " ) , and once aboard , the VBSS team confirmed that there were nine suspected pirates , one grappling hook , 36 barrels of fuel , and 75 and 45 horsepower outboard engines . The VBSS team scuttled one outboard motor and left the skiff with enough fuel and water to return to shore . On 5 January 2012 , at approximately 12 : 30 p . m local time , an SH - 60S Seahawk helicopter from guided - missile destroyer detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Iranian - flagged fishing dhow " Al Molai " operating in the northern Arabian Sea . Simultaneously , the " Kidd " received a distress call was from the master of the " Al Molai " claiming to be held captive by pirates . The " Kidd " dispatched a visit , board , search and seizure team that boarded the " Al Molai " ( " pictured " ) and subsequently detained 15 suspected pirates who had been holding a 13 - member Iranian crew hostage for several weeks . The pirates did not resist the boarding , quickly surrendered , and were detained on the " Al Molai " by the " Kidd " boarding party until the next morning , 6 January 2012 , when they were transferred to the aircraft carrier " John C . Stennis " where the incident was reviewed for potential prosecution . According to the Iranian vessel ' s crew , the " Al Molai " had been pirated and used as a " mother ship " for pirate operations throughout the Persian Gulf during the preceding 40 – 45 days . The pirates forced the " Al Molai " crew to live in harsh conditions under the constant threat of violence with limited supplies and medical aid . The " Kidd " VSBB team provided the " Al Molai " crew with food , water , and medical care , and the " Al Molai " master thanked the VBSS team for their assistance . On 18 January 2012 , at 7 : 53 am local time , an MH - 60R Seahawk helicopter from the squadron HSM - 71 spotted the Iranian fishing vessel " Al Mamsoor " disabled in the Arabian Sea . The vessel was in a sinking condition , and the helicopter alerted the guided - missile drestroyer which rendered assistance . " Dewey " dispatched a visit , board , search and seizure ( VBSS ) team ( " pictured " ) which discovered that the " Al Mamsoor " was in a sinking condition for the previous three days . The VBSS team provided food , water , medical , and hygienic supplies to the Iranian mariners , and after confirming Iranian nationals ' safety , departed the scene . On 27 December 2011 , the carrier " John C . Stennis " concluded a four - day port visit to Jebel Ali , United Arab Emirates and transited through the Strait of Hormuz to the North Arabian Sea to provide combat air support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan . On 3 January 2012 , following the end of Velayat 90 , a 10 - day Iranian military exercise in international waters near the Strait of Hormuz , the Iranian Army chief of staff , General Ataollah Salehi , was quoted by the state news agency IRNA as warning the United States to not deploy the " Stennis " back to the Persian Gulf . This initiated a major dispute between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz . On 27 February 2012 , Carrier Strike Group Three completed its seven - month deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East , with the cruiser " Mobile Bay " and destroyers " Pinckney " , " Kidd " , " Dewey " , and " Wayne E . Meyer " returning to their homebase of Naval Base San Diego . " Stennis " stopped in San Diego before returning to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap , Washington , on 28 February 2012 . 2012 – 2013 deployment . 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 , Carrier Strike Group Three participated in joint operations with Carrier Strike Group Five in the Andaman Sea ( " pictured " ) . On 17 October 2012 , Carrier Strike Group Three entered the Fifth Fleet area , relieving the recently departed Carrier Strike Group Twelve while joining Carrier Strike Group Eight 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 , Carrier Strike Group Three concluded combat air support to Afghanistan , with its aircraft flying 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 re - assignment 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 . Shoemaker had previously commanded Carrier Strike Group Nine during its 2011 – 2012 deployment . On 6 February 2013 , the U . S . Department of Defense announced that the upcoming deployment of the carrier and the cruiser will be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration , leaving Carrier Strike Group Three as the only 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 and the French frigate Chevalier Paul " , to operate with Carrier Strike Group Three . Additionally , two destroyers from Carrier Strike Group Eight , the and , operated temporarily with Carrier Strike Group Three . In that capacity , on 2 March 2013 , the " Farragut " joined the guided - missile frigate 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 from Carrier Strike Group Eleven entered the Persian Gulf for operations with Carrier Strike Group Three . On 26 March 2013 , Carrier Strike Group Three departed the Fifth Fleet . During over five months of operations , the strike force ' s embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine flew a grand 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 this 2012 – 2013 deployment of Carrier Strike Group Three . On 29 April 2013 , the carrier " Vinson " and the cruiser " Mobile Bay " arrived at Naval Station San Diego , California , marking the end of the 2013 deployment of Carrier Strike Group Three . In total , the strike group steamed over and aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine flew 10 , 000 sorties totaling 30 , 400 flight hours during this eight - month - long deployment . 2013 – 2014 operations & upkeep . On 27 June 2013 , " John C . Stennis " began its scheduled Docking Planned Incremental Availability ( DPIA ) overhaul when it entered drydock the at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Bremerton , Washington .