Carrier strike group A carrier strike group ( CSG ) is an operational formation of the United States Navy . It is composed of roughly 7 , 500 personnel , an aircraft carrier , at least one cruiser , a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyer s and / or frigate s , and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft . A carrier strike group also , on occasion , includes submarine s , attached logistics ships and a supply ship . The carrier strike group commander operationally reports to the commander of the numbered fleet who is operationally responsible for the area of waters the carrier strike group is operating in . Carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U . S . power projection capability . Previously referred to as Carrier Battle Group s ( a term still used by other nations ) , they are often referred to by the carrier they are associated with ( e . g . , " Enterprise " Strike Group ) . There are currently 11 carrier strike groups : five based on the West Coast , five based on the East Coast , and one forward - deployed to NS Yokosuka , Japan . The carrier strike group is a flexible naval force that can operate in confined waters or in the open ocean , during day and night , in all weather conditions . The principal role of the carrier and its air wing within the carrier strike group is to provide the primary offensive firepower , while the other ships provide defense and support . These roles are not exclusive , however . Other ships in the strike group sometimes undertake offensive operations ( launching cruise missile s , for instance ) and the carrier ' s air wing contributes to the strike group ' s defense ( through combat air patrols and airborne anti - submarine efforts ) . Thus , from a command and control perspective , carrier strike groups are combat organized by mission rather than by platform . History . The development of U . S . Navy carrier battle group can be traced to the 1920s and was initially based on previous experience grouping battleship s and other major surface combatants . In World War II , administratively , aircraft carriers were assigned to carrier divisions ( CARDIVs ) . Operationally they were assigned to Task Forces , of which Task Force 11 , Task Force 16 and Task Force 17 perhaps gained the most fame for their roles in the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway . The single carrier battle group was born with the military draw down that followed World War II . At some point between 1969 and 1975 , Carrier Divisions were redesignated Carrier Groups . Throughout the 1990s , the U . S . Navy ' s aircraft carrier groups were officially referred to as Carrier Battle Groups ( CVBGs ) , and were commanded by either flag officers called Cruiser - Destroyer Group ( CRUDESGRU ) or Carrier Group ( CARGRU ) commanders . In the Summer of 1992 , the U . S . Navy instituted a concept which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure . Each of the Navy ' s 12 existing carrier battle groups consisted of an aircraft carrier ; an embarked carrier air wing ; cruisers , destroyer , and frigate units ; and two nuclear - powered attack submarines . On 1 October 2004 , carrier groups and cruiser - destroyer groups were redesignated carrier strike groups . The change in nomenclature from ' Battle ' to ' Strike ' appears to have been connected with an increasing emphasis on projecting air power ashore ; the change acknowledged that battles at sea on the Battle of Midway model were becoming more unlikely . Missions . Carrier strike groups are tasked to accomplish a variety of wartime missions , as well as a wide variety of functions in situations short of war . The peacetime mission is to conduct forward presence operations , to help shape the strategic environment , deter conflict , build interoperability with allies , and respond to crises when necessary . The U . S . Navy provides a regular rotation of strike groups overseas , typically for six - eight months , based on the needs of Unified Combatant Command s that request strike group capabilities in their respective area of responsibility ( AOR ) . The ships in the group often “ disaggregate ” from the carrier , performing missions hundreds or even thousands of miles away . The missions of the carrier strike groups include : Typical CSG composition . CSGs are not restricted to a specific composition and can be modified depending on expected threats , roles , or missions expected during a deployment , and one may be different from another . The Navy states that “ there really is no real definition of a strike group . Strike groups are formed and disestablished on an as needed basis , and one may be different from another . However , they all are similar types of ships . ” A U . S . Navy carrier strike group typically includes : While the carrier strike group is the various components ' operational superior , administratively the ships and the carrier air wing are assigned to different U . S . Navy type commands ( TYCOMs ) . Aircraft carriers and Carrier Air Wing s are under the administrative control of Commander , Naval Air Force U . S . Atlantic Fleet , or Commander , Naval Air Forces , Pacific . Escorts , including guided - missile cruisers and a CSG ' s destroyer squadron are under the administrative control of Commander , Naval Surface Forces Atlantic or Commander , Naval Surface Forces , Pacific . Composite Warfare Command structure . The Strike Group comprises several commands , all which reside under the authority of the Commander of the CSG ( CCSG or COMCARSTRKGRU ) . The CCSG is typically a 1 - star rear admiral ( lower half ) , who often promotes to 2 - stars while in the job . He is the Immediate Superior in Command ( ISIC ) to the carrier , air wing , destroyer squadron , and cruiser commanding officers assigned to the strike group . As such , he is responsible for unit - level training , integrated training , and readiness for assigned ships and units , as well as maintaining administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the group . In battle , the CCSG is also known as the Composite Warfare Commander ( CWC ) who acts as the central command authority for the entire strike group . The CWC designates subordinate warfare commanders for various missions : SUWC and USWC responsibilities are often combined into Sea Combat Commander ( SCC ) , usually delegated to the DESRON commander . He performs these duties from aboard the carrier due to its superior Command - Control - Communications - Computers and Intelligence ( C4I ) capabilities . Supporting the CWC and his warfare commanders are coordinators who manage force sensors and assets within the strike group . List of Carrier Strike Groups . The Navy maintains 11 carrier strike groups , 10 of which are based in the United States and one that is permanently homeported in Japan . They were all redesignations of former Carrier Groups ( CarGrus ) and Cruiser - Destroyer Groups ( CCDGs ) . The Fleet Response Plan requires that six CSGs be deployed or ready for deployment within 30 days at any given time , while two additional groups must be ready for deployment within 90 days . The Navy typically keeps at least one CSG in the U . S . Fifth Fleet in Southwest Asia and one in the U . S . Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific at all times . CSGs operate in the U . S . Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean , and U . S . Fourth Fleet around the South American continent as they transit to from other areas . CSG Commanders report to their respective numbered - fleet commander , depending on where they are operating . When not deployed overseas west coast CSGs report to U . S . Third Fleet . Refueling and Complex Overhaul . Currently does not have an embarked CSG since the carrier is currently going through its Refueling and Complex Overhaul ( RCOH ) which is expected to be completed by August 2013 . " Theodore Roosevelt " was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Twelve subsequent to deactivation on 1 December 2012 . List of Active CSG . On 1 August 2011 , the U . S . Navy announced that Carrier Strike Group Nine will change its permanent duty station from Naval Station Everett to Naval Base San Diego effective 14 December 2012 . List of Former CSG . Carrier Strike Group Four was redesignated alongside the other groups in 2004 , but has since been redesignated Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic . Carrier Strike Group Six was established from Carrier Group Six with USS John F . Kennedy ( CV - 67 ) at Naval Station Mayport in 2004 , but seems to have since been disestablished . Carrier Strike Group Fifteen has been disestablished , and its flagship , the carrier , was re - assigned to Carrier Strike Group Seven . The deactivation of Carrier Strike Group Seven effective 30 December 2011 reflects the U . S . Navy ' s future budgetary reductions and the reduced availability of its operational carrier fleet and carrier air wings . The aircraft carrier will be re - assigned as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Nine following the de - activation of Carrier Strike Group Seven .