Carrier Strike Group Eleven Carrier Strike Group Eleven , abbreviated CSG - 11 or CARSTRKGRU 11 , 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 late 2010 , other units assigned to Carrier Strike Group Eleven include Carrier Air Wing Eleven embarked on board the " Nimitz " , the guided - missile cruiser , and Destroyer Squadron 23 . Historical background . On 1 September 1961 , Rear Admiral Joseph C . Wylie became Commander Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla 9 , aboard . Admiral Wylie had arrived on board the " Oklahoma City " as Commander Cruiser Division 3 on 22 August 1961 , and merely changed titles in September without shifting flagship . As of 1 July 1969 , the " Oklahoma City " was part of Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla 9 at San Diego . The primary mission of Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla 9 during the Vietnam War era had been to ensure the effective employment of approximately 60 cruisers and destroyers in the United States Seventh Fleet . By January 1973 , with the end of hostilities in Vietnam , the flotilla had expended nearly 80 , 000 rounds in naval gunfire support missions . This offshore firepower , and the equally important role of search and rescue coordination , were vital parts of the extensive naval presence in the South China Sea . In 1973 , a major reorganization of the U . S . Navy ' s cruiser - destroyer force resulted in Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla 9 ' s re - designation as Cruiser Destroyer Group 5 ( CDG - 5 ) . Rear Admiral Gerald E . Thomas served as Commander Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 in 1974 - 76 . Then Captain Leon A . Edney served as Chief of Staff to the Commander Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 after 1976 . In 1978 Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 consisted of Destroyer Squadron 9 , Destroyer Squadron 21 , Destroyer Squadron 31 , and Destroyer Squadron 37 ( Naval Reserve Force ) . The headquarters and the three active squadrons were at San Diego while Destroyer Squadron 37 was at Seattle , WA . In the middle 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 . Instead of routinely changing the cruisers , destroyers , and frigates assigned to each carrier battle group , there was an attempt made 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 ; cruiser , destroyer , and frigate units ; and two nuclear - powered attack submarines . For details regarding this re - alignments as it pertained to Cruiser - Destroyer Group Five , see the chart below . On Aug . 1 , 1992 , " Kitty Hawk " was appointed as Commander , Naval Air Force Pacific ' s " ready carrier . " The ship embarked Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 ; Commander , Destroyer Squadron 17 and Carrier Air Wing 15 for three months of work - ups before deploying to the Western Pacific on November 3 , 1992 . While on deployment , Kitty Hawk spent nine days off the coast of Somalia supporting U . S . Marines and coalition forces involved in Operation Restore Hope . In response to increasing Iraqi violations of United Nations sanctions , the ship rushed to the Persian Gulf on December 27 , 1992 . Just 17 days later , Kitty Hawk led a joint , coalition offensive strike against designated targets in southern Iraq . On 15 July 1998 , Rear Admiral Daniel R . Bowler ( and his relief RADM Peter W . Marzluff ) , Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 , assumed operational control of " Nimitz " . " Kitty Hawk " had left the group by shifting her homeport to Yokosuka , Japan , arriving there on 11 August 1998 . In July 2000 , was transferred to Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 ( up to June 2000 it had been part of Carrier Group 5 ) . From 21 September 2001 to 13 December 2001 , following an overhaul , " Nimitz " sailed round Cape Horn to her new home port of NAS North Island . Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 and CVWR - 20 , the latter comprising VFA - 204 , VAW - 78 , VS - 22 , VRC - 30 , HC - 11 and HS - 75 , were aboard . Carrier Air Wing Eleven was reassigned to Cruiser - Destroyer Group Five and the " Nimitz " in January 2002 . Then Rear Admiral Samuel J . Locklear took command of CCDG - 5 / Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in 2002 , deploying to the Middle East in 2003 . On 1 October 2004 , Cruiser Destroyer Group 5 was re - designated Carrier Strike Group 11 . Command structure . Commander Carrier Strike Group Eleven exercises oversight of unit - level training , integrated training , and readiness for assigned ships and units , as well as maintains administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the strike group . The group ' s pre - deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise comes under the operational control of the U . S . Third Fleet . When deployed , the group comes under command of the numbered fleet in whose area it is operating ( Fourth , Fifth , Sixth , or Seventh ) . When deployed in this fashion , the group utilizes a task group designator , for example , Task Group 50 . 1 in the Fifth Fleet area . Guided - missile cruisers such as " Princeton " provide air defence during deployments . Group commanders since February 2004 have included : Operational history . 2005 deployment . From 11 – 24 March 2005 , the group conducted a pre - deployment Joint Task Force exercise off California . The group departed San Diego , California , on 7 May 2005 under the command of Rear Admiral Peter Daly . On 21 July 2005 in the Persian Gulf , USS " Princeton " ( " pictured " ) responded to a radio call from the Iranian dhow " Hamid " which needed engineering assistance . A team was dispatched to the " Hamid " where it was determined that the engine problem was due to corroded batteries that were low on power . The batteries were removed and brought back to " Princeton " for maintenance , cleaning , and recharging . " Princeton " was able to restore the power on board " Hamid " , restart the engines , and then provided medical assistance and fresh water . On 22 September 2005 , Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed the Persian Gulf after completing nine weeks of operations with the U . S . Fifth Fleet . During this period , 4 , 500 sorties totaling over 11 , 000 flight hours were flown by Carrier Air Wing Eleven , including over 1 , 100 sorties and 6 , 000 flight hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Carrier Strike Group Eleven returned home on 8 November 2005 . 2007 deployment . The group left San Diego on 2 April 2007 under the command of Rear Admiral John Blake . The group entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet area on 8 May 2007 and began conducting missions over Afghanistan three days later . The group joined Carrier Strike Group Three , led by the , and relieved Carrier Strike Group Eight , led by the , that was currently operating in the Persian Gulf . The arrival of the strike group ensured the maintenance of the then two - U . S . carrier presence in the region . " Nimitz " ' s escorts conducted maritime security operations . " Higgins " boarded ships of interest in the Persian Gulf , as well as informing three Iraqi dhows on coalition aims and objectives . The VBSS teams boarded three Iraqi tugs and four super - tankers , thereby safeguarding the merchants in the region by deterring piracy and smuggling . " Higgins " was the only ship in the strike group to conduct a boarding of a tanker suspected of oil smuggling . After a thorough six - hour boarding , the VBSS team was able to clear the tanker . The guided - missile destroyer " Pinckney " participated in a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy and three other U . S . Navy ships . The ships conducted air defense , anti - surface warfare , anti - submarine warfare , and VBSS operations in the compressed waters of the South China Sea , validating current tactics , techniques and procedures and identifying areas for further development . Carrier Strike Group Eleven joined Carrier Strike Group Five and Carrier Strike Group Three to participate in Exercise " Valiant Shield 2007 " , a joint U . S . exercise held off Guam . Carrier Strike Group Eleven subsequently joined the Carrier Strike Group Five and India ’ s aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal for the multilateral Exercise " Malabar 07 - 2 " ( " pictured " ) , an annual naval exercise involving India , Australia , Japan , and Singapore . The group arrived back at San Diego on 30 September 2007 . 2008 deployment . Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed from San Diego on 24 January 2008 . It was announced that the group would operate in the Western Pacific while the forward - based of Carrier Strike Group Eight underwent scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka , Japan . The strike group entered the U . S . Seventh Fleet area of responsibility on 8 February 2008 . On 9 February 2008 , two Russian Tu - 95 ' Bear ' bombers were detected by the strike group in the Western Pacific . Four F / A - 18C Hornet s intercepted the bombers south of " Nimitz " . Two F / A - 18s trailed one of the bombers , which buzzed the deck of the carrier twice , while the other two F / A - 18s trailed another Tu - 95 circling about away from the carrier . Reportedly , there was no radio communication between the American and Russian aircraft . According to the Department of Defense , one of the two aircraft was said to have flown above " Nimitz " at an altitude of . The strike group returned to San Diego on 2 June 2008 . 2009 - 2010 deployment . Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed San Diego on 31 July 2009 on a regularly scheduled deployment commanded by Rear Admiral John W . Miller . In September 2009 , it was announced that the carrier strike group deployment schedule would be changed to accommodate the delay in the return of from overhaul . This resulted in extending the deployment to eight months . On 4 December 2009 , the group began five months in the northern Arabian Sea , providing air support to coalition forces in Afghanistan . Carrier - based aircraft provided 30 percent of the combat air support for the International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF ) during the time that the group was in the northern Arabian Sea . VAW - 117 ' s E - 2C Hawkeye aircraft used their radar and communication systems to synchronize and direct air crews over Afghanistan . Also , EA - 6B Prowlers assigned to squadron VAQ - 135 jammed electronic signals in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . Effective 2 July 2009 , ISAF air - ground combat support operations were ordered to take steps to minimize Afghan civilian casualties . In total , Carrier Air Wing 11 air crews flew more than 2 , 600 combat sorties supporting ISAF . The other strike group ships contributed to counter - piracy operations off the Horn of Africa , the protection of critical Iraqi infrastructure in the Persian Gulf , and other maritime security operations . On 26 March 2010 , the strike group returned to their homeport after an eight - month deployment . 2011 - 2013 operations . On 11 May 2011 , the U . S . Navy announced a change in Permanent Duty Station for Carrier Strike Group Eleven from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego , California , to Naval Station Everett , Washington , in December 2011 . On 11 June 2012 , " Nimitz " departed Everett and once Carrier Air Wing Eleven was embarked , departed Naval Air Station North Island , California , on 15 June 2012 for carrier qualifications . The Air Wing consisted of U . S . Navy strike fighter squadrons VFA - 154 , VFA - 147 , and VFA - 146 ; U . S . Marine Corps fighter squadron VMFA - 323 ; airborne early warning squadron VAW - 117 ; electronic warfare squadron VAQ - 142 ; helicopter squadrons HSC - 6 and HSM - 75 ; and Detachment 3 from squadron VRC - 30 . On 2 July 2012 , " Nimitz " pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam , Hawaii , for a four - day port call prior to participating in Exercise RIMPAC 2012 that was scheduled from 29 June to 3 August 2012 . " Nimitz " and Carrier Air Wing Eleven were the only aircraft carrier and carrier air wing to participate in RIMPAC 2012 ( " pictured " ) . Following RIMPAC 2012 , " Nimitz " departed Pearl Harbor on 3 August 2012 , arriving at North Island on 9 August 2012 . The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Eleven flew off " Nimitz " on 8 August 2012 to return to their home air stations . " Nimitz " returned to Naval Station Everett , Washington , on 20 August 2012 , completing a 70 - day underway period . On 29 September 2012 " Nimitz " departed Naval Station Everett to begin its pre - deployment training cycle and certification exercises under the supervision of the Commander , Strike Force Training Pacific . Joining " Nimitz " were Carrier Air Wing Eleven , the guided - missile cruiser , and the guided - missile destroyers , , , and . On 17 October 2012 , the group began its 18 - day pre - deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise . On 13 November 2012 , Nimitz pulled into Naval Air Station North Island , California , to disembark part of the air wing . On 21 November 2012 , it was announced that the strike group ' s deployment would be delayed because a cooling pump aboard the " Nimitz " needed to be repaired . It was also announced that " Nimitz " would now deploy in summer 2013 . Following repairs , on 5 April 2013 , the " Nimitz " and Carrier Air Wing Eleven departed Naval Air Station North Island , California , to begin their scheduled Sustainment Exercise ( " pictured " ) to re - certify Carrier Strike Group Eleven ' s readiness to deploy . They joined the guided - missile cruiser " Princeton " which had departed on 3 April 2013 . 2013 deployment . With the " Nimitz " undergoing repairs , Carrier Strike Group 11 deployed in two groups . The first group consisted of four destroyers operating initially as a surface action group until the " Nimitz " and the rest of the strike group deployed three months later . Surface action group . On 14 January 2013 , the destroyers , , , and departed Naval Base San Diego , California , for a deployment to the Middle East . These ships operated with the U . S . Fifth Fleet as a surface action group until the " Nimitz " , Carrier Air Wing Eleven , and the guided - missile cruiser " Princeton " deploy . This is the " Lawrence " s maiden deployment . On 1 March 2013 , the " William P . Lawrence " entered the Persian Gulf for operations with Carrier Strike Group Three . On 11 March 2013 , the " Lawrence " rendered assistance to a burning vessel while operating in the Strait of Hormuz ( " pictured " ) . In April 2012 , on two separate occasions , the " Lawrence " joined the French frigate " Montcalm " in rendering assistance to civilian mariners in distress while operating in the Gulf of Oman as part of Combined Task Force 150 . Starting 2 September 2013 , " William P . Lawrence " began operating in the Red Sea as part of Carrier Strike Group Eleven . Following bilateral mine countermeasure exercises in the Persian Gulf , the USS " Higgins " subsequently departed the U . S . Fifth Fleet ' s area of operations . After paying port - visits to Thailand , Japan , and Guam , the " Higgins " arrived at Naval Base San Diego , California , on 7 October 2013 , completing a nine - month - long deployment . " Nimitz " strike group . On 19 April 2012 , the " Nimitz " and Carrier Air Wing Eleven departed Naval Air Station North Island , California , joining the cruiser " Princeton " to begin their deployment . On 3 May 2013 , the two ships joined the U . S . Seventh Fleet . " Nimitz " and " Princeton " exercised with the Republic of Korea Navy amid the ongoing 2013 Korean crisis over North Korean actions . The strike group ' s deployment to the Seventh Fleet coincided with the joint exercises of the China ' s three operational fleets in the South China Sea amid the ongoing Spratly Islands dispute between China and the Philippines . Carrier Strike Group Eleven entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet ' s area of operations on 9 June 2013 , relieving Carrier Strike Group Eight . On 13 June 2013 in the Gulf of Oman Carrier Air Wing Eleven aircraft launched their first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan ( " pictured " ) . The British Type 45 destroyer also joined the group in the Gulf of Oman . The Royal Navy warship maintained anti - aircraft defenses , directed aircraft sorties , and provided assistance to returning planes landing on the " Nimitz " . On 22 August 2013 , USS " Momsen " returned to Naval Station Everett , Washington , after a four - month underway period of independent operations with the U . S . Seventh Fleet . During part of this period , " Momsen " operated with Carrier Strike Group led by the carrier . Carrier Strike Group Eleven was relieved by Carrier Strike Group Ten on 26 August 2013 . At the time of this relief , Carrier Air Wing 11 had completed over 1 , 200 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for a total of 6 , 500 flight hours . Both U . S . Navy carrier strike groups initially remained in the north Arabian Sea area pending potential military action against Syria amid allegations that the regime of Syrian president Bashar al - Assad used chemical weapons during the ongoing Syrian civil war , including the gas attacks that occurred on 21 August 2013 . On 2 September 2013 , Carrier Strike Group Eleven transited the Bab - el - Mandeb and moved northward into the Red Sea for potential combat operations against Syria . At the time of this redeployment , the strike group consisted of the carrier " Nimitz " with Carrier Air Wing 11 embarked , the cruiser " Princeton " , and the destroyers " William P . Lawrence " , " Stockdale " , and " Shoup " . On 12 September 2013 , the U . S . Department of Defense announced that U . S . naval forces would remain in the region as Russian and American diplomats negotiate the turn - over of Syria ' s stockpile of chemical weapons to the United Nations , with spokesman George E . Little noting : " We ’ re prepared for any potential military contingencies that might involve Syria . " On 20 October 2013 , Carrier Strike Group Eleven departed the Red Sea , transited the Suez Canal ( " pictured " ) , and joined the U . S . Sixth Fleet . This is the first time that the carrier " Nimitz " had operated in the Mediterranean Sea since 1998 .