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Carrier Strike Group 8

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Carrier Strike Group 8
Carrier Strike Group 8 emblem
Founded1 October 2004; 20 years ago (2004-10-01)
Country United States of America
Branch United States Navy
TypeCarrier Strike Group
RoleNaval air/surface warfare
Part ofUnited States Fleet Forces Command
Garrison/HQNaval Station Norfolk, Virginia
WebsiteOfficial Website
Commanders
CommanderRear Admiral Sean R. Bailey, USN[1]
Chief of StaffCaptain Steven Bellack, USN[2]
Command Master ChiefCMDCM (SW/AW) Michael Bates, USN[3]

Commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, abbreviated as CCSG-8 or COMCARSTRKGRU 8, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command. As of 2018 the group flagship is the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). As of 2021, the other units of the group are the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56), Carrier Air Wing One, the ships of Destroyer Squadron 28[Note 1] as well as the Royal Norwegian Navy's frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310), which joined the strike group for one deployment.[4]

The group was placed under NATO command as a result of the buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]

History

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During 1994, USS Hue City (CG-66) was a unit of Carrier Group 8.[6] During 1999, the previous Carrier Group 8's flagship was Eisenhower.

In May and June 1998, Vella Gulf completed a two-month BALTOPS Cruise, taking part in the 26th annual maritime exercise BALTOPS '98 in the Western Baltic Sea from 8–19 June 1998. During the exercise, Commander, Carrier Group 8, commanded the exercise from the ship.

From November 2001, at the commencement of Multinational Interception Force (MIF) operations in the Persian Gulf, Royal Australian Navy ships came under the control ('chopped to the OPCON') of Commander Carrier Group 8, Rear Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was also serving as Commander Task Force 50 (CTF 50) embarked in the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

The group was established by redesignation of the former Carrier Group 8 on 1 October 2004.

The Strike Group deployed on 2 January 2010 to the Middle East to help with operations by the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleets.

Effective 1 October 2012, when not deployed, Carrier Strike Group 8 is part of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and its commander reports to Commander Task Force 80, the director of Fleet Forces' Maritime Headquarters. Carrier Strike Group 8 is designated Task Group 80.3.[7]

On 6 October 2014, U.S. Fleet Forces Command announced that the Carrier Strike Group 8 command staff would deploy with Truman, instead of Eisenhower, in accordance with the U.S. Navy's Optimized Fleet Response Plan (O-FRP).[8] This change does not affect the other ships or units that are otherwise assigned to either strike groups.[8]

On 24 January 2022 it was announced that the strike group had been placed under NATO command for planned exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. This was the first time a full US carrier strike group had been placed under NATO command since the Cold War.[9]

Past Commanders

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Carrier Air Wing

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An F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-103 prepares to launch from Dwight D. Eisenhower

Carrier Air Wing One comprises:

  • Strike Fighter Squadron 11, (VFA-11)
  • Strike Fighter Squadron 81, (VFA-81)
  • Strike Fighter Squadron 34, (VFA-34)
  • Strike Fighter Squadron 211, (VFA-211)
  • Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126, (VAW-126)
  • Electronic attack Squadron 140, (VAQ-137)
  • Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 Det. 2, (VRC-40)
  • Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11, (HSC-11)
  • Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72, (HSM-72)

Aircraft operated

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Notes

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  1. ^ As of 2021, Destroyer Squadron 28 was made up of USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), USS Cole (DDG-67), USS Gravely (DDG-107), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109)

References

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  1. ^ a b Beam, Cody (1 June 2023). "Carrier Strike Group Eight Holds Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8". Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Command Master Chief, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8". Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Departs on Deployment". United States Navy. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  5. ^ Coleman, Julie (25 January 2022). "NATO takes command of US carrier strike group as allies send more jets and warships to deter Russia's threat against Ukraine". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. ^ USS Hue City Command History 1994
  7. ^ "USFF Commanders Guidance Brief to Senior Staff 17 Sep_FINAL". Scribd.com. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012. Slides 22, 43–49
  8. ^ a b "Fleet Forces Announces Carrier Schedule Changes". NNS141006-05. U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  9. ^ Coleman, Julie (24 January 2022). "NATO takes command of US carrier strike group as allies send more jets and warships to deter Russia's threat against Ukraine". Business Insider. p. 1. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) John Osborne (6 July 2004). "GW Sailors Celebrate Three Changes of Command". USS George Washington Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Journalist 3rd Class (SW) Kary Favell (19 July 2005). "Carrier Strike Group 8 Holds Change of Command". USS George Washington Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Holly Whitfill (17 June 2007). "Carrier Strike Group 8 Holds Change of Command". USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  13. ^ a b Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shannon M. Smith (14 June 2013). "CCSG 8 Changes Command". Eisenhower Strike Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Rear Admiral Victorino Mercado". Command Info: Commander Carrier Strike Group Eight. Carrier Strike Group Eight. 2014. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  15. ^ a b Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor DiMartino (20 April 2015). "Carrier Strike Group 8 Changes Command, Continues Deployment Preparation". USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ a b Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lindsay A. Preston (22 July 2016). "Carrier Strike Group 8 Changes Command". USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ a b Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Flynn (6 September 2017). "Carrier Strike Group 8 Changes Command". Carrier Strike Group 8 Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Victoria Granado (26 April 2019). "Carrier Strike Group Eight changes command". USS Harry S Truman. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b "Carrier Strike Group Eight Changes Command at Sea Aboard USS Harry S. Truman". U.S. 2nd Fleet. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Carrier Strike Group Eight Changes Command Aboard USS Harry S. Truman". Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  21. ^ "CARRIER STRIKE GROUP EIGHT CHANGES COMMAND ABOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN". 26 August 2021.
  22. ^ Johnson, Jamaica (31 May 2022). "Commander Carrier Strike Group 8 holds Change of Command". DVIDS. Carrier Strike Group 8. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
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