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  1. Carrier Group Seven
    Carrier Group Seven seal
    Active19 December 1944 – 1 October 2004
    CountryUnited States of America
    BranchUnited States Navy
    TypeCarrier Group (CarGru)
    RoleAttack aircraft carrier air operations
    Part ofCOMNAVAIRPAC
    Garrison/HQNaval Air Station North Island
    EngagementsWorld War Two
    Vietnam War
    Operation Desert Storm
    Operation Southern Watch
    Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
    Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A)

Carrier Group Seven, designated CarGru-7, was an U.S. Navy aircraft carrier formation. CarGru-7 was initially created as Carrier Division Seven (CarDiv 7) during World War Two, and its mission was to provide night air combat patrols for the U.S. Pacific Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force. After the war, CarDiv 7 saw service in the Viet Nam War as a carrier task group of the Task Force 77. Following its re-designation to CarGru-7 in 1973, Carrier Group Seven saw action in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A) as a carrier battle group of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Night Carrier Division Seven

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Background

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Because of accelerated training to meet wartime demands, as well as pre-war carrier doctrine, U.S. naval aviators did not receive night-time carrier flight training that had been a pre-war requirement. Consequently, U.S. carrier task forces could not launch and recover combat air patrols at night, and this left U.S. warships operating in enemy waters vulnerable to Japanese night air counter-attacks. For example, after U.S. daylight naval air strike on Kwajalein of 4 December 1943, the departing U.S. carrier task force, Task Force 50, was attacked by land-based Japanese Betty bombers that evening, with the carrier Lexington taking a torpedo hit that seriously damaged her rudder.[1]

Formation

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On 19 December 1944, Carrier Division Seven (CarDiv 7) was established as U.S. Navy's first night carrier division with Rear Admiral Matthias B. Gardner at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Its mission was to provide a night air operational capability to U.S. Pacific Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force during the Pacific War against the Japanese Empire.

Admiral Gardner was a logical choice to command the Navy's first night carrier division since, as the commanding officer of the carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), an experimental three-aircraft night squadron was created as part of Carrier Air Group Six was embarked onboard the Enterprise. This three-plane team saw action off Makin Island when it successfully broke up a large group of land-based Betty bombers that atempted to attack Task Group 50.2 on the night of 26 November 1943. Specialized night training, radar-equipped aircraft, and specially-converted carriers were needed to develop effective carrier night operational capabilties, and following his promotion, Admiral Gardner was placed on command of Carrier Division Eleven (CarDiv 11), the Pacific Fleet's carrier training command, to develop and deploy an operational night carrier division consisting of the Enterprise and two light aircraft carrriers, the USS Independence (CVL-22) and USS Bataan (CVL-29).[2][3][4] On 7 August 1944,

Carrier Division Seven

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On 22 March 1956, Carrier Division Seven (CarDiv 7) was re-established under the command of Rear Admiral Lester K. Rice at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, with its initial deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean (WESTPAC) taking place onboard the carrier Bon Homme Richard in 1957. CARDIV-7 and its successors had the following aircraft carriers assigned to it:[5]

Commander Carrier Division Seven (ComCarDiv 7) served as the flag officer in immediate command of those aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Seven under the administrative auspices of the U.S. Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet, the naval aviation type command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

On 6 April 1964, Rear Admiral William F. Bringle assumed command of Carrier Division Seven. With the carrier Kitty Hawk as his flagship and Carrier Air Wing Eleven embarked, Admiral Bringle also served as Commander Task Group 77.4 during the period of 29 March to 29 June 1964 in support of Yankee Team aerial reconnaissance operations over Laos prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.[6][7][8][9]

Bringle subsequently served as Commander Task Group 77.6 during the period of 29 March to 29 June 1964 as well as served Commander Task Force Seventy Seven (CTF-77) from 28 May to 27 June 27 1965 in support of Operation Rolling Thunder.[6][9]

During the Vietnam War, Aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Seven (CarDiv 7) operated as part of Task Force 77, operating at Yankee Station and Dixie Station, and participated with such air campaigns as Operation Rolling Thunder, Operation Barrel Roll, Operation Steel Tiger, Operation Commando Hunt, Operation Tiger Hound, Operation Iron Hand, Operation Pocket Money, Operation Linebacker, and Operation Linebacker II

Following her three-year SCB-110A modernization overhaul, the carrier Coral Sea was assigned to Carrier Division Seven, and she made three WESTPAC deployments over the next four years, with the third being Coral Sea's first Vietnam combat deployment from 7 December 1964 to 1 November 1965. During her third Vietnam combat deployment, from 26 July 1967 to 6 April 1968, Coral Sea implemented a new anti-MiG combat patrol (MiGCAP) plan developed by the ComCarDiv 7 staff.[10][11]

Carrier Group Seven

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Effective 30 June 1973, Carrier Division Seven was re-designated as Carrier Group Seven (CarGru 7). Commander Carrier Division Seven (ComCarDiv 7) was re-designated as Commander Carrier Group Seven (ComCarGru 7) and in this capacity, continued to act as the flag officer in immediate command of those aircraft carriers assigned to CarGru 7 under the administrative auspices of the U.S. Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC).

Operation Desert Storm

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Nimitz battle group

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1992 force composition[12]
Guided-missile cruisers Destroyer Squadron 23 Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship USS Nimitz (CV-68)
USS Long Beach (CGN-9) USS Chandler (DDG-996) USS David R. Ray (DD-971) VFA-147: F/A-18C VAQ-138: EA-6B
USS Truxtun (CGN-35) USS Callaghan (DDG-994) USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964) VFA-146: F/A-18C VAW-112: E-2C
USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) USS Ford (FFG-54) VF-211: F-14B VS-33: S-3A
USS Reeves (CG-24) USS Leftwich (DD-984) USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) VF-24: F-14B HS-2: SH-60F, HH-60H
USS Reeves (CG-24) —— VA-165: A-6E, KA-6D ——
USS Halsey (CG-23) —— —— —— ——

1993 deployment

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1995-1996 deployment

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1995-1996 operations

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Surge 97

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Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 (1997)
Carrier Air Wing 9, JTFEX 97-2[13][14]
VF-211: 14 F-14A
VMFA-314 12 F/A-18C/N
VFA-146: 12 F/A-18C/N
VFA-147: 12 F/A-18C/N
VAQ-138: 4 EA-6B; 2 ES-3A
VAW-112: 4 E-2C
HS-2 (SH-60F/HH-60H)
VS-33: 8 S-3B
VCR-30, Det, 4: C-2A

Between 14–24 July 1997, Carrier Group Seven participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 (JTFEX 97-2) off the coast of southern California, which also served as a "Revolution in Strike Warfare" demonstration. Subsequently know as Surge 97, this latter event was designed to demonstrate the capability of an aircraft carrier and its embarked air wing to surge carrier-based airpower in a littoral warfare scenario.[15] At the time, Carrier Air Wing Nine consisted of 14 F-14As, 36 F/A-18Cs, 4 EA-6Bs, 8 S-3Bs, 2 ES-3As, and 4 E-2Cs, but of those aircraft only 9 F-14As, 32 F/A-18Cs, 4 EA-6Bs, 5 S-3Bs, and 4 E-2Cs were mission capable on the first day of this surge.[14] The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group transited the Suez Canal on 7 March 1998, arrived in the Persian Gulf on 11 March 1998 to relieved the George Washington's carrier strike group.[15]

On 20 July 1997, the carrier Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine began a high-intensity strike campaign. When flight operations were completed four days later, the carrier Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine had generated 771 strike sorties while putting 1,336 bombs on target. Carrier Air Wing Nine flew 975 fixed-wing sorties during this four-day surge operation. Almost 80 percent of the sorties flown were strike sorties, with strike support accounting for another 10 percent. F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters flew nearly 80 percent of the strike sorties. Of the 771 strike sorties, 727 were loaded with ordnance while 44 were electronic support sorties by EA-6B Prowlers. During this four-day period, only a portion of the medium-range interdiction strikes required tanking support. KC-135 and KC-130 tanker aircraft provided most of this support. S-3 Vikings conducted recovery tanking and supplied more than one-third of the fuel passed to Carrier Air Wing Nine aircraft during this surge operation.[14][16] F/A-18 Hornets flew 4.5 sorties per day while F-14 Tomcats flew 2.5 sorties per day.[17] This surge had been preceeded by a 16-hour preparation after undergoing four days that had generated about 700 fixed-winged sorties.[18][14]

A subsequent study by the Center for Naval Analyses determined that Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine could have maintained this high-sortie operational tempo for another twelve to twenty-four hours before requiring its ordnance and aviation fuel stocks to be replenished as well as equipment maintenance and rest for its crews.[19]

1997-1998 deployment

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On 15 July 1998, operational control of the carrier Nimitz shifted from Carrier Group Seven to Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five. Rear Admiral Daniel R. Bowler initially served as Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five (CCDG-5) at the time of this transfer until he was subsequently relieved by Rear Admiral Peter W. Marzluff.[15]

John C. Stennis battle group

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1998-1999 operations

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On 26 February 1998, the Stennis Battle Group departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, with Commander Carrier Group Seven (ComCarGru7) embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) which was making her maiden deployment.[20] On 12 March 1998, The John C. Stennis strike group executed five rotations to the Persian Gulf to support Operation Southern Watch (OSW).[21] The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group departed the Persian Gulf on 19 July 1998 for her new home port of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, arriving on 26 August 1998.[22]

Stennis was underway for FleetEx 00-1 exercises between 29 October and 8 November 1998.[23] Beginning in October 1998, Stennis entered a 6-month Phased Incremental Availability (PIA), 6-month-ling maintenance and system upgrade cycle, at North Island, California, which was completed on 10 April 1999.[24][25][26] Stennis was underway to conduct its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) 1 pre-deployment exercises in Southern California Operating Areas between 19–26 May 1999 and TSTA II/III/Final Evaluation's Period (FEP) pre-deployment exercises between 12-28 July 1999, with a port visit at Victoria, British Columbia, from 28 July to 1 August 1999, before returning to San Diego on 4 August 1999.[27] The carrier also underwent its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) between 06-26 August 1999.[28] Stennis participated in FleetEx 00-1 exercises between 29 October and 08 November 1999.[29]

1998 deployment force composition[30]
Stennis CVBG Warships Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) squadrons embarked aboard flagship USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
USS Monterey (CG-61) Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143): 12 F-14B Helicopter Squadron 5 (HS-5): 3 HH-60H & 5 SH-60F
USS San Jacinto (CG-56) Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136): 12 FA-18C(N) Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. C: 2 C-2A
USS Cole (DDG-67) Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131): 13 F/A-18|FA-18C(N) Light anti-submarine helicopter (HSL) squadron detachments:
USS Laboon (DDG-58) Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11): 13 F-14B HSL-42, Det 2: 2 SH-60B onboard USS Monterey
USS Caron (DD-970) Electronic Attack Squadron 140 (VAQ-140): 6 EA-6B HSL-44, Det 4: 2 SH-60B onboard USS San Jacinto
USS Providence (SSN-719) Carrier Airborne Early Warning 121 (VAW-121): 4 E-2C HSL-46, Det 3: 2 SH-60B onboard USS Caron
USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708) Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31): 8 S-3B HSL-48, Det 3: 2 SH-60B onboard USS Simpson
USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 6 (VQ-6), Det. C: 2 ES-3A ——
1998 Operation Southern Watch underway periods & port visits[31]
Rotation Underway Periods Port Visits
Duration Operation/Exercise Operational Area Operating Force Location Dates
1st: 28 March–11 April 1998 Operation Southern Watch (OSW) Persian Gulf U.S. Fifth Fleet Jebel Ali, UAE 11—16 April 1998
2nd: 16 April—7 May 1998 Operation Southern Watch (OSW) Persian Gulf U.S. Fifth Fleet Jebel Ali, UAE 22—26 May 1998
3rd: 23 April—26 April 1998 Operation Southern Watch (OSW) Persian Gulf U.S. Fifth Fleet Bahrain 7 May—12 May 1998
4th: 26 May—10 July 1998 Operation Southern Watch (OSW) Persian Gulf U.S. Fifth Fleet Bahrain 10–15 July 1998
5th: 15–19 July 1998 Operation Southern Watch (OSW) Persian Gulf U.S. Fifth Fleet Perth, Australia 28 July to 1 Aug. 1998
—— —— —— —— —— Hobart, Australia 5-8 Aug. 1998
—— —— —— —— —— Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 18-20 Aug. 1998

Carrier Strike Group Seven

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Trojan Blade: The Legend of the CARGRU 7 Axe

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From the Carrier Group Strike Seven's online history page:

CARGRU 7 Axe
The origins of this mighty instrument lie deep in Greek history. When peace had finally fallen upon their ravaged land, the brave sailors of the Trojan fleet gathered their worn swords and beat them into plowshares. Yet they also sought some means of honoring their fallen compatriots. Consequently, a few of the remaining spears and shields were smelted in the hottest furnaces of Troy, tempered by the most skilled craftsman, and cast into an axe head of epic proportions. A call then went forth upon the land to locate a sturdy oak which might be formed into a handle for this sacred memorial. After days of searching, a young woodsman located just such a tree deep in the virgin forests in which he plied his trade. From that tree he hewed a shaft of incredible strength, and with a warm, luxuriant finish. This powerful handle was soon joined with the mighty axe head to form a moving testament to those Trojans who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The "Trojan Blade" (as it had come to be called), was soon coveted by the emerging nations of a growing civilization, and possession of it was the cause of many a pitched battle around the world over the following years. Historians are unable to trace its exact path during the 17th and 18th centuries, but its colorful tale is picked up once again in 1853, when the Emperor of Japan presented it to Commodore Matthew C. Perry to honor him on the occasion of his opening of the Meiji Empire to the rest of the world. Since that time, this fabulous trophy has remained in the possession of the U.S. Navy and has been carried into battle by some of its most distinguished commanders.
Its home with the Pacific Fleet was established during the fighting in that theater during World War II; ADM "Bull" Halsey credited his success against Yamamoto's navy to the spiritual strength that he was able to draw from the "Trojan Blade". He subsequently refused to see it transferred from the Pacific and there it remains, now by direction of the CNO. In April 1956, RADM Lester K. Rice took command of Carrier Division Seven, and was presented the "Trojan Blade" by ADM Halsey in recognition of that auspicious occasion. Ever since, the spiritual fire that Halsey found so vital has similarly inspired the leaders of the finest carrier group in the U.S. Navy. The names Clifton, Hardisty, and Arthur are proudly emblazoned upon the tremendous axe as evidence of the great hands through which it has passed.
This mighty axe - born of fire and tested by battle - remains with Carrier Strike Group Seven today. A strong testament to those men who, over the centuries, have given their lives in defense of principles they held dear.

See also

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Notes

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Footnotes
Citations
  1. ^ Reynolds, Fast Carrier, pp. 59, 107; Stafford, The Big E, pp. 303–308; Thomas C. Hone (Winter 2013). "Replacing Battleships with Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific in World War II" (PDF). Naval War College Review. Naval Station Newport: Naval War College: 56–38. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  2. ^ Reynolds, Fast Carrier, pp. 102, 105–106.
  3. ^ Stafford, The Big E, pp. 303–308.
  4. ^ "USS Enterprise (CV-6)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  5. ^ "History". COMCARSTRKGRU SEVEN. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  6. ^ a b Congressman Randall Harold "Duke" Cunningham, R-California 50th District (March 24, 1999). "Tribute to Admiral William F. Bringle" (PDF). Congressional Record . Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives. pp. H1682–H1684. Retrieved 2013-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Butts, J.L (1964). "USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Command History - March 1964 - Septemner 1964" (PDF). Washington Navy Yard: Naval History & Heritage Command. pp. 1–4, 14–15. Retrieved 2013-01-10. Hereafter referred to USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Command History 1964-1.
  8. ^ Marolada, Edward J. (1987). The Illustrated History of The Vietnam War: Carrier Operations. New York, New York: Bantam Books. pp. 16–22. ISBN 0-553-34348-3. Hereafter referred to as: Marolada, Carrier Operations Vietnam
  9. ^ a b "USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  10. ^ Commander Pete Clayton, USN, with Robert J. Cressman. "More Than Just a Ship. . . USS Coral Sea (CV-43), 1946-1990". Ship's History. USS Coral Sea Tribute Site. Retrieved 2010-01-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Significant Dates". History. USS Coral Sea Tribute Site. Retrieved 2010-01-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Polmar, Norman (1993). The Naval Institute Guide to The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 15th ed. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 32, 36 (Table 6-5), 376, 378–384, 386. ISBN 1-55750-675-2.
  13. ^ "CVW-9 (NG) CVN-68 NIMITZ June 23, 1997 - July 24, 1997". GoNavy.jp. October 3, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  14. ^ a b c d "The Monster Myths of the CVL Concept". Blog. United States Naval Institute. August 27, 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  15. ^ a b c "Nimitz". DANFS.
  16. ^ Angelyn Jewell; et al. "USS Nimitz and Carrier Airwing Nine Surge Demonstration" (PDF). Alexandria, Virginia: Center for Naval Analyses. pp. 3–5. Retrieved 2012-07-18. {{cite web}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  17. ^ "Nimitz Completes SURGEX Exercise". Jane's Information Group. September 1, 1997. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  18. ^ "USS Nimitz and Carrier Airwing Nine Surge Demonstration," pp. 5-6.
  19. ^ "USS Nimitz and Carrier Airwing Nine Surge Demonstration," pp. 146-149.
  20. ^ Captain Douglas R. Roulstone, USN (April 29, 1999). "1998 Command History" (PDF). USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Washington Naval Yard: Naval History & Heritage Command. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved 2010-10-17. Hereafter referred to as Stennis 1998 Command History {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ Stennis 1998 Command History, p. 7.
  22. ^ Stennis 1998 Command History, p. 17.
  23. ^ Stennis 1998 Command History, p. 21.
  24. ^ "John C. Stennis Strike Group WESTPAC 98 Deployment". Military. GlobalSecurity.org. July 17, 2006. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  25. ^ Stennis 1998 Command History, p. .
  26. ^ Captain Richard K. Gallagher, USN (March 31, 2000). "1999 Command History" (PDF). USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Washington Naval Yard: Naval History & Heritage Command. p. 10. Retrieved 2010-10-21. Hereafter referred to as Stennis 1999 Command History {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  27. ^ 1999 Command History, pp. 12–16.
  28. ^ Stennis 1999 Command History, pp. 16–18.
  29. ^ 1999 Command History, pp. 21–22.
  30. ^ USS Stennis 1998 Command History, pp. 1, 6; "John C. Stennis Strike Group WESTPAC 98 Deployment". Military. GlobalSEcurity.org. July 17, 2006. Retrieved 2010-11-11.; "CVW-7 (AG) CVN-74 John C. Stennis February 26, 1998 - August 26, 1998 (World Cruise, Persian Gulf)". CVW-7 (AG) (December 20, 1963 - Present). GoNavy.jp. November 10, 2004. Retrieved 2010-08-30.; "Bu No.: CVW-7 (AG) CVN-74 John C. Stennis February 26, 1998 - August 26, 1998 (World Cruise, Persian Gulf)". GoNavy.jp. November 20, 2000. Retrieved 2010-08-30.; "Bu No.: CVW-7 (AG) CVN-74 John C. Stennis February 26, 1998 - August 26, 1998 (World Cruise, Persian Gulf)". GoNavy.jp. November 20, 2000. Retrieved 2010-08-30.; and Curtis A. Utz and Mark L. Evans (July–August 2002). "The Year in Review 1998, Part 2" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Washington, DC: U.S. Navy. p. 18. Retrieved 2010-22-08. LAMPS MK III Ship Deployments, 2000 {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  31. ^ 1998 Command History, pp. 7–17, 20.

Sources

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  • Christensen, Ernie (Spring 2010). "USS Ranger Desert Storm" (PDF). Foundation. USS Ranger Foundation. Retrieved 2011-01-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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