Carrier Strike Group Three 2004–2009 operations included a world cruise, three western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments and a change-over of its flagship. During this period, CARSTRGRU-3 provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) as well as participated such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment

Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG-3 or CARSTRGRU-3) is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. CARSTRGRU-3 is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier became the current flagship for Carrier Strike Group Three, replacing the which began its 36-month mid-life refueling and complex overhaul in 2005.

2004 operations

Change of command On 26 June 2004, Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan (pictured) relieved Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik, Jr., as Commander Carrier Group Three (ComCarGru 3). During his tenure as ComCarGru 3, Chanik led the Carl Vinson strike group which was the first to undergo the new, innovative Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), which greatly compressed the training required for oversea deployment. Admiral Chanik's next assignment was as director, Programming Division on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. A naval aviator, Admiral Clingan served as the commanding officer of U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship and the aircraft carrier , and prior to taking command of Carrier Group Three, he served as the deputy director of Operations, U.S. Central Command, during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Pre-deployment training In September 2004, Carrier Group Three (CarGru 3) departed for its 22-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California. COMPUTEX was an intermediate-level, two-phase strike group training exercise that was a critical step toward the final certification to deploy overseas for a carrier strike group. Phase I provided training for warfare commanders and the rest of the strike group in operational tasking and decision-making. Phase II measured the ability of the strike group to act as a coordinated, combat-ready force, and it was intended to closely resemble real-life conflict. On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3). A day later, on 2 October 2004, the newly renamed Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX.

2005 World Cruise On 17 January 2005, Carl Vinson departed Bremerton, Washington, with CVW-9 embarked for a six-month deployment, which included several months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 30 January 2005, COMCARSTKGRU 3 departed San Diego for its around the world voyage following the completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (FTFE 05-2) under the command of Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan. This overseas deployment also marked the final overseas mission for the fast combat support ship and Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. The carrier strike group paid a port visit to Dubai.

On 5 May 2005, during a visit to strike group flagship Vinson on 5 May 2005, United States Central Command commander General John Abizaid paid tribute to the personnel of Carrier Strike Group Three: "Whenever I see young Marines and young Sailors at work where they are doing what their country’s asking them to do in a hard place, I can only come away thankful and impressed." Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment and world cruise at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia on 31 July 2005.

Force composition Units CARSTRKGRU 3 Warships/Units Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) squadrons embarked aboard flagship No. 1 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323): FA-18C(N) Hornet Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33): S-3B Viking No. 2 Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VVFA-154): F-18F Super Hornet Helicopter Squadron 8 (HS-8): HH-60H/SH-60F Seahawk No. 3 Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147): FA-18C(N) Hornet Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40), Det. 4: C-2A Greyhound No. 4 Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146): FA-18C Hornet — No. 5 Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138): EA-6B Prowler — No. 6 EOD Mobile Unit 11, Detach. 9 Carrier Airborne Early Warning 112 (VAW-112): E-2C Hawkeye — Notes

Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2

Carrier Strike Group Three participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (JTFEX 05-2) off the coast of southern California. The exercise was the final step in preparing the strike group for deployment by testing its ability to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces, which included an anti-submarine warfare exercise (ASWEX), numerous simulated Tomahawk strike missions, an air defense exercise, and exercises with naval special warfare forces. Other participating military forces included Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40); helicopter squadrons HSL-45 and HSL-49; and units from the Air Force Eighth Air Force. Admiral Clingan noted:

The Sailors and Marines of the Carl Vinson Strike Group have performed marvelously during the Joint Task Force Exercise. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the strike group came together as a team and outperformed all expectations. This was a challenging exercise that required all of us to have our head in the game and think critically about how we fight. Everyone rose to that challenge and met it head on. There is no doubt our team is ready to answer our nation’s call during deployment.

With the 22-day exercise successfully completed on 30 January 2005, U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Michael McCabe certified that Carrier Strike Group Three was ready for its upcoming 2005 western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.

2005 WESTPAC Deployment

Carrier air operations Carrier Strike Group Three relieved Carrier Strike Group Ten, led by the carrier , on 19 March 2005. On 8 May 2005, F/A-18C Hornet fighter jets dropped six precision bombs against anti-Iraqi forces south of Samarra, Iraq, while conducting presence and security missions in support of Iraqi and coalition ground forces. The aircraft came from CVW-9 squadrons VMFA-323 and VFA-147 (pictured). Also, a detachment from helicopter squadron HS-3 patrolled southeastern Iraq and the northern Persian Gulf to protect vital infrastructure, including Khawr Abd Allah and Khawr As Sabiyah, the waterways that separate Iraq from Iran and Kuwait. The detachment was temporarily based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

In total, Carrier Strike Group Three launched more than 6,500 sorties, totaling more than 20,000 flight hours, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interdiction operations, including 2,600 flight hours logged by CVW-9's four F-18 squadrons. This overseas deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds.

Maritime security operations Overall, ships under the control of DESRON 31 conducted more than 80 boarding evolutions while working in cooperation with British, Italian, Australian, Canadian and regional forces. On 11 June 2005, DESRON-31 destroyer (pictured) rendered at-sea medical assistance in response to a radio distress call from the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Henif. A rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) transported an ill Iranian crew member to Mustin, where he was subsequently transported to Carl Vinson via an SH-60 helicopter. Once aboard Vinson, the Iranian fisherman was taken to the ship's medical facilities where he underwent a battery of tests. It was discovered that the fisherman was suffering from a severe allergic reaction. The Iranian national was treated, and after a short period of recovery, he was returned to the Henif via one of the carrier's RHIBs.

CARSTRGRU-3 Flagship Changeover

Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 deployment at Naval Station Norfolk on 31 July 2005, and the carrier began its scheduled 36-month Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard at Newport News, Virginia (pictured). The ship will spend nearly two-thirds of its RCOH in dry dock to accomplish planned repairs and install the latest technologies in computer software, combat systems, propulsion controls, and aviation support, including the installation of new propellers and a main master for its island superstructure. Following its RCOH, the Vinson became the flagship for Carrier Strike Group One.

The new Carrier Strike Group Three flagship, the aircraft carrier , changed its homeport to Bremerton in January 2005, and once there, underwent an 11-month Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) 05/06 maintenance and yard overhail period, the first time she had been dry-docked since its 1995 commissioning.

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 (COMCARSTKGRU 3). Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn subsequently relieved Captain Berg in November 2005.

2006 Operations

Pre-deployment training

Stenniss post-DPIA sea trials occurred between 12 December–17, 2005, and the carrier completed its post-overhaul flight deck operation certification on 8 February 2006. Stennis also completed its carrier qualifications (CQ) for Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) pilots in April 2006, and the ship passed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) certification on 21 April 2006. The carrier and CVW-9 began conducting cyclic flight operations off the coast of Southern California on 21 June 2006, and Stennis successfully completed a subsequent seven-week underway period on 18 July 2006, being declared surge ready for any unscheduled overseas deployment.

The warships of the group began pre-deployment training during composite training unit exercises (COMPTUEX) on 21 September 2006. DESRON-21 guided missile destroyers , , and joined the guided missile cruiser and the carrier Stennis in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) active/passive track training exercises. O'Kane practiced boarding and searching suspect vessels and fast attack craft/fast inshore attack craft countermeasure exercises. Paul Hamilton conducted visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team exercises as well Tomahawk land attack missile exercises (TLAMEX). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) completed surge flight operations certifications. Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX exercises on 12 October 2006.

Joint Task Force Exercise