Carrier Strike Group Seven 2007–09 operations included two deployments to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen flew 2750 air sorties in support of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan while CARSTRKGRU-7 surface warships supported theater security and maritime interdiction operation within that fleet's area of responsibility. CARSTRKGRU-7 also made a Western Pacific surge deployment in place of Carrier Strike Group Five.
Units of Carrier Strike Group Seven, both individually and collectively, participated in bilateral exercises such as RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007, Talisman Saber 2007, Malabar 2008, and Malabar 2011, as well as multilateral exercises like SEACAT 2008 and RIMPAC 2010. Additionally, Carrier Strike Group Seven provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) support during Typhoon Fengshen in 2008.
The group was based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, and it typically deployed 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 served as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Seven during this operation period.
2007 surge deployment
On 27 January 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven (CARSTRKGRU-7) departed from San Diego for its Western Pacific (WESTPAC) surge deployment. CARSTRKGRU-7 deployed under the U.S. Navy's Fleet Response Plan (FRP) and will operate in the western Pacific in support of U.S. commitments in the region while the flagship of the forward-based Carrier Strike Group Five flagship, the aircraft carrier , began its scheduled maintenance period in Yokosuka, Japan. The FRP provided the U.S. Navy with the ability to respond to any global commitment with flexible and sustainable forces and the ability to rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice.
In 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven (CARSTRKGRU-7) entered the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR). Admiral Charles W. Martoglio, the commander of Carrier Strike Group Seven (COMCARSTRKGRU-7), noted:
Our friends and allies in the region can be assured of continued, strong engagement with our Navy through mutual training opportunities, exchanges, and port visits. We remain committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific region.
Between 16–18 March 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven took part in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) in the Philippine Sea. The goal of the exercise was for (CARSTRKGRU-7) to work with their JMSDF counterparts in such areas of mutual interest, including drills in communications, precision maneuvering, air defense tactics, and surface warfare tactics. Ronald Reagan also conducted a fueling at sea with each of the four JMSDF ships, as well as a photo exercise (pictured) and a pass in review. COMCARSTRKGRU-7 Admiral Martoglio noted:
We value our close relationship with our counterparts in the JMSDF as we work together to address regional issues of vital importance to both countries. The United States Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force share a unique bond, featuring one of the most robust bilateral exercise programs between any two nations. This PASSEX provides an opportunity for our navies to strengthen military-to-military ties and is designed to enhance both forces’ capability for coordinated and joint operations.
Also, to facilitate better communications, both navies participated in an officer exchange program that ensured a seamless integration of two naval forces.
On 6 April 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven departed the U.S. Seventh Fleet's AOR. On 7 April 2007, the carrier Ronald Reagan concluded its three-day munitions offload to the MSC ammunition ship , signifying the end of its Seventh Fleet deployment.
On 20 April 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven returned to its home base of Naval Air Station North Island, California, completing its WESTPAC surge deployment. One highlight of the 2007 WESTPAC surge deployment occurred on 15 March 2007 when Captain Richard “Rhett” Butler made his 1,000th carrier-arrested landing. He was flying an F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115), and he caught the No. 2 arresting wire aboard the carrier Ronald Reagan at approximately 3:15 pm, local time (pictured). Captain Butler was the commander of Carrier Air Wing Fourteen.
2007 WESTPAC force composition
Units CARSTRKGRU 7 Warships Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) squadrons embarked aboard flagship No. 1 Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115): F/A-18E Electronic Attack Squadron 139 (VAQ-139): EA-6B No. 2 Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113): F/A-18E Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113 (VAW-113): E-2C 2000 No. 3 Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25): F/A-18C(N) Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4): SH-60F/HH-60H No. 4 EOD Unit 11, Det. 15 Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (VFA-22): F/A-18C(N) Carrier Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30): C-2A Notes
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007
On 25 March 2007, Carrier Strike Group Seven joined US-ROK military forces in Exercise RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007 (RSOI/FE 07), a scheduled seven-day combined/joint exercise conducted annually involving forces from both the United States and the Republic of Korea. RSOI and FE are theater-wide, computer-simulated and field exercises designed to evaluate and improve the U.S. and ROK forces ability to coordinate the procedures, plans and systems necessary to defend the ROK in a contingency. RSOI/FE 07 was designed to provide training for our forces in the various aspects of reception, staging, onward movement, and integration as well as focusing on rear area security and sustainment operations. Strike group commander Rear Admiral Charles Martoglio noted:
RSOI/FE allows the Ronald Reagan Strike Group and other U.S. forces to improve our working relationship with other key nations in the region. Our presence during this exercise demonstrates that we can rapidly integrate into the forces already present in the region to provide a unified and capable fighting force.
During the exercise, ROK Navy personnel served aboard the Ronald Reagan as part of an officer exchange program. Exchange officers assisted their host ships with communications and provided support, while conveying ROK Navy perspectives throughout the RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007 exercise. Warships from both navies operated together to perfect their war-fighting skills, including close-air-support for ground forces, air-to-air defense exercises, maritime interoperability training, and expeditionary operations.
RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007 concluded on 31 March 2007. Rear Admiral James P. Wisecup, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea, noted the success of this year's RSOI/FE exercise:
This was the largest number of ship visits in the Republic of Korea in at least a decade to the cities of Donghae, Chinhae, Pyongtaek, Pohang, and Busan. Engagement between the ships’ crews, the ROK Navy, and the host cities was absolutely amazing. I feel this exercise was a complete success, positively enhancing the U.S. Navy's reputation and visibility on the peninsula.
Talisman Saber 2007
The guided-missile destroyer operated independently and participated in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007, a bi-lateral exercise with the Australian Defence Force, before joining Carrier Strike Group Three for Valiant Shield 2007.
2007 WESTPAC exercises and port visits
Number Regional Exercises Port Visits Notes Duration U.S. Force Bilateral/Multilateral Partner(s) Operating Area Location Dates 1st: — Carrier Strike Group Seven — — Sasebo, Japan 24 Feb. 2007 2nd: 16–18 Mar. 2007 Carrier Strike Group Seven PASSEX: Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)JMSDF ships were the Kongō-class guided-missile destroyer Myōkō, Asagiri class destroyers Hamagiri and Yuugiri, and the helicopter-carrying destroyer Haruna. Philippine Sea Hong Kong 7 Mar. 2007 4th: 25–31 Mar. 2007 Carrier Strike Group Seven RSOI/Foal Eagle 2007: Republic of Korea Armed Forces Korean Theater of Operations Busan, ROKUSS Russell paid a port visit to Chinhae on 22 March 2007 22 Mar. 20076th — Carrier Strike Group Seven — — Pearl Harbor 9 April 2007 7th: 10 Jun. – 25 Jul. 2007 Paul Hamilton Talisman Saber 2007: Australian Defence Force Coral Sea Brisbane, Australia 10 Jun. 2007
2007–2008 operations On 31 October 2007, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island, California, following two days of its sea trials to evaluate the Reagans material readiness to rejoin the fleet as a fully operational unit. The sea trials also marked the end of Reagans six-month, $150-million (USD) planned incremental availability (PIA 07) overhaul.
On 9 November 2007, Ronald Reagan returned to Naval Air Station North Island, California, after completing its flight deck certification. This was a major step in preparing the ship to return to combat readiness, and Reagan completed this certification after being four days underway.
On 27 November 2007, the aircraft carrier and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW) 14 departed Naval Air Station San Diego, California, complete its Tailored Ship's Training Assessment (TSTA), an intense training period designed to prepare the ship and embarked air wing for prompt and sustained combat operations at sea. Joining the Reagan and CVW-14 were the guided-missile cruiser ; the guided-missile destroyers and ; and the guided-missile frigate .
TSTA and the upcoming Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) were conducted by Afloat Training Group Pacific (ATGPAC), the afloat training agency for the Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. TSTA/FEP exercises are designed to test a ship's ability to conduct multiple simultaneous combat missions and survive complex casualty situations under stressful conditions. A major part of TSTA and FEP was testing the ship's damage control organization through a variety of events and general quarter drills scheduled during the underway period.
During its TSTA/FEP exercises, during the early morning hours of 15 December 2007, Ronald Reagan responded to a medical emergency aboard the Bermuda-flagged cruise ship Dawn Princess off the coast of southern Baja California, Mexico. Two HH-60H helicopters from squadron HS-2 were dispatched from the Reagan, flew some 550 miles to Dawn Princess, and executed an emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a 14-year-old girl from Albion, Illinois back to the carrier. Once aboard the Reagan (pictured), an emergency appendectomy was performed by the ship's medical department. Dawn Princess s operator, Princess Cruises, subsequently honored the crew of the Ronald Reagan and squadron HS-4 during a press conference and recognition ceremony held aboard the Dawn Princess on 2 January 2007.
On 18 December 2007, the Ronald Reagan returned to NAS San Diego having a score of outstanding on the Tailored Ship's Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) during the previous 21-day underway period.
On 11 January 2008, the carrier Ronald Reagan paid a scheduled port visit to Santa Barbara, California. During the next two days, over 2 million pounds (9907,184.74 kg) of munitions were transferred from the MSC ammunition ship to the Reagan which returned to San Diego on 15 January 2008. On 17 March 2008, Carrier Strike Group Seven departed NAS North Island near San Diego, California, to conduct its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California as part of its training cycle for a regularly scheduled deployment.