With tensions rising all over the western Pacific its time to take a quick look at USN prescence in the region.
The replacement of the Spruance class destroyers Obrien and Cushing along with the non-VLS cruiser Vincennes by the A. Burke class destroyers Fitzgerald, Stethem and Lassen brings added firepower to the 7th fleet.
The following are the ships based in Japan:
USS Kitty Hawk CV 63
USS Chancellorsville CG 62
USS Cowpens CG 63
USS Curtis Wilbur DDG 54
USS Fitzgerald DDG 62
USS John S. McCain DDG 56
USS Lassen DDG 82
USS Stethem DDG 63
USS Gary FFG 51
USS Vandegrift FFG 48
USS Blue Ridge LCC 19
USS Essex LHD 2
USS Juneau LPD 10
USS Fort McHenry LSD 43
USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49
USS Guardian MCM 5
USS Patriot MCM 7
USS Safeguard ARS 50
Guam:
USS Frank Cable AS 40
USS City of Corpus Christi SSN 705
USS San Francisco SSN 711
From the 7th Fleet website with some editing for updating and clarity:
http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Pages/Forwardpresence.html
Of the 40-50 ships typically assigned to Seventh Fleet, 21 operate from U.S. facilities in Japan and Guam. These forward-deployed units represent the heart of Seventh Fleet and constitute a permanent, ready and highly capable presence, while reducing transit times and support costs by operating from overseas bases. Other ships are deployed on a rotating basis from bases in Hawaii and the U.S. west coast.
The replacement of the Spruance class destroyers Obrien and Cushing along with the non-VLS cruiser Vincennes by the A. Burke class destroyers Fitzgerald, Stethem and Lassen brings added firepower to the 7th fleet.
The following are the ships based in Japan:
USS Kitty Hawk CV 63
USS Chancellorsville CG 62
USS Cowpens CG 63
USS Curtis Wilbur DDG 54
USS Fitzgerald DDG 62
USS John S. McCain DDG 56
USS Lassen DDG 82
USS Stethem DDG 63
USS Gary FFG 51
USS Vandegrift FFG 48
USS Blue Ridge LCC 19
USS Essex LHD 2
USS Juneau LPD 10
USS Fort McHenry LSD 43
USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49
USS Guardian MCM 5
USS Patriot MCM 7
USS Safeguard ARS 50
Guam:
USS Frank Cable AS 40
USS City of Corpus Christi SSN 705
USS San Francisco SSN 711
From the 7th Fleet website with some editing for updating and clarity:
http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Pages/Forwardpresence.html
Of the 40-50 ships typically assigned to Seventh Fleet, 21 operate from U.S. facilities in Japan and Guam. These forward-deployed units represent the heart of Seventh Fleet and constitute a permanent, ready and highly capable presence, while reducing transit times and support costs by operating from overseas bases. Other ships are deployed on a rotating basis from bases in Hawaii and the U.S. west coast.
On any given day, about 50 percent of Seventh Fleet forces are deployed at sea throughout the area of responsibility. A "snapshot" composition of 7th Fleet on a typical day includes:
Typcial complement of ships in the Seventh Fleet
1-2 aircraft carriers
2-4 Aegis guided-missile cruisers
7-11 destroyers and frigates
2-5 fast attack submarines
1 Command and control ship (USS Blue Ridge)
4-7 Amphibious transport and landing ships
1 Submarine tender
2 Mine Countermeasures Ships
1 Salvage Ship
21 Plus Total
also MSC operated ships:
4-9 Logistics and support ships
Naval and Marine Aircraft
200 aboard aircraft carriers and other ships
Various P-3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft deployed to bases ashore
MARINE AIR AND GROUND FORCES
Marine Expeditionary Force composed of a Marine Division,
Marine Aircraft Wing, Force Service Support Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit.
PERSONNEL
U.S. Navy and Marines -- About 20,000
This a very potent force in the approx 26(21fwd deployed ships plus 4 MSC logistics ships and one other SSN) ships that make up the more or less permanent order of battle.
Adding another Expeditionary Strike Force which includes a CSG (6 ships), ESG (7 ships) & SSG (3 ships) along with most likely 4 additional logistic ships brings 7th fleet into the 40-50 ship range.
MSC logistic ships are hard to get a handle on where exactly they are and whom they are servicing at any particular point in time. As adequate, timely, accurate info is sorely lacking.
This is also true for a major portion of the Submarine fleet.
Of late with the focus on Iraq the # of ships in the western Pacific hovers around 30 exclusive of the occassional formation transiting to or from the US to the 5th fleet AOR in the Persian Gulf.
Typcial complement of ships in the Seventh Fleet
1-2 aircraft carriers
2-4 Aegis guided-missile cruisers
7-11 destroyers and frigates
2-5 fast attack submarines
1 Command and control ship (USS Blue Ridge)
4-7 Amphibious transport and landing ships
1 Submarine tender
2 Mine Countermeasures Ships
1 Salvage Ship
21 Plus Total
also MSC operated ships:
4-9 Logistics and support ships
Naval and Marine Aircraft
200 aboard aircraft carriers and other ships
Various P-3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft deployed to bases ashore
MARINE AIR AND GROUND FORCES
Marine Expeditionary Force composed of a Marine Division,
Marine Aircraft Wing, Force Service Support Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit.
PERSONNEL
U.S. Navy and Marines -- About 20,000
This a very potent force in the approx 26(21fwd deployed ships plus 4 MSC logistics ships and one other SSN) ships that make up the more or less permanent order of battle.
Adding another Expeditionary Strike Force which includes a CSG (6 ships), ESG (7 ships) & SSG (3 ships) along with most likely 4 additional logistic ships brings 7th fleet into the 40-50 ship range.
MSC logistic ships are hard to get a handle on where exactly they are and whom they are servicing at any particular point in time. As adequate, timely, accurate info is sorely lacking.
This is also true for a major portion of the Submarine fleet.
Of late with the focus on Iraq the # of ships in the western Pacific hovers around 30 exclusive of the occassional formation transiting to or from the US to the 5th fleet AOR in the Persian Gulf.