With the arrival of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the US 7th Fleet area of operations on October 25, the US Navy now has three aircraft carriers operating in the Pacific.
The lead ship of the “supercarriers” is joining sister ships USS Ronald Reagan and USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Not counting submarines, mine countermeasure and other ships operating independently in the region, the three carrier strike groups gather anywhere between twelve and fifteen major surface combatants in addition to the carriers and submarines that often accompany them.
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMSG) entered the Arabian Sea after spending three months on operations in the US 5th Fleet.
The NIMSG departed 5th Fleet with the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Kidd (DDG 100) after contributing to operation Inherent Resolve for three months as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.
While supporting operation Inherent Resolve beginning July 25, Nimitz launched 1,322 sorties and dropping 903 pieces of ordnance in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
The US Navy Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMSG) is scheduled for a port visit and will be ready to support operations throughout the 7th Fleet AOO before transiting back to their respective homeports.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier strike group entered the US 7th Fleet area of operations two days earlier, on October 23.