The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group arrived Monday in Guam for a scheduled port visit, before the USS Carl Vinson heads to the Middle East.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is expected to also visit Guam this week, ordered Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there in April as the U.S. increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the Associated Press reported.
The AP said Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to begin steaming toward the Middle East, extending its scheduled deployment by three months.
Guam is a critical nexus for logistics and provides a variety of capabilities and support functions for U.S. naval vessels including supplies, maintenance parts, and equipment, Naval Base Guam said in a release Monday night when the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group arrived.
The Carl Vinson Strike Group consists of USS Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron 1, Carrier Air Wing 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett, and USS Milius.
CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.
"Guam is strategically important to the region and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, said in a statement. “Our port visit here is part of our routine presence in the 7th Fleet area of operations, and allows us to recharge and resupply to remain operationally ready for any mission."
While in port, sailors will be able to take advantage of base amenities and enjoy time to explore the island’s culture and cuisine.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
The 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
(2) comments
Why isn't Defense Secretary Hegseth's group chat about war plans in which he included the editor of The Atlantic in front page news here on Guam?? The incompetent man is coming here next week ..Guam hosts large DOD facilities...ships are mooring up... oh the danger you who support this regime is just astounding. 😢🇺🇸
The danger that this regime has brought to not only Americans, but the world is astounding... all of those that support them are also at fault for endangering us all by voting for all of this chaos and incompetence, supporting this regime and the media for NOT reporting it, or acting like any of this is "normal"... shame on all of you. Hegseth should resign or be fired, but he won't and will not because tyrannical governments run by oligarchs do whatever they want. 😢🇺🇸
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