Observing the Atlantic Fleet Rotations

The Navy is shaking things up with the deployment of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Not much, but at least it is something different.

Unlike the usual cruise from Hampton Roads, Va., that proceeds through the Mediterranean and into the waters of the Middle East, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group — which began deploying Monday — is expected to make its first port call in South Africa in the coming days.

“We have been invited and the planning is in progress,” said Rear Adm. Frank Pandolfe, strike group commander, speaking to reporters on the pier before the ship departed.

This could be happening for any number of reasons, but to increase the presence of US Naval forces off Africa is hardly a bad reason. We need to be more visible, interact as often as possible with local naval and coast guard forces, and in general be present just in case, even if it is just passing through the western coast of Africa.

Of coarse, there could be another legitimate reason. The Iwo Jima ESG is already moving towards, and soon to move through the Mediterranean Sea, and already will be moving through the Suez Canal. Carrier strike groups move faster, and there is no reason to bottle up an ESG adn CSG in the Med at the same time, it sends the wrong messages and can make people nervous. On top of that, we will also soon see Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 move through the Suez Canal as well.

We discussed the window about 11 weeks ago. Well, by this time next week we will see three major strike groups moving towards the Middle East. We do not see this as a US attack on Iran, but we note the timing should Israel decide that is what they want to do. We also expect a number of media outlets to cry the alarm as they do everytime naval forces deploy. The three strike groups are as follows:

Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
USS Monterey (CG 61)
USS The Sullivans (DDG 68)
USS Mason (DDG 87)
USS Nitze (DDG 94)
USS Springfield (SSN 761)
USNS Supply (T-AOE 3)

Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group

USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
USS San Antonio (LPD 17)
USS Carter Hall (LSD 50)
USS Vella Gulf (CG 72)
USS Roosevelt (DDG 80)
USS Ramage (DDG 61)
USS Hartford (SSN 768)

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

NMM Durand de la Penne (D560)
USS Barry (DDG 52)
HMS Cumberland (F85)
TCG Gokova (F496)
GS Karlsruhe (F212)
HS Kountouriotis (F468)
FGS Rhon (A1443)

All are regular rotations. The Theodore Roosevelt CSG is expected to replace the Reagan CSG, which will be conducting exercises with India in October. The Iwo Jima ESG is expected to relieve the Peleliu ESG, and SNMG-2 has exercises planned with Kuwait and UAE.