USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 21, 2026

USNI News graphic These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Sept. 21, 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total Battle Force Deployed Underway

290

(USS 232, USNS 58) 104

(USS 74, USNS 30)

(47 FDNF, 57 Rotational) 81

(55 Deployed, 26 Local)

In Japan

Machinist’s Mate First Class Ray Eslava receives his chief petty officer anchors from his wife Luisa Espindola during a chief pinning ceremony aboard America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), Sept. 16, 2026. US Navy photo USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Philippine Sea

Navy Airman Jeremiah Baker, right, and U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Kylie Arradondo, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, tow an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), Sept. 16, 2026. US Navy photo The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group arrived Saturday in Apra Harbor, Guam, for a brief logistics stop en route return from deployment. The carrier was underway in the Philippine Sea as of Monday.

Carrier Strike Group 3

Navy Airman Jancarlou Aragon, left, and Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Jankevin Lacap fill a hydraulic service unit with hydraulic fluid in the hangar bay of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), Sept. 10, 2026. US Navy photo Carrier

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 9

The “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

The “Black Aces” of VFA 41 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

The “Vigilantes” of VFA 151 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

The “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 – F-35C– from Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.

The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The “Wallbangers” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.

The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 (VRM-30) – CMV-22B – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

The “Raptors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island.

The “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Air Defense Commander

USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Destroyer Squadron 21 is based in Naval Station San Diego, Calif., and embarked aboard Abraham Lincoln.

In the Southern Pacific

Marines with Littoral Combat Force-24, aboard a UH-1Y Venom helicopter observe as a vessel of interest is destroyed during a Maritime Interdiction Operation while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 7, 2026. US Marine Corps photo USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS Gridley (DDG-101) are underway in the Southern Pacific, operating off Ecuador. Elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are embarked.

In the Caribbean

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Littoral Combat Force-24, prepare to set up an observation post during a patrol base exercise on Camp Santiago Joint Training Center, Puerto Rico, Sept. 8, 2026. US Marine Corps photo Littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS-15) is operating in the Central Caribbean Sea. The Freedom-class LCS is based at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. The 24th MEU is operating in the region as Littoral Combat Force 24 and is spread throughout the region, including aboard USS San Antonio (LPD-17) in the Southern Pacific.

In the Mediterranean Sea

Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, departs a Tunisian Navy vessel during a distinguished visitor day for Phoenix Express 2026 in Bizerte, Tunisia, Sept. 17, 2026. US Navy photo The independently deployed guided-missile destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea include:

USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

In the Red Sea

Sailors stand watch in the pilothouse aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) as the ship transits through the Suez Canal, Sept. 12, 2026. US Navy photo There are two guided-missile destroyers operating in the Red Sea.

USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain

USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

In the Arabian Sea

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), Sept. 19, 2026. US Navy photo Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), along with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and USS Shoup (DDG-86), are operating in the Arabian Sea in support of U.S. operations against Iran.

Carrier Strike Group 5

Carrier

USS George Washington (CVN-73), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

Carrier Air Wing 5

The “Royal Maces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 – F/A-18E – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan.

The “Diamondbacks” of VFA 102 – F/A-18F – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Argonauts” of VFA 147 – F-35C – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Dambusters” of VFA 195 – F/A-18E – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 – EA-18G – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Tigertails” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125 – E-2D – from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 Det 5 — CMV-22B — from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni.

The “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 – MH-60R — from Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan.

The “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 – MH 60S — from Naval Air Facility, Atsugi.

Destroyer Squadron 15

Destroyer Squadron 15 is based in Yokosuka and embarked aboard George Washington.

USS Shoup (DDG-86), homeported in Yokosuka.

The George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Arabian Sea in support of U.S. operations in the Middle East.

Carrier Strike Group 10

An MH-60S Knight Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, lifts cargo from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during a replenishment-at-sea, Sept. 18, 2026. US Navy photo Carrier

USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 7

The “Jolly Rogers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 – F/A-18E/F – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

The “Rampagers” of VFA 83 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.

The “Gunslingers” of VFA 105 – F/A-18E/F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.

The “Wildcats” of VFA 131 – F/A-18E – Naval Air Station Oceana.

The “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The “Sun Kings” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 116 – E-2C – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.

The “Mighty Bison” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40 — CMV-22B — from Naval Air Station Norfolk.

The “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

The “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 – MH 60S — from Naval Air Station Norfolk.

Destroyer Squadron 22

Destroyer Squadron 22 is based in Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and embarked in George H.W. Bush.

USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

USS Ross (DDG-71), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) is operating in the Arabian Sea. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group includes Boxer, USS Comstock (LSD-45), USS Portland (LPD-27) and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Additionally, the independently deployed warships in the region include:

USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

USS Mason (DDG-87), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

USS Higgins (DDG-76), homeported in Yokosuka.

USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115), homeported in Yokosuka.

USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5), homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam.

In the Indian Ocean

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) steams in the Indian Ocean, Sept. 18, 2026. US Navy photo Warships operating in the Indian Ocean include:

USS Mustin (DDG-89), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

USS Princeton (CG-59), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

USS McFaul (DDG-74), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

USS Milius (DDG-69), homeported in Yokosuka.

USS John Finn (DDG-113), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Seabees, EOD Mobile Units and more throughout the globe.