First operational deployment of F-35C: Carl Vinson leaves homeport for Indo Pacific

Source: 21st Century Military Industry Review

On August 2, 2021, the US Navy's Carl Vinson aircraft carrier (CVN-70) departed from San Diego North Island Air Station and began its deployment mission to the Indo Pacific region. The Carl Vinson carried the 2nd Carrier Air Wing (CVW-2) in this operation and was assigned to the 1st Carrier Strike Group (CSG-1).

Brigadier General Daniel Martin, the commander of the formation, said: "The first deployment of F-35C and CMV-22B in combat is an important milestone for the US Navy Aviation to obtain the fifth generation carrier based aircraft, and a milestone towards the 21st century. They will provide us with more flexibility in our combat operations.

Colonel Scott Miller, captain of the Carl Vinson, said, "As the first aircraft carrier to carry the F-35C, the Carl Vinson completed a 17 month maintenance and technology upgrade in October 2020. After multiple rounds of comprehensive exercises with the F-35C and CMV-22B, it is now ready

Lieutenant Colonel Miranda Williams, spokesperson for the Carl Vinson, said: 'Supporting maritime security operations includes deployment in the Indo Pacific region and beyond, depending on where we are needed.'.

147th Carrier based Combat Attack Squadron "Argonauts" (VFA-147): F-35C "Lightning II";

2nd Carrier Combat Attack Squadron "Bounty Hunter" (VFA-2): F/A-18F "Super Hornet";

113th Squadron "Stinger" and 192nd Squadron "Golden Dragon": F/A-18E "Super Hornet";

136th Electronic Attack Squadron "Guard" (VAQ-136): EA-18G "Roarer";

113th Carrier based Early Warning Squadron "Black Hawk" (VAW-113): E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye"

78th Blue Hawk and 4th Black Knight Helicopter Squadron: MH-60R, MH-60S Sea Hawk;

30th Fleet Logistics Multi Task Squadron "Titan": CMV-22B "Osprey".

Escort fleet:

This time, the Carl Vinson (CVN-70) departed from the previous "1+4" convention and brought a high-end "1+6" formation: escort ships came from the 1st Destroyer Squadron of the 3rd Fleet (DESRON-1), and the anti-aircraft command ship was the guided missile cruiser "Lake Champlain" (CG-57); The other six Arleigh Burke class missile destroyers are: Higgins (DDG-76), O'Kane (DDG-77), Chaffee (DDG-90), Dewey (DDG-105), Stockdale (DDG-106), and Michael Murphy (DDG-112).

Introduction to the Leadership Team:

Brigadier General Daniel Martin (right), Commander of the 1st Carrier Strike Group (CCSG-1). Graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1991 with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Entered the Navy through the Georgia Institute of Technology Reserve Officer Training Corps and obtained a Master's degree from the Naval War College.

Pilots of the Navy's 195/131 Carrier based Combat Attack Squadron F/A-18C/E "Bumblebee" and "Super Bumblebee", Landing Signal Officer of the 106th Squadron, Demonstration Pilot of the "Blue Angel" Flight Show Team, Captain of the 37th Squadron, Staff Officer of the 6th Fleet Command, Maritime Operations Staff Officer of the European Allied Supreme Command, Deputy Director of Operations and Planning, Commander of the 8th Carrier based Air Wing, and Administrative Assistant of the Fleet Command; Appointed as the Commander of the 1st Carrier Strike Group in May 2021.

Flight time: 4600 hours; Arrested the ship 750 times.

Colonel Abigail Hutchins, Chief of Staff of the 1st Carrier Strike Group. Graduated from Northwestern University in 1998 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and joined the Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Served in the escort ship "Wordsworth" (FFG-9), the destroyer "Decatur" (DDG-73), the destroyer "Pinkney" (DDG-91), and the 23rd Destroyer Squadron, as well as the deputy captain and executive captain of the missile destroyer "Dewey" (DDG-105).

Liaison Officer of the Pacific Fleet Maritime Training Squadron, Liaison Officer of the Office of the Secretary of the Navy with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and War Costs Analyst of the Joint Staff; Chief of Operations of the 3rd Fleet and Chief of Staff of the 1st Carrier Strike Group.

Colonel Matthew Thrasher, Commander of the 2nd Carrier Air Squadron. Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1995 as a pilot in the 106th/34/27th Squadron; Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) instructor; Captain of the 105th Squadron; Staff member of the Maritime Special Projects Operations Department of the Strategic Command, and Assistant to the Sea Air Integrated Operations Department of the Pacific Command.

Flight time: 3300 hours, interception of ships: 720 times

Colonel Scott Miller (left), captain of the Carl Vinson. Graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. In 1997, he became a pilot and squadron leader of the 106/87/192 squadron; Vice Captain of the USS Stennis (CVN-74), Captain of the Amphibious Dockyard Transport Ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18), and appointed as Captain of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in January 2021.

Flight time: 3100 hours; Arrested the ship: 700 times.