Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and ships assigned to the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) arrived in the Hawaii Islands Operating Area as part of Large-Scale Exercise (LSE) 2021, August 8. Led by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, VINCSG surface units participating in LSE include carrier flagship Vinson; Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, USS Chafee (DDG 90) and USS Stockdale (106). LSE will display abilities to employ precise, lethal and overwhelming force globally across three Naval component commands, five numbered fleets and 17 time zones.
VINCSG began LSE 2021 with a coordinated long-range maritime strike exercise. These and other events will ensures Naval forces maintain maritime advantages against long-term competitors seeking to undermine rules-based international order. Collaboration between the Navy and Marine Corps will demonstrate their ability to protect and defend American interests around the globe. Across all spectrums of warfare, the fleets’ readiness will demonstrate the ability of the U.S. to defend their national interests. The first iteration provides high-end training at sea and ashore involving only U.S. participants; however, future training will evolve into a triennial exercise that will include U.S. allies and partners.
Aircraft of VINCSG include nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) TWO: an F-35C squadron, the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147; three F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons, the “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2, the “Stingers” of VFA-113, and the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192; the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, operating the EA-18G Growler; the “Black Eagles” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 113, operating the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye; the “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, operating the CMV-22B Osprey; the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, operating the MH-60S Seahawk; and the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, operating the MH-60R Seahawk.
LSE 2021 allows U.S. Navy to validate newly developed technologies, techniques and procedures that allow the Navy and Marine Corps to effectively fight, win, and deter potential adversaries. U.S. Navy ur efforts to synchronize the Navy and Marine Corps’ surface and air units across all domains distribute lethality and survivability across the force. LSE 2021 is a Chief of Naval Operations directed exercise led jointly by U.S. Fleet Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S Naval Forces Europe alongside their Marine counterparts, U.S Marine Forces Pacific, U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic and U.S. Marine Forces Europe. VINCSG is a multiplatform team of ships, aircraft and more than 7,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe. VINCSG is deployed in support of global maritime security operations.
