The U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) arrived in the Republic of Singapore for a scheduled port call July 22, marking the first time the carrier has visited the country since 2019. Ronald Reagan arrived with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). Prior to arrival, USS Ronald Reagan operated in the South China Sea where it conducted maritime security operations, including flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike training, coordinated tactical training between surface and air units, as well as replenishments and fueling at-sea.
“Ronald Reagan Sailors and those embarked from Carrier Air Wing 5, Destroyer Squadron 15 and the entire strike group have shown their drive and dedication to the mission in the South China Sea, proving our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, commander, Carrier Strike Group 5/Task Force 70.
“Port visits mean a great deal to our Sailors. Our crew has worked extremely hard this year, and is very much looking forward to enjoying the cultural diversity of Singapore. We feel very fortunate to be guests of this great country,” said Capt. Fred Goldhammer, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer.
While in Singapore, Sailors are scheduled to participate in various community relations events, including work with a local food bank. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class,[5] she is named in honor of Ronald W. Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She was built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and was commissioned on 12 July 2003. Ronald Reagan made five deployments to the Pacific and Middle East between 2006 and 2011 while based at Naval Air Station North Island. In October 2015, Ronald Reagan replaced USS George Washington as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Five, the only forward-based carrier strike group home-ported at Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the United States Seventh Fleet.
