The strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz entered the 5th Fleet area of operations on Friday as a Middle East presence, the Navy announced.

The Nimitz strike group replaces that of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which will leave the Red Sea and head via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea after a six-month deployment in the area. The Nimitz strike group, known as Carrier Strike Group 11, includes the aircraft carrier and the nine squadrons of F/A-18E/F and F/A-18C fighter planes of Carrier Air Wing, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson.

The 5th Fleet, headquartered with U.S.Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain, is responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean, an area of about 2.5 million square miles. It borders 20 countries and includes three chokepoints whose access is crucial for the flow of global commerce.

The United States has maintained an aircraft carrier in the region since 2019, after tensions with Iran accelerated. The USS Nimitz will be the fourth U.S. aircraft carrier in the region.

Prior to Friday, the USS Nimitz had been operating within the 7th Fleet's sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean, and completed exercises with the Indian Navy earlier this week. The two navies conducted multiple exercises a mutual live-fire exercise, an air defense exercise, flight operations and a farewell passing exercise.

"This was a unique opportunity to train and strengthen ties with the Indian Navy," said Capt. Peter Kim commanding officer of the USS Princeton. "We were able to achieve a high level of integration and cooperation while conducting many events to include gunnery and air defense exercises."

Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Outgoing U.S. Naval Forces-Europe chief calls for new NATO maritime strategy
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 17, 2020
NATO needs a new naval strategy to counter Russia and China, the outgoing chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa said on Friday as he relinquished command. In a change of command ceremony in Naples, Italy, Adm. James G. Foggo handed authority to Adm. Robert P. Burke, who now commands Joint Force Command Naples, as well as U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa, the Navy said. Foggo noted, in an interview prior to the ceremony, that global naval security has changed in th ... read more