(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christian Senyk/Released)
Really nice representation of a modern combined 11-ship Carrier Strike Group and Expeditionary Strike Group, both of which are typically carved out in 2-3 ship groups spread across the ocean at any one time. You have a carrier, three modern gators, an Aegis cruiser for battle-space coordination, five destroyers and an oiler. Carrying a 2,000-Marine/32-aircraft MEU, a 75~ aircraft Carrier Air Wing and most of a HELMARKSTRIKERON spread across the tin cans, it’s a lot of power in one place at one time. Especially when you consider there are other assets a force this size would deploy with that are unseen (P-3/P-8, KC-130, SSN, SSGN, et. al) in this photo.
Too bad there aren’t any frigates in the photo…just saying
Official caption:
PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 23, 2016) USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) lead a formation of Carrier Strike Group Five and Expeditionary Strike Group Seven ships including, USS Momsen (DDG 92), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Benfold (DDG 65), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), as well as USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) during a photo exercise to signify the completion of Valiant Shield 2016. Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S. only, field-training exercise with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. This is the sixth exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006.
