History of Carrier strike group in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 11, 2026

A Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is a U.S. Navy operational formation comprising approximately 7,500 personnel. Key components include an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron (minimum two destroyers/frigates), and a carrier air wing with 65-70 aircraft. Submarines, logistics ships, and supply ships can also be included. The CSG commander reports to the numbered fleet commander overseeing operations in the CSG's area of responsibility. The CSG represents a powerful and versatile naval force projection capability.

June 1973: Carrier Divisions Redesignated as Carrier Groups

On June 30, 1973, Carrier Division 1 was redesignated as Carrier Group 1, and seemingly all other Carrier Divisions were redesignated as Carrier Groups on that date.

1992: U.S. Navy Institutes Greater Task Group Integration

In 1992, the U.S. Navy began a concept that mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure. Each battle group consisted of an aircraft carrier, an embarked carrier air wing, cruisers, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines.

October 2004: Carrier Groups Redesignated as Carrier Strike Groups

On October 1, 2004, carrier groups and cruiser-destroyer groups were redesignated as carrier strike groups. This change from 'Battle' to 'Strike' reflected an increased emphasis on projecting air power ashore.

2004: Carrier Strike Group Four Redesignated

Carrier Strike Group Four was redesignated alongside the other groups in 2004, but has since been redesignated Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic.

2004: Carrier Strike Group Six Established

In 2004, Carrier Strike Group Six was established from Carrier Group Six with USS John F. Kennedy at Naval Station Mayport, but seems to have since been disestablished.

August 1, 2011: Carrier Strike Group Nine Duty Station Change Announced

On August 1, 2011, the Navy announced that Carrier Strike Group Nine would change its permanent duty station from Naval Station Everett to Naval Base San Diego.

December 2011: Deactivation of Carrier Strike Group Seven

The deactivation of Carrier Strike Group Seven effective 30 December 2011 reflects the U.S. Navy's future budgetary reductions and the reduced availability of its operational carrier fleet and carrier air wings.

January 2012: U.S. Navy Carrier Commitment

As of January 2012, the U.S. Navy was committed to maintaining 11 carriers, but only had 10 active until USS Gerald R. Ford went into service in 2017.

August 2012: USS Abraham Lincoln shifted for Overhaul

In August 2012, USS Abraham Lincoln was shifted to Newport News, Virginia, for its Refueling and Complex Overhaul.

December 14, 2012: Carrier Strike Group Nine Changes Duty Station

On December 14, 2012, Carrier Strike Group Nine changed its permanent duty station from Naval Station Everett to Naval Base San Diego.

December 2012: USS Theodore Roosevelt Assigned to Carrier Strike Group Twelve

On December 1, 2012, the USS Theodore Roosevelt was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Twelve after the deactivation of USS Enterprise.

March 2013: USS Abraham Lincoln Overhaul Delayed Until March 2013

In March 2013, the Refueling and Complex Overhaul of USS Abraham Lincoln was delayed.

August 2013: USS Theodore Roosevelt's RCOH Expected Completion

In August 2013, the Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) of USS Theodore Roosevelt was expected to be completed.

January 2014: USS Ronald Reagan Replaces USS George Washington

On January 14, 2014, the U.S. Navy announced that USS Ronald Reagan would replace USS George Washington as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Five, home-ported at Yokosuka, Japan.

January 2014: USS Theodore Roosevelt Shifts Home-Port

On January 14, 2014, the U.S. Navy announced that USS Theodore Roosevelt would shift its home-port to Naval Base San Diego, California, becoming part of the U.S. Third Fleet.

2014: CSFTLANT Redesignated as Carrier Strike Group 4

In 2014, CSFTLANT was again redesignated as Carrier Strike Group 4, retaining its role as the training and certification command for all US Fleet Forces assigned warships.

2014: Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific Redesignated

In 2014, Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Fifteen after Carrier Strike Group Fifteen was disestablished and its flagship, the carrier Ronald Reagan, was reassigned to Carrier Strike Group Seven.