Vinson strike group arrives in 5th Fleet

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group reported for duty in 5th Fleet on Oct. 15, according to a Navy news release.

It will take over for the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, which has been heavily involved in the air war against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

In addition to the carrier and its air wing, Carrier Air Wing 17, the Vinson CSG comprises embarked Carrier Strike Group 1 and Destroyer Squadron 1, along with cruiser Bunker Hill, destroyers Gridley, Sterett and Dewey and elements of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 3.

“All of our hard work and effort through the workup cycle was done with operations in this part of the world in mind,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, head of the Vinson CSG, in a Navy news release. “We are ready on arrival to execute the tasking of our leadership.”

En route to 5th Fleet, the San Diego-based Vinson took part in Valiant Shield 2014 from Sept. 15 to 23, in which it conducted integrated exercises with the George Washington CSG off the coast of Guam. The exercise involved 19 ships and more than 200 aircraft from Carl Vinson and George Washington strike groups, including an unspecified number of Navy submarines, as well as Marine Corps and Air Force units.

The Bush, which departed Manama, Bahrain, Oct. 9 after a port visit, is in the final stages of its deployment, which began Feb. 15. It is expected to begin making its way back to its home port, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, soon.