U.S. Navy holding two-carrier operations in South China Sea

Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Groups in operation in South China Sea. USN

SOUTH CHINA SEA — Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Groups began dual carrier operations in the South China Sea, Jan. 23, 2022.

The U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups, led by their flagships USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, will engage in joint operations.

The operations include enhanced maritime communication, anti-submarine warfare, air warfare, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations and maritime interdiction to strengthen integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness. The training is being held in accordance with international law in international waters, according to a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command press release.

The ships and aircraft of the two carrier strike groups, with over 14,000 sailors and Marines, will hold coordinated surface and air operations in a complex maritime environment to demonstrate the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Force’s ability to deliver a powerful maritime force.

Coordinated maritime engagements and operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy’s routine presence in the Indo-Pacific.

As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet routinely operates between 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors.

U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of operation spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border; and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the Antarctic in the South Pacific, “providing security and stability to the region.”

“U.S. 7th Fleet works with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security while conducting a wide-range of missions to support humanitarian efforts and uphold international laws and freedoms of the sea,” the press release stated.