Watchkeeping

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 22, 2025

USNI Information graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed provider strike teams and amphibious prepared teams all through the world as of Dec. 22, 2025, primarily based on Navy and public information. In instances by which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart displays the situation of the capital ship.

Whole Battle Power
Deployed
Underway

292
(USS 233, USNS 59)
99
(USS 67, USNS 32)
45
(41 Deployed, 3 Native)

In Japan

Navy Musician 2nd Class Zachary Buckwash, assigned to the U.S. seventh Fleet Band, performs vacation carols on the pier alongside seventh Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in Yokosuka, Japan, Dec. 18, 2025. US Navy picture

Plane provider USS George Washington (CVN-73) is in Yokosuka, Japan.

Within the Philippine Sea

Seaman Lawrence Carmonadeese stands watch aboard Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Dec. 20, 2025. US Navy picture

Plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is working within the Philippine Sea.

Provider Strike Group 3

An F-35C Lightning II, connected to Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 314, taxis throughout the flight deck of Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on Dec. 20, 2025. US Navy picture

Provider
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

Provider Air Wing 9

The “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The “Black Aces” of VFA 41 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Vigilantes” of VFA 151 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 314 – F-35C– from Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.
The “Wizards” of Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 133 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The “Wallbangers” of Provider Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Level Mugu, Calif.
The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 (VRM-30) – CMV-22B – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
The “Raptors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island.
The “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 14 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Air Protection Commander

Sailors conduct a freshwater wash-down on the foc’sle of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) on Dec. 17, 2025. US Navy picture

USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Navy Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Julianne Torres debriefs sailors following a sea-and-anchor element on the bow of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) on Dec. 11, 2025. US Navy picture

Destroyer Squadron 21 relies in Naval Station San Diego, Calif., and embarked with Abraham Lincoln.

USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Within the East China Sea

Sailors aboard the America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), man a hose staff throughout a common quarters drill, Dec. 21, 2025. US Navy picture

Amphibious warship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is working within the East China Sea. Tripoli will function with Amphibious Squadron 11 ships USS Rushmore (LSD-47), USS New Orleans (LPD-18) and USS San Diego (LPD-22) and the embarked thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit primarily based out of Okinawa, Japan.

Within the Pacific Ocean

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) moors at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 3, 2025. US Coast Guard picture

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) Polar-class heavy icebreaker departed Thursday from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, en path to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for Operation Deep Freeze.

Within the Caribbean Sea

Sailor guides a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor plane for touchdown aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) throughout flight operations whereas underway within the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 4, 2025. US Navy picture

Parts of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Prepared Group are working within the Caribbean Sea.

The Amphibious Prepared Group contains USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and the twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit primarily based in Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Base New River.

The twenty second MEU consists of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Bolstered), Fight Logistics Battalion 26 and the Battalion Touchdown Staff, third Battalion, sixth Marine Regiment.

There are two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers working within the Caribbean as of final week, USNI Information reported.

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

Guided-missile cruisers USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and USS Gettysburg (CG-64) are additionally working within the Caribbean. Lake Erie is homeported at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., and Gettysburg is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Plane provider USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is working within the Caribbean Sea. 

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth directed Gerald R. Ford and its escorts to U.S. Southern Command to assist the Trump administration’s ongoing counter-drug efforts, a Pentagon spokesperson stated on social media, as reported by USNI Information.

Provider Strike Group 12

A sailor alerts the launch of an F/A-18E Tremendous Hornet plane connected to Strike Fighter Squadron 87 on the flight deck of the world’s largest plane provider, Ford-class plane provider USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), whereas underway within the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 11, 2025. US Navy picture

Provider
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Provider Air Wing 8

Sailors observe flight operations from the flight deck USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), whereas underway within the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 12, 2025. US Navy picture

 

The “Tomcatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
The “Ragin Bulls” of VFA 37 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Golden Warriors” of VFA 87 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Black Lions” of VFA 213 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Grey Wolves” of Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 142 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Management Squadron (VAW) 124 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 Det. – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
The “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
The “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 9 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.

Air Protection Commander

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), left, steams alongside dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) throughout a replenishment-at-sea whereas underway within the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 12, 2025. US Navy picture

 USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

Destroyer Squadron 2
Destroyer Squadron 2 relies in Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and launched into Gerald R. Ford.

USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.
USS Mahan (DDG-72), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

Within the North Arabian Sea

There’s one unbiased U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer working within the North Arabian Sea.

USS McFaul (DDG-74), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Within the Persian Gulf

Navy Electronics Technician third Class Jason Oliver inspects fall arresting harnesses within the Electronics Technician store of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57), Dec. 18, 2025. US Navy picture

Littoral Fight Ships USS Canberra (LCS-30), USS Tulsa (LCS-16) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) are working in U.S. fifth Fleet with the Navy’s first operational mine countermeasure mission packages.

There are two independently deployed guided-missile destroyers within the Persian Gulf.

USS Mitscher (DDG-57), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

Within the Western Atlantic

An CMV-22B Osprey connected to the ‘Mighty Bison’ of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40, lifts off the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class plane provider USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) within the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 9, 2025. US Navy picture

Plane provider USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) returned Tuesday to Norfolk, Va., in accordance with ship spotters.

Within the Japanese Pacific

USS Essex (LHD-2) transits San Diego Bay, Dec. 12, 2025. US Navy picture

Plane provider USS Nimitz (CVN-68) arrived Tuesday in Bremerton, Wash., in accordance with ship spotters.

Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) returned Monday to San Diego, in accordance with ship spotters.

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) returned Monday to San Diego, in accordance with ship spotters.

Along with these main formations, not proven are others serving in submarines, particular person floor ships, plane squadrons, SEALs, Particular Function Marine Air-Floor Process Forces, Seabees, EOD Cellular Items and extra all through the globe.




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Ryan

Ryan O'Neill is a maritime enthusiast and writer who has a passion for studying and writing about ships and the maritime industry in general. With a deep passion for the sea and all things nautical, Ryan has a plan to unite maritime professionals to share their knowledge and truly connect Sea 2 Shore.

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