U.S. Battle Force Changes 1 January–31 December 2015

Compiled by Lieutenant Jim Dolbow, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve

COMMISSIONING/CONSTRUCTION/NAMING OF U.S. NAVY 14 Apr Richard Dixon Delivered and placed in AND COAST GUARD SHIPS (WPC-1113) Commission, Special. Date Name (Hull No.) Comments 17 Apr St. Louis (LCS-19) Name announced. 9 Jan Hyman Rickover Name announced. 2 May John Finn (DDG-113) Christened. (SSN-795) 9 May Brunswick (T-EPF-6) Christened. 10 Jan Trenton (T-EPF-5) Christened. 16 May Indiana (SSN-789) Keel laid at Newport 15 Jan Isaac Mayo Delivered and placed in News Shipbuilding. (WPC-1112) Commission, Special. 19 May Brunswick (T-EPF-6) Launched. 24 Jan William Trump Placed in Commission, 24 May New Jersey (SSN-796) Name announced. (WPC-1111) Full at Key West, FL. Homeported at Key West, 5 Jun James (WMSL-754) Delivered and placed in FL. Commission, Special. 7 Feb Lewis B. Fuller Christened. 13 Jun Gabrielle Giffords Christened. (T-ESB-3) (LCS-10) 9 Feb Wichita (LCS-13) Keel laid at Fincantieri 20 Jun Richard Dixon Placed in Commission, Marinette Marine, (WPC-1113) Full at Tampa, FL. Marinette, WI. Homeported at San Juan, PR. 18 Feb Omaha (LCS-12) Keel laid at Austal USA, Mobile, AL. 25 Jun John Warner Delivered and placed in (SSN-785) Commission, Special. 20 Feb Joseph Gerczak Names announced. (WPC-1126), Richard 18 Jul Little Rock (LCS-9) Christened. T. Snyder (WPC- 19 Jul Cincinnati (LCS-20) Name announced. 1127), Nathan 20 Jul Kansas City (LCS-22) Name announced. Bruckenthal (WPC- 21 Jul Delbert D. Black Start of fabrication 1128), Forrest O. (DDG-119) at Huntington Ingalls Rednour (WPC-1129), Shipbuilding. Robert G. Ward (WPC-1130), Terrell 25 Jul Cooperstown Name announced. Horne III (WPC- (LCS-23) 1131), Benjamin A. 30 Jul Heriberto Hernandez Delivered and placed in Bottoms (WPC-1132), (WPC-1114) Commission, Special. Joseph O. Doyle 1 Aug John Warner Placed in Commission, (WPC-1133), William (SSN-785) Full at Norfolk, VA. C. Hart (WPC-1134), Homeported at Norfolk, and Oliver F. Berry VA . (WPC-1135). 8 Aug James (WMSL-754) Placed in Commission, 25 Feb Gabrielle Giffords Launched at Austal USA, Full at Boston, MA. (LCS-10) Mobile, AL. Homeported at 7 Mar Colorado (SSN-788) Keel laid at General Charleston, SC. Dynamics Electric Boat. 11 Aug Jackson (LCS-6) Delivered and placed in 13 Mar Delbert D. Black Name announced. Commission, Special. (DDG-119) 19 Aug Oakland (LCS-24) Name announced. 21 Mar John P. Murtha Christened. 22 Aug John F. Kennedy Keel laid at Newport (LPD-26) (CVN-79) News Shipbuilding. 28 Mar John Finn (DDG-113) Launched at Huntington 22 Aug Idaho (SSN-799) Name announced. Ingalls Shipbuilding. 2 Sep Iowa (SSN-797) Name announced. 28 Mar Isaac Mayo Placed in Commission, (WPC-1112) Full at Key West, FL. 2 Sep Montana (SSN-794) Name announced. Homeported at Key West. 3 Sep Minneapolis/St. Paul Name announced. 31 Mar Midgett (WMSL-757) Contract awarded to (LCS-21) Huntington Ingalls 12 Sep Munro (WMSL-755) Launched at Huntington Industries. Ingalls Shipbuilding. 15 Sep Tulsa (LCS-16) Name announced.

16 Sep City of Bismarck Name announced. In Commission, Full – The date on which the commissioning (T-EPF-9) ceremony was performed and the ship was fully received into 16 Sep Wichita (LCS-13) Name announced. the Fleet. 23 Sep R/V Neil Armstrong Delivered to the U.S. In the case of the Coast Guard, ships are placed in full (T-AGOR-27) Navy and placed in commission after they reach their homeports. This event service. depends on the District Headquarters, the commanding officer of the ship, and the weather. 10 Oct Illinois (SSN-786) Christened. 14 Oct Hershel Woody Construction started Williams (T-ESB-4) at General Dynamics SHIPS DELIVERED TO THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND NASSCO in San Diego, (MSC) AND PLACED IN SERVICE CA. Date Name (Hull No.) Comments 16 Oct Milwaukee (LCS-5) Delivered and placed in 13 Apr Trenton (T-EPF-5) Delivered and placed in Commission, Special. service. 16 Oct Heriberto Hernandez Placed in Commission, 12 Jun Lewis B. Fuller Delivered and placed in (WPC-1114) Full at San Juan, PR. (T-ESB-3) service. Homeported at San Juan. 20 Oct Joseph Napier Delivered and placed in U.S. NAVAL SHIP DEPLOYMENTS/RETURNS (WPC-1115) Commission, Special. Date Name (Hull No.) Comments 20 Oct Paul Ignatius Keel authenticated at (DDG-117) Huntington Ingalls 7 Jan Leyte Gulf (CG-55) Returned from a six- Shipbuilding. month deployment to the 6th Fleet area of 31 Oct Rafael Peralta Christened. responsibility, where the (DDG-115) ship assumed duties as 2 Nov Billings (LCS-15) Keel laid at Fincantieri Standing NATO Maritime Marinette Marine in Group (SNMG) 2 Marinette, WI. flagship. 8 Nov Massachusetts Name announced. 10 Jan James E. Williams Returned from an eight- (SSN-798) (DDG-95) month deployment to 14 Nov Munro (WMSL-755) Christened. the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. 16 Nov Thomas Hudner Keel laid at General (DDG-116) Dynamics Bath Iron 10 Jan Mahan (DDG-72) Returned from a five- Works. month deployment to the 5th Fleet area of 20 Nov Omaha (LCS-12) Launched at Austal USA responsibility. in Mobile, AL. 10 Jan Bonhomme Richard Departed on a three- 21 Nov Milwaukee (LCS-5) Placed in Commission, (LHD-6) month deployment Full at Milwaukee, WI. to the 7th Fleet area Homeported at San Diego, of responsibility. CA. Accompanied by Ashland 5 Dec Jackson (LCS-6) Placed in Commission, (LSD-48) and Green Bay Full at Gulfport, MS. (LPD-20). Homeported at San Diego, 11 Jan Mahan (DDG-72) Returned from a five- CA. month deployment to the 12 Dec Ralph Johnson Launched at Huntington 5th and 6th Fleet areas of (DDG-114) Ingalls Shipbuilding. responsibility. 19 Dec Omaha (LCS-12) Christened. 11 Jan Kauffman (FFG-59) Departed on the ship’s 23 Dec Winslow Griesser Delivered and placed in final deployment to (WPC-1116) Commission, Special. the 4th Fleet area of Notes: In Commission, Special – Official date of responsibility. commissioning and when the ship enters the force-level 16 Jan Cape St. George Returned from a seven- structure. This is also the date the ship is delivered by the (CG-71) month deployment to builder to the Navy and the ship’s birthday. This status was the 7th Fleet area of created to legally ferry the ship in question from her builder’s responsibility. yard to the site where the official commissioning ceremony is to be performed if it is at a location other than where the ship was built.

www.usni.org PROCEEDINGS • 101 Reprinted from Proceedings with permission; Copyright © 2016 U.S. Naval Institute / www.usni.org US NAVY (THOR LARSON) US NAVY In 2015, the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) completed a three-month deployment to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Here, a U.S. Marine MV-22B Osprey with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit takes off on 10 March 2016 during a combined amphibious exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army, and Royal New Zealan Army Forces.

16 Jan Boise (SSN-764) Returned from a 3 Feb La Jolla (SSN-701) Arrived at the Norfolk deployment to the 5th, Naval Shipyard to begin 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of conversion to a Moored responsibility. Training Ship (MTS). 16 Jan Sherman (WHEC-720) Departed San Diego, CA, 8 Feb Alex Haley Returned from a 70-day for her new home port in (WMEC-39) deployment to the Bering Honolulu, HI, to replace Sea and Aleutian Islands. the decommissioned Rush 9 Feb San Francisco Returned from a seven- (WHEC-723). (SSN-711) month deployment to the 24 Jan California (SSN-781) Returned from her Western Pacific region. maiden deployment to 13 Feb Laboon (DDG-58) Deployed to conduct the 6th Fleet area of ballistic-missile defense responsibility. operations in the 6th Fleet 26 Jan Green Bay (LPD-20) Departed San Diego, CA, area of responsibility. for Sasebo, Japan, to join 14 Feb Paul Hamilton Departed for an the 7th Fleet’s Forward- (DDG-60) independent deployment Deployed Naval Forces. to the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific Ocean. 30 Jan Independence (LCS-2) Departed San Diego, CA, 19 Feb Green Bay (LPD-20) Arrived in Sasebo, Japan, for Naval Air Station after transiting the Pacific Pensacola, FL, to conduct Ocean from her former operational evaluation home port of San Diego, and testing of the mine- CA. countermeasures mission package.

20 Feb Kanawha (T-AO-196) Returned from a three- 13 Mar Cole (DDG-67) Returned from a seven- month deployment to month deployment to the 6th Fleet area of the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. responsibility. 25 Feb Makin Island (LHD-8) Returned from a seven- 24 Mar Preble (DDG-88) Departed on an month deployment to independent deployment the 5th and 7th Fleet to the Western Pacific areas of responsibility. Ocean. Accompanied by 27 Mar Porter (DDG-78) Departed Norfolk Naval Comstock (LSD-45) and Station for the last time San Diego (LPD-22). before being forward- 25 Feb Olympia (SSN-717) Returned from a six- deployed to Rota, Spain. month deployment to the 27 Mar Anzio (CG-68) Departed to participate Western Pacific. in Exercise Joint Warrior 8 Mar Alert (WMEC-630) Returned from a 61-day (JW) 15-1 off the coast of counternarcotics mission Scotland. Joint Warrior in Central America. is a semiannual training 10 Mar Hawaii (SSN-776) Returned from a exercise conducted in deployment to the Western the coastal waters off the Pacific. United Kingdom. 10 Mar Polar Star (WAGB-10) Returned from a 101-day 1 April Comfort (T-AH-20) Departed on a six-month Antarctic deployment in deployment in support of support of Operation Deep Continuing Promise 2015 Freeze 2015, a multi- (CP-15). agency operation managed 10 Apr Bonhomme Richard Returned from a three- by the National Science (LHD-6) month deployment Foundation. to the 7th Fleet area 11 Mar Waesche (WMSL-751) Returned from a 79-day of responsibility. deployment to the Eastern Accompanied by Green Pacific Ocean. Bay (LPD-20) and Ashland (LSD-48). 11 Mar Theodore Roosevelt Departed her home port (CVN-71) in Norfolk for an around- 12 Apr Active (WMEC-618) Returned from an 88-day the-world deployment to deployment to the Eastern the 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet Pacific Ocean off the areas of responsibility. coast of Central America in support of Joint The Theodore Roosevelt Interagency Task Force Carrier Strike Group South (JIATF-S). (TRCSG) consisted of TR, Carrier Strike Group 15 Apr Fort Worth (LCS-3) Returned to Singapore (CSG) 12, Carrier Air after a two-month stint Wing (CVW) 1, Destroyer operating in Northeast and Squadron (DESRON) 2 Southeast Asia. staff, Normandy (CG- 16 Apr Boutwell (WHEC-719) Returned from 60), Farragut (DDG-99), deployment carrying a Forrest Sherman (DDG- record 28,000 pounds of 98), and Winston S. cocaine worth in excess Churchill (DDG-81). of $424 million, seized TR’s deployment ended during 19 interdictions by with her completing a U.S. and Canadian forces homeport shift to San near Central and South Diego, CA. TR’s change America. in home port is part 17 Apr Gary (FFG-51) Returned from her final of a three-carrier shift deployment to the 3rd involving Ronald Reagan and 4th Fleet areas of (CVN-76) and George responsibility. Washington (CVN-74).

20 Apr Grasp (T-ARS-51) Deployed to conduct dive 17 May Mercy (T-AH-19) Deployed in support of and salvage operations Pacific Partnership 2015. and train with partner 18 May Chafee (DDG-90) Departed on an nations in the 6th Fleet independent deployment area of responsibility. to the 7th and 4th Fleet 21 Apr Midgett (WHEC-726) Deployed to take part areas of responsibility. in Operation Martillo, a Participated in the combined military and Oceania Maritime international campaign Security Initiative. aimed at countering drug 18 May George Washington Departed Japan for her trafficking in the Eastern (CVN-73) last Pacific patrol as the Pacific. U.S. Navy’s forward- 22 Apr McFaul (DDG-74) Departed on an deployed aircraft carrier. independent deployment 21 May Michael Murphy Returned from a seven- to the 4th, 5th, and (DDG-112) month deployment to 6th Fleet areas of the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. responsibility. 4 May Mitscher (DDG-57) Returned from a seven- 28 May Chancellorsville Departed Naval Base month deployment to (CG-62) San Diego bound for the 5th Fleet area of Yokosuka, Japan, to join responsibility in support the forward-deployed of Operation Inherent naval forces in the Resolve and French Western Pacific. Operation Arromanches 29 May Topeka (SSN-754) Arrived at her new home while conducting plane port of U.S. Naval Base guard duty with the Guam after completing French Navy nuclear- an engineering overhaul powered aircraft carrier at the Portsmouth Naval Charles de Gaulle (R91) Shipyard. and French Navy Horizon- class frigate Chevalier 1 Jun Sampson (DDG-102) Returned from a seven- Paul (D621). month deployment to the Western Pacific. 8 May Legare (WMEC-912) Returned from a 36-day patrol in the Atlantic 4 Jun Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Returned from a ten- Ocean. month deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet 11 May Essex (LHD-2) Departed on a deployment areas of responsibility. to the 5th and 7th Fleet Embarked CVW-17 areas of responsibility. and accompanied by Essex ARG consisted Bunker Hill (CG-52), of Rushmore (LSD-47), Gridley (DDG-101), Anchorage (LPD- 23), Sterett (DDG-104), and and the 15th Marine Dewey (DDG-105). Expeditionary Unit Over the course of the (MEU). deployment, supporting 12 May Pittsburgh (SSN-720) Returned from a six- strike operations in Iraq month deployment and Syria, CVW-17 to 6th Fleet area of successfully flew 12,300 responsibility. sorties, including 2,382 15 May Helena (SSN-725) Returned from a combat missions, and deployment to the 5th dropped more than half and 6th Fleet areas of a million pounds of responsibility. ordnance against ISIS. 17 May Spearhead (T-EPF-1) Returned from a nearly 14 Jun Simpson (FFG-56) Returned from a seven- five-month deployment month deployment to the to the U.S. European 5th and 6th Fleet areas of Command and U.S. Africa responsibility. Command areas to support the Africa Partnership Station.

15 Jun Spearhead (T-EPF-1) Deployed to Central and 12 Jul Kauffman (FFG-59) Returned from a six-month South America and the deployment in support Caribbean in support of of Operation Martillo, Southern Partnership a multinational, anti- Station–JHSV 2015 (SPS- narcotics mission intended JHSV 15). to prevent criminal 15 Jun Big Horn (T-AO-198) Deployed to the 6th Fleet organizations from using area of responsibility. the waterways of the Caribbean Sea and Pacific 25 Jun Milius (DDG-69) Returned after an eight- coast of Central America to month independent smuggle narcotics, illegal deployment to the 5th firearms, and money into and 7th Fleet areas of the United States. responsibility. 19 Jul New York (LPD-21) Returned from an eight- 2 Jul Midgett (WHEC-726) Returned from a 71-day month deployment to the counter-drug deployment 5th and 6th Fleet areas of in the Eastern Pacific responsibility as part of Ocean off the coast of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Central America, where Ready Group (ARG). she interdicted seven drug-laden “panga” 20 Jul Iwo Jima (LHD-7) Returned from an eight- vessels in international month deployment to the waters, seized more than 5th and 6th Fleet areas of 12,100 pounds of cocaine responsibility. The Iwo worth an estimated $180 Jima ARG comprises million wholesale, and embarked Marines from apprehended 22 suspected the 24th MEU, the Iwo drug smugglers. Jima (LHD-7), Fort McHenry (LSD-43), and 3 Jul Pasadena (SSN-752) Returned from a six- New York (LPD-21). month deployment to the 7th Fleet area of 20 Jul North Dakota Returned from a responsibility. (SSN-784) deployment to the 6th Fleet area of 6 Jul Higgins (DDG-76) Departed on an responsibility. independent deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet 22 Jul Donald Cook Departed Naval Station areas of responsibility. (DDG-75) Rota, Spain, to begin her third forward-deployed 10 Jul Oscar Austin Returned from an eight- patrol in support of (DDG-79) month independent ballistic-missile defense of deployment to the 5th Europe and demonstrate and 6th Fleet areas of the U.S. commitment responsibility. to collective defense 11 Jul Vicksburg (CG-69) Returned from seven- of allies and partners month deployment as under Operation Atlantic flagship for the Standing Resolve. NATO Maritime Group 24 Jul Laboon (DDG-58) Returned from a six- 2 in the Mediterranean, month deployment to North, Black, and Baltic the 6th Fleet area of seas. responsibility. 29 Jul Laramie (T-AO-203) Returned from a six- month deployment to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. 1 Aug Michigan (SSGN-727) Returned from 20 months forward-deployed to Guam.

9 Aug Healy (WAGB-20) Departed on a two- 21 Aug Seawolf (SSN-21) Returned from a six- month deployment to the month deployment to North Pole to become the 6th Fleet area of the first U.S. surface responsibility, including vessel to make the trip two polar transits and a unaccompanied. routine surfacing at the 10 Aug George Washington Arrived in San Diego North Pole. (CVN-73) to conduct a ten-day 21 Aug Albuquerque Returned from a six- hull swap with Ronald (SSN-706) month deployment to Reagan (CVN-76) as the 5th Fleet area of part of a force structure responsibility, the final change. Ronald Reagan deployment in her 32-year (RR) will relieve George career. Washington (GW) as the 22 Aug Columbus (SSN-762) Returned from a three- Navy’s only forward- month deployment to deployed aircraft carrier the 4th Fleet area of in Yokosuka, Japan, responsibility. and GW will return to 28 Aug Jason Dunham Returned from a seven- Newport News, VA, for a (DDG-109) month deployment to the midlife refueling complex 4th and 6th Fleet areas of overhaul (RCOH) responsibility. following a deployment around South America. 24 Aug Alert (WMEC-630) Returned from a three- month counternarcotic and 12 Aug Stratton (WMSL-752) Returned after 114-day living marine-resources Joint Interagency Task patrol that stretched from Force South (JIATF-S) Mexico to Canada. counter-drug patrol. Interdicted two drug- 28 Aug Sequoia (WLB-215) Returned from a 25-day smuggling submarines. deployment in the Western Conducted one of the Pacific in support of largest known cocaine fisheries management and offloads in Coast Guard humanitarian efforts. history, estimated to be 31 Aug Ronald Reagan Departed San Diego for worth more than $1.01 (CVN-76) Fleet Activities Yokosuka, billion in 23 separate Japan, to replace George interdictions. Washington (CVN-73) as the U.S. Navy’s forward- deployed aircraft carrier. 4 Sep New Mexico Returned from a six- (SSN-779) month deployment to the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. US NAVY (CHELSEA D. DAILY) D. (CHELSEA US NAVY On 10 August 2015 the USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived in San Diego for a ten-day turnover with the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Join- ing them here during the historic swap is the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

5 Sep Seneca (WMEC-906) Returned after a 70-day 29 Sep Paul Hamilton Returned from an deployment to the Florida (DDG-60) independent seven-month Straits and the Eastern deployment to the 5th Pacific. and 7th Fleet areas of 6 Sep Carney (DDG-64) Departed home port of responsibility. Mayport, FL, on her way 30 Sep Comfort (T-AH-20) Returned from a six- to Rota, Spain, as the final month deployment in of four guided-missile support of Operation destroyers to be forward- Continuing Promise deployed to Spain. 2015. Treated more than 9 Sep Russell (DDG-59) Departed on an 120,000 patients and independent deployment performed more than to the 5th and 7th Fleet 1,200 surgeries in 12 areas of responsibility. countries. 14 Sep Boutwell (WHEC-719) Returned after a two-and- 2 Oct Benfold (DDG-65) Departed San Diego, a-half-month deployment CA, for Yokosuka, Japan, to the Bering Sea. where the ship will join the 7th Fleet’s forward- 21 Sep The Sullivans Departed to participate deployed naval forces. (DDG-68) in Exercise Joint Warrior 15-2 off the coast of 6 Oct Kearsarge (LHD-3) Departed for deployment Scotland. Exercise Joint to the 5th and 6th Fleet Warrior (JW). areas of responsibility. Accompanied by 25 Sep Carney (DDG-64) Arrived at her new Arlington (LPD-24) and homeport of Rota, Spain, Oak Hill (LSD-51). as the fourth forward- deployed destroyer there 9 Oct Providence (SSN-719) Returned from a and a key component of deployment to the the U.S.-European Phased 6th Fleet area of Adaptive Approach. responsibility. 27 Sep Mercy (T-AH-19) Returned from a four- 10 Oct Big Horn (T-AO-198) Returned from a four- month deployment month deployment to in support of Pacific the 6th Fleet area of Partnership 2015. More responsibility. than 20,000 people 11 Oct Hampton (SSN-767) Returned from a received medical and more than sixth- dental care, and more than month deployment to 20,500 hours went toward the 7th Fleet area of disaster preparedness. responsibility.

12 Oct Spearhead (EPF-1) Returned from a four- 16 Nov Harry S Truman Departed on deployment month deployment in (CVN-75) to the 6th and 5th Fleet support of Southern areas of responsibility. Partnership Station- HSTCSG consisted of Joint High-Speed Vessel Harry S Truman, Carrier 2015 (SPS-JHSV 15) Air Wing (CVW) 7, in the 4th Fleet area Anzio (CG-68), Destroyer of responsibility. SPS- Squadron (DESRON) JHSV 15 is a U.S. Navy 28, Bulkeley (DDG-84), deployment focused on Gonzalez (DDG-66), and subject-matter expert Gravely (DDG-107). exchanges with partner- 16 Nov Ramage (DDG-61) Departed on an eight- nation militaries and month independent security forces. ballistic-missile 16 Oct Jacksonville Returned from a six- defense deployment (SSN-699) month deployment to the to the 5th Fleet area of Western Pacific. responsibility. 19 Oct Apache (T-ATF-172) Deployed to a search area 19 Nov Valiant (WMEC-621) Returned after a 63-day northeast of Crooked patrol to the Eastern Island in the Bahamas Pacific. island chain, which was 23 Nov Theodore Roosevelt Returned from an the last known location of (CVN-71) eight-and-a-half-month the missing U.S. flagged deployment to the 5th, merchant vessel El Faro. 6th, and 7th Fleet areas 19 Oct Benfold (DDG-65) Arrived in Yokosuka, of responsibility. TR’s Japan, to join the 7th arrival in San Diego, CA, Fleet’s forward-deployed was part of the three- naval forces. carrier shift involving 23 Oct Preble (DDG-88) Returned from a seven- Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) month independent and George Washington deployment to the Western (CVN-73). CVW01 Pacific Ocean. successfully executed 1,812 combat sorties 28 Oct Houston (SSN-713) Returned from her final encompassing 10,618 deployment to the Western combat flight hours over Pacific. Iraq and Syria as part 28 Oct Santa Fe (SSN-763) Returned from a six- of Operation Inherent month deployment to the Resolve (OIR). Western Pacific. 24 Nov Bertholf (WMSL-750) Returned from a 104-day 29 Oct Healy (WAGB-20) Returned from a two- deployment to the Eastern month deployment to the Pacific Ocean in support North Pole in support of Joint Interagency Task of GEOTRACES, an Force Support (JIATF-S). international effort to 2 Dec Bainbridge (DDG-96) Returned from a seven- study the world’s oceans. month deployment to 4 Nov Germantown Returned to her forward- the 6th Fleet area of (LSD-42) deployed home port responsibility. of Sasebo, Japan, after 12 Dec Normandy (CG-60) Returned from a nine-and- completing a four-month a-half-month deployment patrol. and was the final TRCSG 7 Nov Farragut (DDG-99) Returned from an eight- ship to return to her home month deployment to the port. She was the only 5th and 6th Fleet areas of ship in the strike group to responsibility as part of circumnavigate the world, the Theodore Roosevelt transiting the 3rd, 4th, 5th, Carrier Strike Group 6th, and 7th Fleet areas of (TRCSG). responsibility.

14 Dec McFaul (DDG-74) Returned from an eight- 23 Dec Patuxent (T-AO-201) Returned after a six- month independent month deployment to the deployment to the 4th 5th and 6th Fleet areas of and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. responsibility. 30 Dec Spearhead (T-EPF-1) Deployed in support of 16 Dec Boutwell (WHEC-719) Returned from a 41-day Africa Partnership Station. deployment to the Bering Sea. Final deployment in her 47-year career. FORWARD-DEPLOYED NAVAL FORCES (FDNF) TO JAPAN 17 Dec George Washington Completed a 52,064-mile, In addition to U.S.-based carrier and expeditionary strike (CVN-73) seven-month voyage to groups that conduct rotational deployments in the 5th and 7th Naval Station Norfolk, Fleet areas of responsibility in the region, 24 ships forward- VA, after serving seven deployed to U.S. facilities in Japan and Guam in 2015. They years as the U.S. Navy’s form the heart of the 7th Fleet and provide a permanent, highly forward-deployed aircraft capable presence while reducing transit times and support costs carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. by operating from overseas bases. 17 Dec Chafee (DDG-90) Returned from a six- The following ships were forward-deployed to Japan, month independent Guam, and Spain on 31 Dec 2015 (and should be considered deployment to the 3rd, “deployed” 365 days a year). 4th, and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. FORWARD-DEPLOYED TO YOKOSUKA 18 Dec Hartford (SSN-768) Returned from a Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) deployment to the Blue Ridge (LCC-19) 6th Fleet area of responsibility. Antietam (CG-54) Chancellorsville (CG-62) US COAST GUARD US COAST In November 2015 USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) returned from a 104-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Joint Interagency Task Force Support. In August 2015, a Bertholf boarding team approached a self-propelled semi-submersible vessel smuggling 7.5 tons of cocaine, worth an estimated $227 million.

Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) Chinook (PC-9) Fitzgerald (DDG-62) Firebolt (PC-10) Lassen (DDG-82) Whirlwind (PC-11) John S. McCain (DDG-56) Thunderbolt (PC-12) McCampbell (DDG-85) Mustin (DDG-89) ADMINISTRATIVE COMMAND/REALIGNMENTS Shiloh (CG-67) Date Command Name Comments Stethem (DDG-63) 9 Jan Commander, Task Established in a ceremony Force (CTF) 75 at Camp Covington at Naval Base Guam to FORWARD-DEPLOYED TO SASEBO formalize CTF-75’s Ashland (LSD-48) command and control Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) of assigned Navy Expeditionary Combat Germantown (LSD-42) Forces within the U.S. 7th Chief (MCM-14) Fleet area of operations Patriot (MCM-7) for humanitarian Warrior (MCM-10) assistance and disaster relief as well as combat Pioneer (MCM-9) operations. Green Bay (LPD-20) 24 Feb U.S. Aegis Ashore Established this date Missile Defense per the U.S.-Poland HOMEPORTED IN GUAM System–Poland Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement signed in Frank Cable (AS-40) August 2008. The site at Chicago (SSN-721) Redzikowo, Poland, will Key West (SSN-722) be part of and support the Oklahoma City (SSN-723) European-phased adaptive approach for the missile Topeka (SSN-754) defense of Europe. 24 Jun Office of Naval Established on this date FORWARD-DEPLOYED TO ROTA, SPAIN Research Global, São because of the significant Ross (DDG-71) Paulo, Brazil growth in the science and technology and research- Donald Cook (DDG-75) and-development areas Porter (DDG-78) in Brazil that has led to Carney (DDG-64) increased collaboration between ONRG and Brazilian universities. FORWARD-DEPLOYED PATROL COASTAL (PC) SHIPS TO U.S. NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND (NAVCENT), 24 Jun Office of Naval Relocated from Singapore MANAMA, BAHRAIN Research Global to London, UK, on this Headquarters date. Ten PCs are permanently stationed in Bahrain. Five of them have provided dedicated coastal patrol capability to the 30 Jun Navy Air and Missile Disestablished this date at Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F), area of operation since Defense Command Dahlgren, VA. 2006. 30 Jun Naval Strike and Air Name modified as Naval PCs provide the U.S. Navy with a fast, reliable platform that Warfare Center Aviation Warfighting can respond to emergent requirements in a shallow-water Development Center. environment. The primary mission of these ships is coastal 30 Jun Naval Surface Established to enhance patrol and interdiction surveillance—an important aspect of and Mine Warfare fleet warfighting littoral operations outlined in the Navy’s maritime strategy. Development Center, capabilities and readiness Tempest (PC-2) Undersea Warfighting across the theater, Development operational, and tactical Hurricane (PC-3) Center, and Navy levels of war. Monsoon (PC-4) Expeditionary Typhoon (PC-5) Warfighting Development Center. Sirocco (PC-6) Squall (PC-7)

31 Jul Commander, Disestablished. 1 Oct Commander, Task Established on this date Destroyer Squadron 14 Force 64 to provide a standalone 31 Jul Commander, Surface Established this date and task force to address the Squadron 14 absorbed all missions, growth and emphasis functions, and tasks on ballistic-missile previously associated with defense (BMD) and DESRON 14. integrated air and missile defense missions in the 30 Sep Navy Information Disestablished this date United States European Operations Command per NSA directive that Command area of Menwith Hill, UK ordered removal of all responsibility. manpower resources. 30 Sep Navy Information Realigned under Operations NAVIOCOM MD. SHIPS/CRAFT RECLASSIFIED Detachment Date Comments (NAVIODET), Digby, 15 Jan Ships of the modified Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) UK class to be designated as frigates (FF). 1 Oct Zumwalt Squadron 1 Established this date 3 Sep The Joint High-Speed Vessel (JHSV) is now to support the next the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF). Mobile generation of surface Landing Platforms (MLPs) are now Expeditionary combatants, all of which Transfer Docks (ESDs). The Afloat Staging Base are scheduled to be variant of the ESD is now the Expeditionary Mobile homeported in San Diego, Base (ESB). CA. 1 Oct Commander, Navy Disestablished this date in Munitions Command Yorktown, VA, because of redundancies. US NAVY (TYLER THOMPSON) THOMPSON) (TYLER US NAVY In December 2015, the USS Hartford (SSN-768) returned from deployment in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. In March 2016, she was taking part in ICEX 2016, a five-week exercise at Ice Camp Sargo near the Arctic Circle to evaluate the region’s operational capabilities.

DECOMMISSIONINGS 8 May Taylor (FFG-50) Decommissioned Date Name (Hull No.) Comments and stricken at Naval Station Mayport, FL. 14 Jan McClusky (FFG-41) Decommissioning To be disposed of by ceremony held 9 Jan dismantling. at Naval Station San Diego. Officially 22 May Samuel B. Roberts Decommissioned decommissioned and (FFG-58) and stricken at Naval stricken. Retained as FMS Station Mayport, FL. candidate. To be disposed of by dismantling. 30 Jan Elrod (FFG-55) Decommissioned and stricken at Naval Station 30 Jun Long Island Decommissioned. Norfolk. Retained as (WPB-1342) Foreign Military Sales 30 Jun Grand Isle Decommissioned. (FMS) candidate. (WPB-1338) 20 Mar Key Biscayne Decommissioned at Coast 21 Jul Roanoke Island Decommissioned. (WPB-1339) Guard Sector Key West, (WPB-1346) FL. 5 Aug Gary (FFG-51) Decommissioning 20 Mar Knight Island Decommissioned. ceremony held at Naval (WPB-1348) Station San Diego 30 Mar Kodiak Island Decommissioned. on 23 Jul. Officially (WPB-1341) decommissioned and stricken. Retained as FMS 31 Mar Rodney M. Davis Decommissioning candidate. (FFG-60) ceremony held 23 Jan at Naval Station 21 Sep Kaufman (FFG-59) Decommissioning Everett. Officially ceremony held at decommissioned and Naval Station Norfolk stricken on this date. on 18 Sep. Officially Retained as FMS decommissioned and candidate. stricken. Retained as FMS candidate. 31 Mar Vandegrift (FFG-48) Decommissioning ceremony held 19 Feb at 30 Sep Simpson (FFG-56) Decommissioning Naval Station San Diego. ceremony held at Naval Officially decommissioned Station Mayport, FL, and stricken on this on 29 Sep. Officially date. Retained as FMS decommissioned and candidate. stricken. Last Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate 31 Mar Peleliu (LHA-5) Decommissioned at in service. Retained as Naval Station San Diego. FMS candidate. Retained as Mobilization B Asset at inactive reserve 16 Oct Albuquerque Inactivated at Naval Base fleet in Pearl Harbor. (SSN-706) Point Loma in San Diego. 6 May Rush (WHEC-723) Decommissioning ceremony held at Coast Guard Base Honolulu on 3 Feb. Officially decommissioned at Coast Guard Island Alameda, CA, and transferred to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Somudra Avijan.

SHIPS/CRAFT REACTIVATED FROM THE READY RESERVE FORCE (RRF) Date Name (Hull No.) Comments Days 30 Jan Cape Race (T-AKR-9960) Operation United Assistance 54 7 Apr Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6) Turbo Activation TA 15-01 6 7 Apr Cape Intrepid (T-AKR-11) Turbo Activation TA 15-01 7 7 Apr Cape Edmont (T-AKR-5069) Turbo Activation TA 15-01 6 27 Jul Cape Inscription (T-AKR-5076) Turbo Activation TA 15-03 6 27 Jul Cape Isabel (T-AKR-5062) Turbo Activation TA 15-03 6 27 Jul Cape Washington (T-AKR-9961) Turbo Activation TA 15-03 6 27 Jul Flickertail State (T-ACS-5) Turbo Activation TA 15-03 7 20 Aug Curtiss (T-AVB-4) Exercise Dawn Blitz 22 13 Sep Cape Mohican (T-AKR-5065) Exercise Brilliant Zenith 17 21 Sep Cape Henry (T-AKR-5067) Turbo Activation TA 15-04 8 21 Sep Cape Island (T-AKR-10) Turbo Activation TA 15-04 8 21 Sep Cape Knox (T-AKR-5082) Turbo Activation TA 15-04 9 21 Sep Cape Trinity (T-AKR-9711) Turbo Activation TA 15-04 9 Note: A turbo activation is a no-notice test of how well and how quickly the civilian companies who manage the RRF ships can bring them from reduced- to full-operating status within a specified period of time. It is funded by the Joint Staff and administered by the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM).

NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE DISPOSED OF THROUGH THE NAVY’S RECYCLING PROGRAM Ship Name Recycling Start Date Recycling Completion Date Ex-Groton (SSN-694) 09/30/13 05/30/16 Ex-Birmingham (SSN-695) 10/01/13 05/30/16 Ex-NR-1 08/01/15 05/31/17 Ex-Phoenix (SSN-702) 08/01/15 05/31/17 Ex-Baltimore (SSN-704) 08/01/15 05/31/17 Ex-Indianapolis (SSN-697) 10/01/15 11/30/17 Ex-Atlanta (SSN-712) 10/01/16 05/31/18 Ex-Narwhal (SSN-671) 10/01/16 05/31/18 Ex-Portsmouth (SSN-707) 10/01/17 11/30/18 Ex-Minneapolis/St. Paul (SSN-708) 10/01/17 11/30/18 Ex-Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709) 10/01/18 11/30/19 Ex-Salt Lake City (SSN-716) 10/01/18 11/30/19 Ex-Memphis (SSN-691) 05/01/19 11/30/20 Ex-Augusta (SSN-710) 05/01/19 11/30/20 Ex-Philadelphia (SSN-690) 10/01/19 11/30/20 Ex-Norfolk (SSN-714) 10/01/19 11/30/20 Ex-City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705) 10/01/20 11/30/21 Ex-Albuquerque 10/01/20 11/30/21 Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program: Responsible for the dismantling and disposal of decommissioned nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVN), submarines (SSN/SSBN), and cruisers (CGN). All nuclear-powered ship/submarine dismantling is done at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. Prior to commencing the inactivation availability, the submarine or ship is placed in a “stand-down” status (“active, in reserve”). This availability consists of defueling the nuclear reactor(s), de-energizing and draining ships’ systems, and removing any equipment needed for reuse in the fleet. Decommissioning and striking from the Naval Vessel Register takes place after defueling is completed. The removed nuclear fuel is sent to the facilities at Arco, Idaho, for reprocessing.

Inactivation is usually performed at Puget Sound, but can be done at any nuclear-capable shipyard, such as Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. Several boats have been inactivated there because of the backlog of work at Puget Sound. If this is done, the hull must be prepared for open tow to Puget Sound. For ships/submarines inactivated at Puget Sound the dismantling usually takes place concurrently with the inactivation availability. Hull recycling is accomplished by removing all remaining equipment, cutting the hull into manageable pieces, removing and disposing of hazardous materials, and declassifying and demilitarizing material/equipment to be scrapped. The HY-80 steel and other scrap metals are sold to commercial metals purchasers to melt down and reuse in other forms. The reactor compartments are “packaged” and shipped to the Department of Energy Nuclear Establishment at Hanford, Washington, where they are placed in a trench. Once the trench is full the compartments will be buried. The completion dates indicated in the table are the “Official Completion Dates”—the date the ship in question ceases to exist as an entity. Note: All future “Recycling Start Dates” are projected.

SHIPS/CRAFT TRANSFERRED TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES 30 Jan Monongahela (AO-178) Contract for Date Recipient USN-USCG Name/ scrapping awarded Hull Number to Southern Recycling LLC. 6 May Bangladesh Rush (WHEC-723) and renamed BNS 13 Feb Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) Contract for Somudra Avijan. scrapping awarded to Southern Recycling LLC. FORMER NAVY/MARAD SHIPS DISPOSED OF BY THE NAVY/ MARITIME ADMINISTRATION BY SCRAPPING OR OTHER 13 Feb Doyle (FFG-39) Contract for MEANS scrapping awarded to Southern Date Name (Hull No.) Comments Recycling LLC. 30 Jan James McHenry (HLS-1) Contract for 19 Feb Cape Lambert Contract for scrapping awarded (T-AKR-5077) scrapping awarded to Southern to International Recycling LLC. Shipbreaking Ltd. 24 Nov Flint (T-AE-32) Contract for scrapping awarded to All Star Metals LLC.

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