SAN DIEGO The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and embarked Carrier Strike
Group (CSG) 11, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23
are scheduled to arrive at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Dec. 12, following
an eight-and-a-half-month deployment to the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of
responsibility.
CVW-11 and DESRON 23 will disembark Nimitz following the ship’s arrival.
Nimitz serves as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, led by Commander,
CSG 11, Rear Adm. Michael S. White. The Nimitz Strike Group consists of USS Nimitz,
USS Princeton (CG 59), DESRON 23 guided-missile destroyers USS Shoup (DDG 76),
USS Higgins (DDG 86), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) and USS Stockdale
(DDG 106) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11.
CVW-11 consists of the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, the
“Argonauts” of VFA 147, the “Blue Diamonds” of VFA 146, the “Death Rattlers” of
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, the “Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack
Squadron (VAQ) 142, the “Wallbangers” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW)
117, the “Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, and the “Wolf Pack” of
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75.
Once Nimitz departs Naval Air Station North Island, the carrier will transit to its
homeport of Everett, Wash.
Source: Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (N01P)
