Carrier battle group

The Abraham Lincoln battle group during the 2000 RIMPAC exercises

A carrier battle group (CVBG) consists of an aircraft carrier (CV) and its escorts.

History

The CVBG was first used in World War II, primarily in conflicts between the United States and Japan in the Pacific. CVBGs at the time consisted of a far larger number of ships than current CVBGs, and this marked the only time CVBGs have fought each other, notably at the Battle of Coral Sea for the first time and then at the epic Battle of Midway one month later. In the Pacific theater, the carrier replaced the battleship as the measure of power projection and relative strength. The U.S. eventually put over 100 carriers of varying sizes to sea and employed the carrier battle groups in large formations under its 3rd and 5th Fleets.

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The U.S. Sixth Fleet and its carrier battle group ships at anchor in 1965

During the Cold War, the main role of the CVBG in case of conflict with the Soviet Union would have been to protect Atlantic supply routes between the United States and Europe, while the role of the Soviet Navy would have been to interrupt these sea lanes, a fundamentally easier task. Because the Soviet Union had no large carriers of its own, a situation of dueling aircraft carriers would have been unlikely. However, the Soviet Navy sailed attack submarines whose primary mission was to shadow every CVBG and, on the outbreak of serious hostilities, sink the carrier. Understanding this threat, the CVBG expended enormous resources in its own anti-submarine warfare mission.

Carrier battle groups in crisis

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, most of the uses of CVBGs by the United States as well as that of other nations have been in situations in which their use has been uncontested by other comparable forces.

Taiwan Strait

The main scenario involving carriers coming under fire which is of interest to naval strategists has been a conflict between the United States and the People's Republic of China over the Republic of China (Taiwan). Carrier battle groups have been involved in the disputes related to the Taiwan Strait since the eruption of hostilities over the islands of Quemoy and Matsu in 1958. There is a consensus among observers that most of the military effort expended by the People's Liberation Army Navy since the 1990s has been to at least complicate the deployment of a CVBG in a Taiwan Strait conflict.

Carriers in the 1956 Suez Crisis

British, French and American carrier battle groups were all involved in the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Carriers in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the main scenario of interest would be an attack against a CVBG using large number of anti-ship cruise missiles. The first attempted use of anti-ship missiles against a carrier group was part of Argentina's efforts against Britain in the Falklands War/Malvinas. Interestingly, this was the last conflict in which both sides possessed aircraft carriers and first in which anti-ship missiles were used.

Lebanon

The United States Sixth Fleet assembled a force of three carrier battle groups and a battleship during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983. Daily reconnaissance flights were flown over the Bekaa Valley and a strike was flown against targets in the area resulting in loss of an A-6 Intruder and an A-7 Corsair.

Gulf of Sidra

Carrier battle groups routinely operated in the Gulf of Sidra inside the "Line of Death" proclaimed by Libya resulting in aerial engagements in 1981, 1986 and 1989 between U.S. Navy Tomcats and Libyan Su-22 aircraft , SA-5 surface-to-air missiles and MiG-23 fighters. During the 1986 clashes, three carrier battle groups deployed to the Gulf of Sidra and ultimately two of them conducted strikes against Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon.

The U.S. Navy carrier strike group

The traditional term of carrier battle group (CVBG or CARBATGRU) has been replaced by carrier strike group (CSG) in the U.S. Navy. A CSG is a group of ships centered around an aircraft carrier and commanded by an admiral. The United States Navy maintains 12 carrier strike groups, 11 of which are based in the United States and one that is forward deployed in Japan (Kitty Hawk CSG). The fleet response plan requires that six of these groups be deployed or ready for deployment within 30 days at any given time, while two additional groups must be ready for deployment within 90 days. Their existence is an important part of the power projection capability of the United States in that they provide the ability to strike quickly almost anywhere in the world. The U.S. Navy provides a regular CSG deployment rotation of deployments typically lasting six months based on the needs of combatant commands (COCOMs) that request presence of a carrier in their respective area of responsibility (AOR).

The large number of CSGs used by the United States reflects, in part, a division of roles and missions allotted during the Cold War, in which the United States assumed primary responsibility for blue water operations and for safeguarding supply lines between the United States and Europe, while the NATO allies assumed responsibility for brown and green water operations.

CSG composition

U.S. Navy ships assigned to the George Washington Carrier Strike Group sail in formation for a strike group photo in the Caribbean Sea April 29, 2006. Such a formation, referred to derisively as the "bullseye" formation, would not be used in combat.

While an aircraft carrier has the ability to project a large amount of air power, it is vulnerable to attack from aircraft, submarines, and other surface ships. The primary role of the other ships in the battle group is to help protect the carrier from enemy air, surface, and submarine threats. The primary role of the carrier and its air wing is to provide the offensive firepower. These roles are not exclusive. Other ships in the battle group sometimes undertake offensive operations (launching cruise missiles, for instance) and the carrier's air wing contributes to the battle group's defense (through combat air patrols and airborne anti-submarine efforts).

CSGs are not restricted to a specific composition and can be modified depending on expected threats, roles, or missions expected during a deployment, and one may be different from another. However, they are all composed of similar types of ships, and a U.S. Navy carrier strike group typically includes:

• A supercarrier commanded by an aviation community captain (O-6) who reports directly to the commander of the CSG. The carrier provides a wide range of options to the U.S. government, ranging from simply showing the flag, to attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets. Because carriers operate in international waters, their aircraft do not need to secure landing rights on foreign soil. These ships also engage in sustained operations in support of other forces. The carrier is the flagship of the battle group, with the commanding rear admiral on board, making use of the advanced combat information center and communications suite.
• A carrier air wing (CVW) commanded by an aviation community captain (O-6) (or colonel in case of Marine serving as CAG) who reports directly to the commander of the CSG and is known as the "CAG", the carrier air wing typically has up to nine squadrons commanded by a commander (O-5)(or lieutenant colonel if a Marine squadron). The CAG and CO of the carrier are coequal in staus under the Commander of the CSG (historically, before 1983, the CAG was a department head under the Captain of the ship, but SECNAV John Lehman created and instituted the concept of a Super CAG with the same seniority as the CO of the carrier.
• A Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) commanded by a surface community captain (0-6) who reports to the CSG commander and commands the escort ships.
• One to two Aegis guided missile cruisers (CG), of the Ticonderoga class — multi-mission surface combatant, equipped with Tomahawk missiles for long-range strike capability.
• Two to three guided missile destroyers (DDG), of the Arleigh Burke class ; multi-mission surface combatant, used primarily for anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), but also carries Tomahawk missiles for long-range strike capability.
• Up to two attack submarines usually Los Angeles; in a direct support role seeking out and destroying hostile surface ships and submarines
• A combined ammunition, oiler and supply ship (AOE/AOR), usually supply (T-AOE); provides logistic support enabling the Navy's forward presence: on station, ready to respond.

The carrier strike group (CSG) could be employed in a variety of roles, most of which would involve the gaining and maintenance of sea control:

• Protection of economic and/or military shipping.
• Protection of a U.S. Marine Corps amphibious force while en route to, and upon arrival in, an amphibious objective area.
• Establishing air superiority or supremacy in an area in combination with land-based aircraft.
• Establishing a naval presence in support of national interests.

Expeditionary strike group

The U.S. Navy renamed its amphibious ready group (ARG) as expeditionary strike groups in concert with the CSG concept and provided the traditional three ship ARG with additional escorts similar to the CSG.

Battleship battle group

During the period when the American navy recommissioned all four of its Iowa class battleships, it sometimes used a similar formation centered around a battleship, referred to as a battleship battle group (BBG).

Other carrier battle groups

British carrier battle groups

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French carrier battle groups

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Spanish carrier battle group

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Argentine carrier battle group

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Italian carrier battle group

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Indian carrier battle group

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Russian carrier battle groups

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Brazilian carrier battle group

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Underway replenishment

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USS Reagan conducting underway replenishment at same time as an AEGIS class destroyer

The viability of the carrier battle group since its origins was dependent on its ability to remain at sea for extended periods. Specialized ships were developed to provide underway replenishment of fuel (for the carrier and its aircraft), ordnance, and other supplies necessary to sustain operations. Carrier battle groups devote a great of planning to efficiently conduct underway replenishment to minimize the time spent conducting replenishment. The carrier can also provide replenishment on a limited basis to its escorts, but typically a replenishment ship such as an fast combat support ship (AOE) or replenishment oiler (AOR) pulls alongside a carrier and conducts simultaneous operations with the carrier on its port side and one of the escorts on its starboard side. The advent of the helicopter provides ability to replenishment by lifting supplies at the same time that fuelling hoses and and lines are delivering other goods.

Debate on future viability

There is debate in naval warfare circles as to the viability of carrier battle groups in 21st century naval warfare. Proponents of the CVBG argue that it provides unmatched fire power and force projection capabilities. Opponents argue that CVBGs are increasingly vulnerable to arsenal ships and cruise missiles, especially those with supersonic flight and the ability to do radical trajectory changes to avoid anti-missile systems. It is also noted that that CVBGs were designed for Cold War scenarios, and are less useful in establishing control of areas close to shore. It is argued however that such missiles and arsenal ships pose no serious threat as they would be eliminated due to increasing improvement in ship defenses such as CEC (cooperative engagement capability), DEW technology and missile technology.

However, even prior to 9/11, carriers were called upon to be first responders even when conventional land based aircraft were employed. During Desert Shield, the U.S. Navy sortied additional carriers to augment the on station assets eventually maintaining six carriers for Desert Storm. Although the U.S. Air Force sent fighters such as the F-16 to theater in Desert Shield, they had to carry bombs with them as no stores were in place for sustained operations whereas the carriers arrived on scene with full magazines and had support ships to allow them to conduct strikes indefinitely.

The Global War on Terror (GWOT) has shown the flexibility and responsiveness of the carrier on multiple occasions when land based air was not feasible or able to respond in a timely fashion. After the attack on the US, carriers immediately headed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom and took up station building to a carrier response of three carriers. Their steaming location was closer to the targets in Afghanistan than any land based assets and thereby more responsive. The USS Kitty Hawk was adapted to be a support base for special operations helicopters. Carriers were used again in Operation Iraqi Freedom and even provided aircraft to be based ashore on occasion and have done so periodically since when special capabilities are needed. This precedent was established during World War II in the Battle of Guadalcanal and still remains viable through today.

See also

• U.S. Carrier Group Tactics