Carrier Strike Group 9 (CSG-9 or CARSTRKGRU 9) is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Commander Carrier Strike Group 9 (COMCARSTRKGRU 9 or CCSG 9) is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the ships and aviation squadrons assigned to the group. The group reports to Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, which also supervises its pre-deployment training and certification that includes Composite Unit Training Exercises.
It is currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The aircraft carrier is the group's current flagship. Other group units include Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, the s and , and Destroyer Squadron 23.
The strike group traces its history to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3, created on 30 June 1973, by the re-designation of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 11. From 2004, the strike group has made multiple Middle East deployments providing air forces over Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as conducting Maritime Security Operations. The strike group received the Humanitarian Service Medal in recognition of its disaster relief efforts in Indonesia during Operation Unified Assistance in 2004–05.
Historical background
flew the flag of the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 11 from 1 August to 11 November 1962.
Effective 30 June 1973, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 11 was re-designated as Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three (CCDG-3). was part of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three in 1975. In 1978, the Group directed Destroyer Squadron 7, Destroyer Squadron 17, and Destroyer Squadron 27 (Naval Reserve Force), all at San Diego. On 10 December 1981, the group staff embarked on board the aircraft carrier to prepare for its first Carrier Battle Group deployment. Since that date, deployments have been made on the , , , and .
Rear Admiral Jonathan Howe commanded the group in 1984–86. During 1986, Enterprise'''s battle group deployment was directed by Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three.
In early 1991, Rear Admiral P. M. Quast, commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, led Battle Group Bravo on deployment to the Middle East. The group consisted of USS Nimitz, USS Texas, USS Rentz, , , , and , along with commander, Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked in Nimitz.
In April 1992, the Navy implemented the 'core battle group' concept. From this point each carrier battle group was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruisers, destroyers, and frigates; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. This reorganization set off a round of ship arrivals and reassignments for the group. From April 1992 the group was assigned as permanent Immediate Superior in Command for , , and . was assigned to CCDG-3, but was decommissioned in January 1994. In August 1992, and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen were added, and CCDG-3 took on the additional title of Commander, Carl Vinson Battle Group. In October 1992, Surface Squadron 5 was redesignated Destroyer Squadron 5 and assigned under CCDG-3. The addition of , , , and rounded out the Vinson Battle Group's forces. In December 1992, two submarines, and were added. joined the group in March 1993 and joined in September 1994.
Following this round of reassignments, Polmar reported in 1993 that the group had the following structure: Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, late 1992
The group completed a very successful deployment to the Persian Gulf in August 1994. In January 1996, the Carl Vinson Battle Group was redesignated the Carl Vinson Task Group, and Destroyer Squadron 5 was reassigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific in Hawaii on 1 February 1996. The Carl Vinson Task Group successfully completed all predeployment examinations and deployed in May 1996 with USS Carl Vinson, , , , , , , , and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen.