CVN-73 · U.S. 7th Fleet · Forward-deployed to Japan
USS George Washington
Click a numbered dot for that week's report. Current position uses the newest USNI Pulse or Fleet Tracker; Pulse map pins when available.
This week
Arabian Sea
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), along with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and USS Shoup (DDG-86), are operating in the Arabian Sea in support of U.S.
Full report
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), along with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and USS Shoup (DDG-86), are operating in the Arabian Sea in support of U.S. operations in the Middle East.
Carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
Destroyer Squadron 15 is based in Yokosuka, Japan, and embarked aboard George Washington .
Deployment
The ship
40 Navy photos of CVN-73 · scroll sideways
- Capt. Nicholas DeLeoCommanding officer
- Rear Adm. Jeffrey HeamesCSG-5 / Task Force 70 commander
All specs
- Class
- Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
- Commissioned
- July 4, 1992
- Homeport
- Yokosuka, Japan (forward-deployed since Nov 2024)
- Displacement
- ~104,000 tons full load
- Flight deck width
- 252 ft flight deck (77 m)
- Propulsion
- 2 A4W nuclear reactors, 4 shafts
- Ship's crew
- ~3,000 sailors
- Air wing personnel
- ~2,500 more
Who's on board — Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5)
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan — the Navy's only forward-deployed air wing. About 85 aircraft on a typical patrol. Tap a squadron for the jet count and publicly named leaders — the Navy does not publish a roster of every pilot on this cruise.
VFA-147 “Argonauts”14× F-35C Lightning II
Stealth strike fighter
About 20 fighter pilots. Each jet is single-seat.
- Cmdr. Michael J. AustinCommanding officer
- Cmdr. Andre WebbExecutive officer
- CMDCM Danderrick OcampoCommand master chief
VFA-102 “Diamondbacks”12× F/A-18F Super Hornet
Strike fighter (two-seat)
About 12 pilots and 12 weapon systems officers — two people in each jet.
- Cmdr. Brett HavelkaCommanding officer
VFA-27 “Royal Maces”12× F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike fighter
About 18 fighter pilots. Each jet is single-seat.
- Cmdr. Matthew WarshawCommanding officer
- Cmdr. Justin WileyExecutive officer
- CMDCM Christian N. VardeleonCommand master chief
VFA-195 “Dambusters”12× F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike fighter
About 18 fighter pilots. Each jet is single-seat.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
VAQ-141 “Shadowhawks”8× EA-18G Growler
Electronic attack / jamming
About 8 pilots and 8 electronic-warfare officers — two people in each jet.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
VAW-125 “Tigertails”5× E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Airborne radar & control
About 5 crews of 5 (2 pilots + 3 naval flight officers) per Hawkeye.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
HSC-12 “Golden Falcons”8× MH-60S Sea Hawk
Rescue & logistics helicopters
About 16 helicopter pilots plus aircrewmen.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
HSM-77 “Saberhawks”11× MH-60R Sea Hawk
Sub-hunting helicopters
About 22 helicopter pilots plus sonar operators.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
VRM-30 Det. 5 “Titans”3× CMV-22B Osprey
Carrier delivery / cargo
About 6 pilots plus crew chiefs on this detachment.
Individual aircrew names are not published. Squadron leadership is not listed on the public Navy page right now.
Ships sailing with the carrier
- USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) — Guided-missile cruiser
- USS Benfold (DDG-65) — Guided-missile destroyer
- USS Shoup (DDG-86) — Guided-missile destroyer
Navy news — tap a headline to expand
The Future of French Fleet Close-in DefenseNov 6
TOULON, France — Behind the bridge wings of one of Europe’s most modern combat supply ships, a team of French sailors donned gloves and flash hoods.
III MEF Extends Curfew for Junior Members in Okinawa Following Murder IndictmentNov 6
The U.S. military extended a curfew on Okinawa for junior service members that was scheduled to expire on Sunday and is continuing to impose restrictions on the purchase and consumption of alcohol.
USNI News Western Pacific Pulse: Nov. 6, 2026Nov 6
The following is a summary of major ship movements and exercises in the Western Pacific over the last week. In Singapore The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group pulled into Singapore on Friday for a port visit.
Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Pulls Into SingaporeNov 6
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group pulled into Singapore on Friday for a port visit, USNI News understands.
North Korean Leader Inspects New Warship Under Construction at Nampho ShipyardNov 5
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un inspected the ongoing construction of a new warship that is larger than the country’s 5,000-ton destroyers on Monday during a visit to North Korea’s Nampho Shipyard, state media reported…
Marines Identify Member Who Died After Fast-rope Training in JapanNov 5
Lance Cpl. Devin Hernandez died this week after he was injured during fast-rope training in Japan, the 3rd Marine Division announced Thursday. Hernandez, 25, sustained injuries during training at Camp Schwab in Okinawa.
USS Stout Loses Power During Port Visit Due to ‘Engineering Casualty’Nov 5
A deployed destroyer recently lost power during a port visit to Italy, USNI News understands. USS Stout (DDG-55) was in port in Augusta Bay, Italy, for a scheduled port visit on Oct.
Defense Primer on U.S. Special Operations ForcesNov 5
The following is the Nov. 3, 2026, Congressional Research Service report Defense Primer: U.S. Special Operations Forces. From the Report U.S.
Report to Congress on the Federal Fleet of Oceanographic Research VesselsNov 4
The following is the Oct. 28, 2026, Congressional Research Service report, The Federal Fleet of Oceanographic Research Vessels: Issues for Congress.
Marine Dies During Training Event in JapanNov 4
A Marine died Tuesday during a training event at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, 3rd Marine Division announced Wednesday. Few details were available about the Marine’s death.
Navy Taps Career Submariner to Lead PAE MaritimeNov 4
The Navy tapped career submariner Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker to lead the service’s new surface shipbuilding acquisition office, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced Wednesday.
Royal Navy Carriers Operate in the High North, MediterraneanNov 4
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is conducting operations across the High North as HMS Queen Elizabeth (RO8) trains in the Mediterranean.
First Flight II San Antonio-class Amphib Completes Builder’s TrialsNov 3
The first Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock completed builder’s sea trials over the weekend, Ingall’s Shipbuilding announced Tuesday.
U.K. Forces Track Russian Warships in 3 Operations Spanning 2 WeeksNov 3
The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force tracked Russian ships operating near the U.K. over three operations spanning a two-week period last month, the services announced Monday.