Carrier Strike Group 5

Carrier Strike Group 5
Carrier Strike Group 5 crest
Active	25 April 1944 to date
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Carrier Strike Group
Part of	U.S. Seventh Fleet
Homeport	Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan
Nickname(s)	George Washington Carrier Strike Group
Motto(s)	First to Fight
Engagements	World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Website	Official Website

Carrier Strike Group 5, also known as CSG 5 or CARSTRKGRU 5, is the U.S. Navy carrier strike group assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet and permanently forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Strike Group Flagship is the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) which also embarks Strike Warfare Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5) and its nine squadrons. As of June 2015, CSG 5 includes two Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Destroyer Squadron Fifteen (CDS 15), which serves as the Sea Combat Commander and is responsible for nine assigned Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

CSG 5 is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the group's ships and aviation squadrons. As the only continuously forward deployed carrier strike group, the CSG-5 staff does not stand down when the strike group is in Yokosuka, but instead continues to maintain support ROR deploying Carrier Strike Groups, that operate in the Seventh Fleet operating area. The commander and staff are also responsible for the higher level Task Force 70 duties throughout the year in addition to the CSG-5 duties. The composition of the strike group in immediate proximity of the George Washington varies throughout the year.^[1][2]

The CSG 5 Commander also serves as commander, Task Force (CTF 70) for 7th Fleet. In these responsibilities, CSG 5 serves as the Theater Strike Warfare Commander (TSTWC), commander of the George Washington carrier strike group, and provides advice and support to other Carrier Strike Groups operating in the Seventh Fleet Operating area. As the Theater Strike Warfare Commander, CSG-5 is responsible for coordinating fires against land targets throughout the Seventh Fleet Operating Area. Since 2023 CTF-70 also oversees CTF-71 the Theater Surface Warfare Commander, duties assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESRON 15).

As CTF-71, DESRON 15 oversees all independently deploying U.S cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and Coast Guard Cutters operating in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

CTF-70 oversees two forward deployed Cruiser (USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) and USS Antietam (CG-54)) who alternate serving as Theater Integrated Air Missile Defense Commander (TIAMDC) for Seventh Fleet.

George Washington and the ten surface combatant ships operate out of Yokosuka, Japan, while CVW 5 operates out of Iwakuni, Japan, when not embarked on George Washington. Together, these units form the U.S. Navy's only continuously forward deployed (and largest) carrier strike group.^[3]