Carrier Strike Group 3

Carrier Strike Group 3
Carrier Strike Group Three crest
Active	1 October 2004 to date.
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Carrier Strike Group
Role	Naval air/surface warfare
Part of	U.S. Third Fleet
Garrison/HQ	Naval Base Kitsap, Washington
Nickname(s)	John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group
Motto(s)	In Mundo Optimum (The Best in the World)
Engagements	Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Website	Official Website
Commanders
Commander	Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer
Chief of Staff	Captain William C. Minter
Command Master Chief	ITCM (IDW/SW/AW) Marion H. Shawbell
Notable commanders	Bruce W. Clingan
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	EA-18G Growler
Fighter	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F/A-18C Hornet
Helicopter	MH-60R Seahawk MH-60S Knighthawk
Reconnaissance	E-2C Hawkeye
Transport	Grumman C-2 Greyhound

Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3 or CARSTRKGRU 3) is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore. The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is the group's current flagship. Other units assigned include Carrier Air Wing Nine; the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) and USS Antietam (CG-54); and the ships of Destroyer Squadron 21.

Between 2005 and 2013, the group made five deployments to the U.S. Fifth Fleet supporting U.S. ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. On 18 December 2011, strike group aircraft flew the final carrier-based air mission over Iraq, effectively ending U.S. naval support for Operation New Dawn.

The aircraft carrier Wasp was assigned to Carrier Division Three from November 1940. In April 1941 a Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol was established under Admiral A.B. Cook, based at Bermuda. It comprised Carrier Division Three, the cruisers Quincy and Vincennes, and Destroyer Squadron 11. On 7 December 1941, in the Atlantic Fleet, Carrier Division Three comprises Wasp and Ranger under Rear Admiral A.B. Cook. Commander Carrier Division Three served as Commander Task Force 77 during the Korean War. In 1966, Carrier Division Three was embarked aboard USS Enterprise flying missions in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam.