How many ships belong to a carrier strike group (CSG) and which ones are they?

Each carrier has its own CSG or CVBG, but they do not always operate with the same ships. The composition of a group may change as ships return to port for crew changes, maintenance, or a variety of reasons, but they are usually replaced by ships of the same type. Carrier Strike Group 3 was associated with USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and her support ships. These included the now-decommissioned USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) and Destroyer Squadron 21.

Destroyer Squadron 21 consists of USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Decatur (DDG 73), USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Dewey (DDG 105), and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). Each of these ships provides a different level of support ranging from a variety of offensive and defensive missile capabilities. Destroyers come in a variety of configurations, and Destroyer Squadron 21 is equipped with guided missile destroyers.

A guided missile destroyer serves as the fleet’s anti-aircraft defense, but also provides attack capabilities depending on the type of ammunition. As for personnel, the Navy keeps the exact number secret, but it is possible to make an estimate based on the standard crew of the ships in a CSG. Conservatively estimated, a CVN-72 houses 5,000 personnel, while an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile cruiser houses about 300-360 crew. All in all, a typical CSG consists of about 7,500 sailors.

(Featured image by US Navy via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | Public domain)