A carrier air wing (abbreviated CVW) is an operational
naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft
squadron
Squadron may refer to:
* Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies
* Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, de ...
s and detachments of various types of
fixed-wing and
rotary-wing aircraft. Organized, equipped and trained to conduct
modern US Navy carrier air operations while embarked aboard
aircraft carriers, the various squadrons in an air wing have different but complementary (and sometimes overlapping) missions, and provide most of the striking power and
electronic warfare capabilities of a
carrier battle group (CVBG). While the CVBG term is still used by other nations, the CVBG in US parlance is now known as a
carrier strike group (CSG).
Until 1963, Carrier Air Wings were known as Carrier Air Groups (CVGs). Carrier Air Wings are what the
United States Air Force would call "composite" wings, and should not be confused with U.S. Navy
''Type'' Wings (such as
Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic
{{Infobox military unit
, unit_name = Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic
, native_name =
, image =File:Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic.jpg
, image_size =300
, alt =
, caption =
, dates = 1 September 1993-Present
, disbanded =
, country ={{flag, Uni ...
), which are primarily administrative and training commands composed of squadrons of the same type of carrier-based aircraft when not deployed. The
United States Marine Corps equivalent command-level organization to a CVW is the
Marine Aircraft Group (MAG). However, MAGs are shore-based (with sea-based capability) and may contain any combination of
aircraft squadrons and
aviation support units. Carrier Air Wings integrate closely with their assigned aircraft carriers, forming a "carrier/air wing team" that trains and deploys together. There are currently nine U.S. Navy Carrier Air Wings; four of the wing commanders and their staffs are based at
Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, four are based at
Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, and one is aboard
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The squadrons which make up each wing are based at various bases in the U.S. with their respective
Type Wing Commanders with the exception of those squadrons assigned to the Japan based airwing which are based at
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (fixed wing squadrons) and
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan (helicopters).
In addition to the squadrons which happen to be based at NAS Oceana and NAS Lemoore with the wing staffs the CONUS-based air wings also have squadrons based at
NAS Whidbey Island, Washington;
NAS Point Mugu,
NAS North Island, and
MCAS Miramar in California;
NAS Jacksonville, Florida;
MCAS Beaufort
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort or MCAS Beaufort is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) air base located northwest of the central business district of Beaufort, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. About 4,700 personnel s ...
, South Carolina;
MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina; and
NS Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk is a United States Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, that is the headquarters and home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. The installation occupies about of waterfront space and of pier and wharf space of the Hampt ...
/Chambers Field, Virginia. These air wings are occasionally reassigned to different aircraft carriers based on carrier maintenance schedules. A modern air wing consists of roughly 1,500 personnel and 74–78 aircraft.
Origins
The first ''Carrier Air Groups'' (as they were then called) were activated in 1937. From July 1937 to mid-1942, Carrier Air Groups were permanently assigned to and identified by their parent aircraft carrier, and group squadrons were numbered according to the carrier's hull number. For example, the ''Enterprise Air Group'', assigned to , were all numbered "6":
Fighting Squadron (VF) 6, Bombing Squadron (VB) 6, etc. From 1942, numerical designation of air groups began, the first being Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9), established on 1 March 1942.
[Roy A. Grossnick (ed.), United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995]
Appendix 15
accessed May 2012 For a while, they were given unique numbers according to their assigned carriers' hull number (i.e., the Saratoga Air Group became CVG-3). This numbering scheme was also soon scrapped as carrier groups (now abbreviated CVGs) frequently moved from carrier to carrier. At this point, the carrier groups simply retained their number designation regardless of the carrier assigned.
The first formal system for air group identification (''Visual Identification System for Naval Aircraft'') was established in January 1945. This consisted of geometric symbols that identified the parent carrier, not the air group. As there were just too many carriers and the symbols were hard to remember or to describe over the radio, a single or double letter system was introduced in July 1945. The letters, however, still identified the carrier, not the air group. The following identifications are known:
* : CC
* : M
*
USS Essex (CV-9): A
*: RR
*
USS Intrepid (CV-11)
USS ''Intrepid'' (CV/CVA/CVS-11), also known as The Fighting "I", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in August 1943, ''Intrepid'' participated in se ...
: AF
*: S
* : V
* : L
* : H
* : X
* : U
* : TT
* : C
*
USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)
USS ''Bon Homme Richard'' (CV/CVA-31) was the 14th of the 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. She was the second US Navy ship to bear the name, the first one being named for John Paul Jones's famous ...
: SS
* : Z
''Shangri-La'' is known to have had her Lightning Bolt on the flight deck forward and aft replaced by her air group identification letter "Z", as the slight remaining Lightning Bolt can be seen painted on the deck beneath the Z on the victory photos of the carrier.
Due to the ongoing combat and the end of the war, a mix of identification codes was used in late 1945. Starting in late 1946, the letters identified the carrier air group, and not the carrier. The use of single letters was discontinued in 1957.
On 15 November 1946, to correct the results of demobilization which had left squadron numbers all out of sequence, sweeping changes were made in air unit designations.
Carrier Air Groups of four types were designated according to their assigned ship, as CVBG for Battle Carrier, CVG for Attack Carrier, CVLG for Light Carrier and CVEG for Escort Carrier. Two years later, on 1 September 1948, all carrier air groups became CVG regardless of their carrier affiliation.
On 20 December 1963, Carrier Air Groups were retitled Wings, and the acronym CVG became CVW.
Replacement Air Groups, which were set up in 1958, became Combat Readiness Air Groups on 1 April 1963. Often known by the short titles RAG and CRAG in the respective periods, their designation throughout was RCVG. When Groups became Wings, CRAG became CRAW and RCVG became RCVW.
From 1960 to 1974, the U.S. Navy also operated ''Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Groups (CVSG)''. These typically consisted of two fixed-wing anti-submarine squadrons (VS), a helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS), and two smaller squadrons or squadron detachments of 3–4 aircraft for airborne early warning (VAW) and self-defense (VA, VMA, VSF, VF).
Carrier Air Group/Carrier Air Wing Commander
Initially and during WWII, the commander of the air group (known as the "CAG") was the most senior officer of the embarked squadrons and was expected to personally lead all major strike operations, co-ordinating the attacks of the carrier's fighter, bomber, and torpedo planes in combat. The CAG was a department head of the ship reporting to the carrier's commanding officer.
In 1963 when Carrier Air Groups were retitled Wings, the commander retained the legacy title of "CAG" which continues to this day.
After WWII through 1983, CAGs were typically post-squadron command aviators in the rank of commander. Though the CAG was in command of the air wing, he functioned as a department head reporting to the carrier's commanding officer once the wing embarked. The CAG would typically be promoted to captain after their tour and subsequently command a deep draft support vessel, then an aircraft carrier as a senior captain. In 1983,
Secretary of the Navy John Lehman elevated the CAG position to a captain's billet and on-par with aircraft carrier's commander while embarked, both officers reporting directly to the
Carrier Battle Group commander. During this transition period some air wings were commanded by commanders, others by captains; these new captain CAGs were dubbed "Super CAGs" until all air wings transitioned. Later the position of deputy CAG (DCAG) was established and filled by junior captains who assisted the CAGs until they eventually "fleet up" to replace the out-going CAG. This system remains in place today.
A modern carrier air wing has a small command staff consisting of 16–20 officers and approximately 20 enlisted personnel. It is headed by the CAG, who is a navy
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
with an aeronautical designation as a
Naval Aviator
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
or
naval flight officer. In the decade of the 2000s, the Navy and Marine Corps "cross pollinated" Carrier Air Wings and
Marine Aircraft Groups by assigning a Marine Corps
colonel as the commander of one carrier air wing and a Navy captain as the commander of one Marine aircraft group. That practice ceased before the end of the decade.
Second in command is the deputy commander (DCAG), also a navy captain aviator or NFO, who "fleets up" to the CAG position after about 18 months. Also on the staff are an operations officer (typically a commander), a number of warfare specialists (typically lieutenant commanders or lieutenants), two wing
landing signal officers, an intelligence officer, a weapons officer and a maintenance officer. The air wing staff is often supplemented with squadron personnel, such as the squadron intelligence officers. The CAG reports to a
rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
in the position of commander,
Carrier Strike Group and is equal with the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier as well as the embarked
Destroyer Squadron (
DESRON) commander and the attached guided missile cruiser commanding officer. The CAG serves as the Strike Group's strike warfare commander, responsible for all offensive strike operations (including
Tomahawk missiles). CAGs are typically qualified to fly at least two types of aircraft in the Carrier Air Wing inventory.
Carrier Air Group/Wing composition
World War II
Typical air group composition aboard the
Yorktown Class carriers, at the beginning of
World War II, consisted of approximately 72 aircraft:
*1 fighter squadron (VF) composed of 18
Grumman F4F Wildcats
*1 bombing squadron (VB) composed of 18 Douglas
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive ...
dive bombers
*1 scouting squadron (VS) composed of 18 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
*1 torpedo squadron (VT) composed of 18
Douglas TBD Devastator or
Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
During the course of the war in the Pacific, the compositions of the air groups changed drastically. The scouting squadrons were disestablished by early 1943 and the number of fighter planes was increased continuously. Typically in 1943 an
Essex class
The ''Essex'' class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. The 20th century's most numerous class of capital ship, the class consisted of 24 vessels, which came in "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions. Thirty-two ships we ...
carrier carried 36 fighters, 36 bombers and 18 torpedo planes.
By the end of WWII, a typical Essex air group was over 100 aircraft, consisting of :
*1 squadron of 18
Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
*4 squadrons of 72
Vought F4U Corsair fighter/bombers
*1 squadron of 12
Grumman TBM Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval a ...
torpedo bombers
Korea and Cold War (1950–1953)
Carrier Air Groups typically had four fighter squadrons with 58 planes and an attack squadron of 14 planes.
*2–3 jet fighter/fighter bomber squadrons flying the
Grumman F9F Panther
*1–2 piston fighter squadrons flying
Vought F4U Corsairs
*1 attack squadron flying
Douglas AD Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly known as the AD Skyraider) is an American single-seat attack aircraft in service from 1946 to the early 1980s. The Skyraider had an unusually long career, remaining in front-line service well into the Jet Age ...
s
New to the air wings in the Cold War period after Korea and just prior to Vietnam were specialized squadrons or detachments of aircraft for heavy attack/nuclear strike (VAH), photographic reconnaissance (VAP/VFP, RVAH), airborne early warning (VAW), all-weather medium attack (VA), advanced twin-seat fighters (VF), electronic countermeasures (VAQ), and rescue and plane guard helicopters (HU).
Vietnam (1964–1973) and Cold War (1959–1973)
During the
Vietnam War, Attack Carrier Air Wings typically consisted of approximately 70 aircraft, including two fighter squadrons and three attack squadrons, plus the special squadrons and detachments (VAW, VAQ, RVAH or VFP, VQ, HC or HS).
In 1965, a typical Carrier Air Wing consisted of:
*2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying
Vought F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the Frenc ...
s or
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...
s
*2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks
*1 attack squadron (VA) flying
Douglas A-1 Skyraiders or
Grumman A-6 Intruders
*1 heavy attack squadron (VAH) flying
Douglas A-3 Skywarriors or
North American A-5 Vigilante
The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated t ...
s
*1 light photographic squadron (VFP) detachment flying
Vought RF-8 Crusaders or 1 reconnaissance attack squadron (RVAH) flying
North American RA-5C Vigilante
The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated t ...
s
*1 carrier airborne early warning (VAW) squadron detachment of 2–3
Grumman E-1 Tracer airborne early warning aircraft
By the end of the Vietnam War in 1973, a typical air wing consisted of ~90 aircraft:
*2 fighter squadrons (VF) flying
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...
s or
Vought F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the Frenc ...
s (the latter on Essex class carriers)
*2 light attack squadrons (VA) flying
LTV A-7 Corsair IIs or
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks
*1 medium/all weather attack squadron (VA) flying
Grumman A-6 Intruders
*1 electronic warfare squadron (VAQ) flying
Douglas EKA-3B Skywarriors (also served as aerial refueling tankers) or
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United S ...
s
*1 airborne early warning squadron (VAW) flying 3–4
Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft ...
aircraft
*1 reconnaissance attack squadron (RVAH) flying 3–6 North American RA-5C Vigilantes on Forrestal class and larger carriers, or a detachment of RF-8G Crusaders from a light photographic reconnaissance squadron (VFP)
*Detachments of
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings or
Kaman UH-2 Seasprites from a helicopter combat support squadron (HC)
An anti-submarine air group (CVSG) aboard the ''Essex''-class
anti-submarine carriers (CVS) operated up to five squadrons and two detachments:
*2 or 3 anti-submarine squadrons (VS) flying
Grumman S-2 Tracker
The Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed and initially built by Grumman, the Tracker was of conventiona ...
s
*1 or 2 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) flying
Sikorsky SH-3A Sea Kings
*1 early warning squadron (VAW) detachment of 4
Grumman E-1 Tracers
*a detachment of 4
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks for self-defense from various Navy or Marine Corps squadrons (VSF, VA, VMA, H&MS)
From 1969 to 1977, a number of carrier air wings were disestablished in the post-Vietnam drawdown:
Carrier Air Wing 10
Carrier may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos
* ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game
* ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
on 20 November 1969,
Readiness Carrier Air Wing 12 on 1 June 1970,
Readiness Carrier Air Wing 4 on 1 July 1970,
Carrier Air Wing 16
Carrier Air Wing Sixteen was a carrier air wing of the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It i ...
on 30 June 1971,
Carrier Air Wing 21
Carrier may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos
* ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game
* ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
on 12 December 1975, and
Carrier Air Wing 19
Carrier may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos
* ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game
* ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
on 30 June 1977 along with all of the Anti-Submarine Air Groups which were disestablished by 1974.
Cold War (1974–1990) and the 1983 Invasion of Grenada
In the mid 1970s the Navy decommissioned its Anti-Submarine Aircraft Carriers (CVS) and its Attack Carriers (CVA) were re-designated CV. The VS and HS squadrons of the former Anti-Submarine Air Groups joined the Carrier Air Wings and the HS squadrons, in addition to their Anti-Submarine role, assumed the search and rescue (SAR) and plane guard roles formerly filled by the HC detachments. By the early 1980s, typical air wings were replacing F-4 Phantom IIs with
Grumman F-14 Tomcats on Forrestal, Kitty Hawk, Enterprise and Nimitz class carriers and with F/A-18 Hornets onboard Midway class carriers. LTV A-7 Corsair IIs were also being replaced with F/A-18s, while
Grumman KA-6D Intruder
The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a 20th century American producer of military and civilian aircraft. Founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman and his business partners, it merged in 1994 ...
tankers and A-6E bombers with aerial refueling pods had replaced A-3s as tankers.
EA-6B Prowlers had largely replaced EA-3s in the VAQ mission, although detachments of EA-3s from fleet air reconnaissance squadrons (VQ) soldiered on through the late 1980s as
ELINT aircraft until replaced by the
Lockheed ES-3A Shadow
The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-crew, twin-engine turbofan-powered jet aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. Because of its characteristic sound, it was nicknamed the "War Hoover" after th ...
in the carrier-based VQ mission. The
North American RA-5C Vigilante
The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated t ...
was also phased out in January 1980, replaced by F-14 Tomcats with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pods (TARPS). The typical Carrier Air Wing of this period consisted of the following.
*2 fighter squadrons (VF) of 12 F-4s or F-14s, or 2 strike fighter squadrons (VFA) of 12 F/A-18As on Midway class carriers
** Marine fighter attack squadrons (VMFA) with F-4s or F/A-18As could occasionally substitute for a VF or VFA squadron
*2 attack squadrons (VA) of 12 A-7Es or 2 to 1 strike fighter squadrons of 12 F/A-18s
*1–2 all-weather attack squadron (VA) 10–12 A-6E (including 2–4 KA-6D tankers)
** Marine medium attack – all-weather squadron (VMA(AW)) with A-6Es could occasionally substitute for a medium VA squadron
*1 early warning squadron (VAW) of 4–6 E-2Cs
*1 tactical electronic warfare squadron (VAQ) or Marine tactical electronic warfare squadron (VMAQ) of 4 EA-6Bs
*1 anti-submarine squadron (VS) of 10
Lockheed S-3A Vikings
*1 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) of 6
SH-3H Sea Kings
* 1 reconnaissance attack squadron (RVAH) flying
North American RA-5C Vigilante
The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated t ...
s (until Jan 1980) or 1 detachment of RF-8Gs from a light photographic reconnaissance squadron (VFP) or RF-4s from a Marine photographic reconnaissance squadron (VMFP)
** If one of the F-14 squadrons was Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod Systems (
TARPS)-capable, the VFP detachment or VMFP detachment would be deleted
*1 detachment of EA-3B ELINT aircraft from a fleet air reconnaissance squadron (VQ)
On 1 March 1984,
Carrier Air Wing 13
Carrier Air Wing Thirteen (CVW-13) was a carrier air wing of the United States Navy established for a short period at the end of the Cold War. There were three previous units which had been named Carrier Air Group Thirteen (CVG-13), dating as far ...
was established. Between 1 October 1985 and 30 September 1989 the wing made three deployments aboard ''Coral Sea.''
Carrier Air Wing 10
Carrier may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos
* ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game
* ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
was re-established on 1 November 1986 for eighteen months, but then disestablished again in March 1988.
1991 Gulf War and Post-Cold War (1992–2000)
The Gulf War marked the largest concentrated use of carrier air wings since World War II. All F-4s had been retired and A-7Es had largely been replaced with
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, twinjet, twin-engine, supersonic aircraft, supersonic, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, ...
s.
*2 fighter squadrons (VF) of 10–12 F-14 Tomcats, including
TARPS photo reconnaissance aircraft
*2 strike fighter squadrons (VFA) of 12 F/A-18 Hornets
*1 medium attack squadron (VA) 16 A-6E SWIP/TRAM intruders (including 4 KA-6D tankers).
*1 early warning squadron (VAW) of 4–6 E-2Cs
*1 tactical electronic warfare squadron (VAQ) of 4–6 EA-6Bs (renamed "electronic attack squadron" in 1998)
*1 anti-submarine squadron (VS) of 8 S-3A/B Vikings (All S-3As had been retired by 1993)
*1 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) of 6 SH-3H Sea Kings or 6 SH-60F and 2 HH-60H Seahawks (Sea Kings had all been replaced by Seahawks by 1995)
*1 Detachment of
ES-3A Shadow
The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-crew, twin-engine turbofan-powered jet aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. Because of its characteristic sound, it was nicknamed the "War Hoover" after ...
ELINT aircraft from a fleet air reconnaissance squadron (VQ)
*1 detachment of C-2A Greyhound aircraft for Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD)
From 1991 to 1995, several Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) aircraft were phased out of the active inventory (e.g., Regular Navy and Naval Air Reserve), to include the RF-8G Crusader, the A-7E Corsair II, ES-3A Shadow, SH-3H Sea King and the A-6E and KA-6D Intruder. While some of these retirements were due to obsolescence (RF-8G) or succession by newer aircraft (A-7Es replaced by F/A-18s), others were due strictly to post-Cold War perceived "Peace Dividend" budget measures on the part of certain Secretaries of Defense and the U.S. Congress (e.g., A-6 Intruder), with aircraft that still had useful remaining life being prematurely relegated to retirement. Other T/M/S aircraft saw the number of operational squadrons significantly reduced (e.g., F-14 Tomcat, E-2 Hawkeye) for similar budgetary reasons. During the same period, three more carrier air wings were disestablished: the Atlantic Fleet's
Carrier Air Wing 13
Carrier Air Wing Thirteen (CVW-13) was a carrier air wing of the United States Navy established for a short period at the end of the Cold War. There were three previous units which had been named Carrier Air Group Thirteen (CVG-13), dating as far ...
on 1 January 1991, followed by
Carrier Air Wing 6
Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing whose operational history spans from the middle of World War II to the end of the Cold War. Established in 1943 as Carrier Air Group Seventeen (CVG-17), it would b ...
on 1 April 1992, and the Pacific Fleet's
Carrier Air Wing 15
Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15) is a former United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing that was decommissioned on March 31, 1995. It was previously known as Carrier Air Group Fifteen (CVG-15) before 1963 before being renamed in December of th ...
on 31 March 1995. In addition, the
U.S. Naval Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...
's
Carrier Air Wing Reserve 30 (CVWR-30) was disestablished on 31 December 1994.
In 1992, a program named CV Integration began with Marine Corps EA-6B and F-18 squadrons augmenting Carrier Airwings due to the shortage of EA-6Bs and F-18 aircraft in the inventory. In 1996, the last Marine Corps EA-6B squadron completed their CV Integration aboard the
USS ''America'' which was making its final cruise. Marine Corps F-18 squadrons continued to augment Navy carrier airwings on both East and West Coast Airwings.
2003 Iraq War
By 2003, A-6s had been retired with their tanking duties being assumed by S-3s, ES-3s had been retired, and older F-14s were being phased out with the FA-18 E/F Super Hornets.
*1 fighter squadron (VF) of 10 F-14A/B/Ds or 1 strike fighter squadron (VFA) of 12 F/A-18F Super Hornets
*1 strike fighter squadron (VFA) of 12 F/A-18C Hornets or 12 F/A-18E Super Hornets
*2 strike fighter squadrons (VFA) or Marine fighter attack squadrons (VMFA) of 12 F/A-18C Hornets
*1 early warning squadron (VAW) of 4 E-2Cs
*1 electronic attack squadron (VAQ) of 4–5 EA-6Bs
*1 sea control squadron (VS) of 8 S-3Bs (primary aerial tankers)
*1 helicopter anti-submarine squadron (HS) of 6
SH-60F and 2
HH-60H
*1 detachment of C-2A Greyhound aircraft for Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD)
Current Carrier Air Wing
By 2008 the S-3B Vikings had been retired and the VS squadrons deactivated, the HS squadrons were beginning a transition from their Anti-Submarine SH-60F helicopter to the new MH-60S Naval Special Warfare support, Combat Search and Rescue, and Logistics support helicopter and were being re-designated Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons. The Navy's other new helicopter at the time, the MH-60R combined and improved the Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare capabilities of the old SH-60F and the old SH-60B surface ship based
Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter and were equipping a new carrier based helicopter squadron called the Helicopter Maritime Strike squadron (HSM). The HSM squadrons ultimately replaced the VS and HS squadrons as the carrier air wing's Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare squadron and the VS tanking role was assumed by the airwing Super Hornet squadrons. By the beginning of the 2010s the VAQ squadrons began their transition from the EA-6B to the new EA-18G Growler.
Today's air wing composition is designed to allow for broad striking power hundreds of miles from the carrier's position, while providing defense in depth of the battle group through early warning and detection of airborne, surface and subsurface targets. The current U.S. Navy carrier air wing consists of:
* Four Strike Fighter (VFA) Squadrons, with twelve
F/A-18E/F Super Hornets each, or ten
F/A-18C Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, twin-engine, supersonic, carrier-capable, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft (hence the F/A designation). Designed by McDonnell Douglas (now p ...
s each (over forty strike fighters total). The typical mix is one F/A-18F (two-seat) Super Hornet squadron, and three single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet squadrons or a mix of F/A-18E Super Hornet and F/A-18C Hornet squadrons, though some air wings have two F/A-18F (two-seat) squadrons. In two airwings one of the F/A-18C Hornet squadrons is a
U.S. Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through comb ...
Fighter Attack (VMFA) Squadron.
* One Electronic Attack (VAQ) Squadron, made up of five
EA-18G Growlers.
* One Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) Squadron, with four
E-2C Hawkeyes or five
E-2D "Advanced" Hawkeyes
* One Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron of eight
MH-60S Seahawks
* One Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Squadron of eleven
MH-60R Seahawk
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modificatio ...
s, 3–5 of which are typically based in detachments on other ships of the carrier strike group.
* A Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) Squadron Detachment of two
C-2A Greyhound
Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...
s;
Active Carrier Air Wings and identification
Atlantic Fleet air wings have an "A" as the first letter of their
tailcode identification, while those of the Pacific Fleet have an "N". The "A" or "N" is followed by a letter that uniquely identifies the air wing (e.g., CVW-1 aircraft, part of the Atlantic Fleet, have a tail code of "AB").
CVW-17 transferred from Atlantic Fleet (with tail code AA) to Pacific Fleet (with tail code NA) in 2012 and was reassigned to .
USS ''Enterprise'' decommissioned in December 2012 and CVW-1 was reassigned to USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' in 2013
until USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' shifted homeport to San Diego in 2015 at which time CVW-17 shifted to her.
With the inactivation of CVWR-30 in 1994, the single remaining
U.S. Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Sele ...
Carrier Air Wing was
Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty
The Tactical Support Wing (TSW) is a United States Navy reserve air wing whose primary mission is operational and training support for active forces. Based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, the wing is composed of five squadrons ...
(CVWR-20). On 1 April 2007, CVWR-20 was redesignated as
Tactical Support Wing (TSW):
See also
*
List of United States Navy aircraft wings
Notes
References
* Don Greer: ''F4U in Action''. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas (USA) 1977.
* Roy A. Grossnick (ed.), United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995
Appendix 15* Gordon Swanborough; Peter M. Bowers: ''United States Navy Aircraft since 1911''. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis (Maryland) 1990, .
* John Roberts: ''Aircraft Carrier Intrepid (Anatomy of the Ship)''. Conway Maritime Press, 2004.
* Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Flugzeugtraeger der U.S. Navy''. Bernard & Graefe, 2nd edition, Munich, Germany, 1986, .
* Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Die Luftwaffe der U.S. Navy und des Marine Corps''. J.F. Lehmanns, Munich, Germany, 1974, .
Further reading
* Rene Francillion: ''US Navy Carrier Air Groups: Pacific 1941–1945''. (Osprey Airwar 16). Osprey, London 1978, .
* Bert Kinzey; Ray Leader: ''Colors and Markings of U.S. Navy and USMC CAG Aircraft. Part 1: Fighters! F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat"'' (Colors and Markings, Bd. 10). Airlife Publishing, Shrewsbury 1988, .
* Bert Kinzey; Ray Leader: ''Colors and Markings of U.S. Navy CAG Aircraft. Part 2: Attack Aircraft. A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair"'' (Colors and Markings, Bd. 16). Airlife Publishing, Shrewsbury 1990, .
* Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Jahrbuch der U.S. Navy 1988/89 (Schwerpunkt: Luftwaffe der U.S. Navy und des Marine Corps).'' Bernard & Graefe, Munich, Germany, 1988, .
* Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Seemacht USA. Bd. 1.'' 2nd revised edition, Bechtermünz, Augsburg, Germany, 1997, .
External links
wings.asp US Navy site about the Carrier Air Wings{dead link, date=November 2016 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes
Official United States Navy site on Pacific Fleet air wings
Naval aviation
Military units and formations by size