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CSG-4 Mission History

Command History

 

Carrier Strike Group FOUR (CSG-4) traces its origins to Aug. 1943 when Rear Adm. John H. Hoover was directed to Pearl Harbor as Commander, Carrier Division 4. Thereafter, Hoover was directed to assume leadership of all land-based air in the Central Pacific, including Army Air Forces assets. This promotion left CARDIV 4 temporarily without a commander as thoughtful consideration was given to key leadership assignments to execute U.S. strategy and operations in the Pacific. In late 1943, Rear Adm. John W. “Black Jack” Reeves was dispatched from the Aleutian Islands to lead CARDIV 4.

From January 1944 through the end of World War II, CARDIV 4 was an important element of Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz and his Fleet Commanders’ Fast Carrier Task Force. During the war, CARDIV 4’s Flagships were, in order of embarkation, USS Enterprise (CV 16), USS Essex (CV 9), USS Bunker Hill (CV 17), USS Intrepid (CV 11), USS Lexington (CV 2), USS Randolph (CV 15), and USS Yorktown (CV 10).

After World War II, CARDIV 4 transferred to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, where it played a pivotal role in organizing the post-war Navy. In February 1948, USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) became CARDIV 4’s flagship, and in October 1955, CARDIV 4 assumed administrative command of the world’s first supercarrier, USS Forrestal (CVA 59). The addition of USS Saratoga (CVA 60) in 1956 made CARDIV 4 the first task group composed solely of supercarriers. Over the next several decades, the carriers USS Independence (CVA 62), USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67), USS America (CV 66), and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) were administratively assigned to CARDIV 4.

During the 1960s and 1970s, CARDIV 4 laid the foundation for the tactical employment of aircraft carriers, carrier air wings, and surface forces within a battle group. In 1984, CARGRU 4 began working for Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the primary readiness and training Flag staff for the Atlantic Fleet. Additionally, the commander reported to Commander, U.S. Second Fleet in a NATO role as Commander, Striking Fleet, Atlantic. Carrier Group 4 was designated as Commander, Carrier Striking Force in that capacity.

In October 2004, CARGRU 4 was redesignated as Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL) and became the Atlantic Fleet’s integrated training lead. At the same time, Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL) and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGL) realigned under CSTFL to synchronize virtual and constructive training efforts from the two commands’ expertise and infrastructure into integrated phase training for all East Coast units. In 2005, U.S. Fleet Forces directed CSFTL to establish the Mobile Sea Range to incorporate all training support vessels (TSV) then operated by Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). This led to the introduction of Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) and integrated Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training into integrated training exercises such as Composite Training Unit Exercises (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercises (JTFEX).

On April 29, 2014, CSFTL was re-designated as Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 with Tactical Training Group Atlantic and Expeditionary Warfare Group Atlantic remaining subordinate commands to support integrated training efforts. Carrier Strike Group 4 continues to increase Fleet capability and training opportunities to support Navy force generation requirements to meet Numbered Fleet and Combatant Commander needs in all mission areas in support of U.S. strategic objectives. The command’s training exercises result in the delivery of clear and credible assessment of Navy force generation efforts to U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

 

 
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