First Fleet Headquarters

The First Fleet Headquarters is the brains of First Fleet’s operations. It is a large organization – 350 officers and NCOs - divided into functional departments to include the command group, plans, operations, liaison, supply, and others. The fleet headquarters’ home is Naval Station Saint Catherine, but a small HQ detachment is always ready to forward deploy when needed. The HQ detachment contains enough staff and equipment to conduct operations and limited planning, but it is still small enough to deploy in a single C-17 and to set up shop on an aircraft carrier, battleship, or in several GP Medium tents.

CVBG-5 is built around the JFK class aircraft carrier Vengeance, the oldest and most distinguished aircraft carrier in ROD service. In addition to the Vengeance (CV-5), the battle group includes the Ticonderoga class cruiser Retriever (CG-44), three Arleigh Burke class destroyers from DESRON 10: Trebuchet (DDG-105), Battle Axe (DDG-115), and Broadsword (DDG-121), the Virginia class attack submarine Catfish (SSN-33), and the Sacramento class fast support ship Grizzly (AOE-91).

Carrier Air Wing 1 is assigned to the Vengeance. It includes  VFA-3 "Hellcats" (12 x F/A-18E), VFA-6 "Demons" (12 x F/A-18E), VA-7 "Diamondbacks" (12 x A-6E), VFA-26 "Sidewinders" (12 x F/A-18C), VS-31 "Crusaders" (8 x S-3B), Detachment A of VAW-36 "Hurricane" (4 x E-2C), HCS-42 "Nomads" (8 x SH-60F), and Detachment A of VAQ-58 "Electric Mayhem" (4 x EF-18G).

It should be noted that VFA-6 "Demons" are the most highly decorated combat squadron in the ROD. Because of this they have special permission to paint their aircraft in a more colorful paint scheme.

CVBG-14 is built around the Nimitz class aircraft carrier Fury. In addition to the Fury (CVN-14), the battle group includes the Ticonderoga class cruiser Boxer (CG-42), three Arleigh Burke class destroyers from DESRON 11: Stiletto (DDG-106), Ballista (DDG-114), and Trident (DDG-138), the Virginia class attack submarine Barracuda (SSN-24), and the Supply class fast support ship Cheetah (T-AOE-106).

Carrier Air Wing 8 is assigned to the Fury. It includes  VRC-60 "Kennel Club" (3 x MV-22B), VFA-62 "Rhinos" (12 x F-35C), VFA-64 "Switchblade" (12 x F-35C), VFA-68 "Jackals" (12 x F/A-18E), VAW-69 "Trident" (6 x E-2D), VFA-71 "Wolfpack" (12 x F/A-18E), HSM-73 "Dragon Slayers" (8 x MH-60R), HCS-76 "Sting Ray" (8 x MH-60S), VAQ-84 "Gigolos" (6 x EF-18G), and VAK-102 "Cowboys" (6 x MQ-25).

CVBG-16 is built around the Nimitz class aircraft carrier Maelstrom. In addition to the Maelstrom (CVN-16), the battle group includes the Ticonderoga class cruiser Rottweiler (CG-47), three Arleigh Burke class destroyers from DESRON 12: Dagger (DDG-101), Saber (DDG-107), and Tomahawk (DDG-135), the Virginia class attack submarine Tuna (SSN-31), and the Supply class fast support ship Raccoon (T-AOE-107).

Carrier Air Wing 2 is assigned to the Maelstrom. It includes VFA-11 "Reapers" (12 x F/A-18E), VRC-19 "Black Jacks" (3 x MV-22B), VFA-20 "Death Dealers" (12 x F/A-18E), VAW-30 "Wolverines" (6 x E-2D), HSM-37 "Aztecs" (8 x MH-60R), HCS-46 "Bulldogs" (8 x SH-60S), VFA-66 "Cock Fighters" (12 x F-35C), VFA-70 "Raging Elephants" (12 x F-35C), VAQ-72 "Saber Tooth" (6 x EF-18G), and VAK-101 "Bullwinkles" (6 x MQ-25).

SUBRON 15 is a guided missile submarine squadron. The Ohio class subs in this formation are capable of firing cruise missiles against sea or land targets. Some ROD missile boats may or may not be equipped to launch Nuclear ICBMs as well!

Submarines in SUBRON 15 are the Puma (SSGN-38), Elephant (SSGN-40), Polar Bear (SSGN-44), and the Moose (SSGN-45).

SUBRON 16 is a guided missile submarine squadron. The Ohio class subs in this formation are capable of firing cruise missiles against sea or land targets. Some ROD missile boats may or may not be equipped to launch Nuclear ICBMs as well!

Submarines in SUBRON 16 are the Wolf (SSGN-49), Mongoose (SSGN-50), and the Ocelot (SSGN-51).

SUBRON 18 is an attack submarine squadron. The Virginia class subs that make up SUBRON 18 are deadly hunters, able to silently stalk and attack ships and submarines without warning.

Submarines in SUBRON 18 are the Pike (SSN-28), Salmon (SSN-30), Lion Fish (SSN-34), Puffer (SSN-35), White Shark (SSN-46), and the Leopard Shark (SSN-48).

There are several ROD Navy ships that report to First Fleet that do not belong to other formations. These include the Freedom class littoral combat ship Akela (LCS-2)which serves as the command ship for the Wolf Pack, the Mercy class hospital ship Asclepius (T-AH-10), the Iowa class battleship Cerberus (BB-12), and the Sacramento class fast support ship Cougar (AOE-97).

The ROD maintains a modest naval force at Naval Station Mexico, several miles south of the city of Ensenada on the coast of Baja California. It is a potent fighting force in its own right, but it also spend a great deal of time training and collaborating with the Mexican Navy. Task Force Baja includes the Ticonderoga class cruiser Terrier (CG-52), the Arleigh Burke class destroyers Shotgun (DDG-130), Kirpan (DDG-132), and Spiculum (DDG-140), the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates Goblin (FFG-153) and Minotaur (FFG-156), and the Sacramento class fast support ship Bison (AOE-92).