Destroyer Squadron 23

Destroyer Squadron 23 (DESRON 23) is a squadron of United States Navy destroyers and frigates based out of San Diego, California. The squadron is best known for its actions during World War II, most notably the Battle of Cape St. George, under the command of then-Commodore Arleigh Burke. Currently, the DESRON is assigned to Carrier Strike Group Nine, which includes USS George Washington (CVN-73), USS Cape St. George (CG-71) and Carrier Air Wing Two.

History

Destroyer Squadron 23 was activated May 11, 1943, at the Boston Navy Yard, with Captain M.J. Gilliam in command. The original vessels of the squadron were USS Foote (DD-511), USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Spence (DD-512), USS Aulick (DD-569), USS Claxton (DD-571), USS Dyson (DD-572), USS Converse (DD-509) and USS Thatcher (DD-514).

On June 29, 1943, Destroyer Squadron 23 became part of Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet. Less USS Aulick, Destroyer Squadron 23 assumed duty on patrol and escort in the Southwest Pacific.

Destroyer Squadron 7

Destroyer Squadron 7's (DESRON 7) mission is to conduct prompt, sustained operations at sea in support of United States national policy and maritime security objectives as part of Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in U.S. 7th Fleet.

Lines of Effort

DESRON 7 is a tangible example of the Asia-Pacific Rebalance after shifting homeports from San Diego to Southeast Asia in December 2012 and is the first forward deployed DESRON command in Southeast Asia in more than 40 years.

The command leads the execution of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series. CARAT is an annual bilateral exercise, now in its 21st year, and is the lifeblood of U.S. navy-to-navy relationships in Southeast Asia. During the 2014 CARAT season alone, DESRON 7 operated with more than 40 U.S. and international ships, embarked 12 U.S. Navy ships, and led bilateral task groups totaling more than 10,000 personnel. Additionally, CARAT included Seabees, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, medical professionals, diving experts, 50 U.S. and international aircraft, U.S. Marine Corps landing forces, and more than 150 days of interaction as we planned and exercised with our partners and allies.

Destroyer Squadron 1

Destroyer Squadron One, also known as Destroyer Squadron 1 and often abbreviated at DESRON ONE or DESRON 1, is a squadron of warships of the United States Navy. It is an operational component of Carrier Strike Group One and is administratively responsible to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific.

The Squadron's combat mission is to support the Operational Commander (currently Carrier Strike Group One) in achieving optimum combat readiness for his ships and to ensure adherence to Type Commander requirements. As such, Commander, Destroyer Squadron One (COMDESRON-1) conducts continuous, extensive liaison and coordination with the assigned Operational Commander. In addition to operations in the U.S. Third Fleet, the squadron's ships have deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, to the Western Pacific as part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, and regularly support Joint Task Force North counter-drug operations in South America and the Caribbean Sea, as well as other fleet commitments.