USS Carl Vinson

File:Ceremonies for marking the 90th birthday of former Congressman Vinson of Georgia - NARA - 194554.tif, Navy Secretary John Warner, and Defense Secretary Melvin Laird present Congressman Vinson (third from left) with a model of the ship that will bear his name, 18 November 1973.]]

A member of the United States House of Representatives for 50 years, Carl Vinson was, for 29 years, the Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee; Vinson was the principal sponsor of the so-called "Vinson Acts", culminating in the Two-Ocean Navy Act of 1940, which provided for the massive naval shipbuilding effort in World War II.

The seal of USS Carl Vinson shows an eagle, wings spread and talons extended, carrying a banner in its beak. The eagle is emblematic of the nation and the ship's motto, and also represents the power that resides in the ship's aircraft. The eagle flies in the form of a stylized letter "V," the initial of the ship's namesake, Congressman Carl Vinson. The "V" also represents the ship's hull when viewed bow-on. Inscribed on the banner that the eagle carries is the Latin phrase "Vis Per Mare" which means "Strength through the Sea".{{cite web |url=http://www.cvn70.navy.mil/ |title=Home |website=USS Carl Vinson |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410002423/http://www.cvn70.navy.mil/ |archive-date=10 April 2008 }}

In October 2009, the US Navy announced that Carl Vinson would be the flagship of the newly established Carrier Strike Group One (CSG1), based in San Diego.{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/navy-establishes-carrier-strike-group-1.html |title=Navy Establishes Carrier Strike Group 1 |date=2 October 2009 |website=Military.com |access-date=8 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105002307/http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/navy-establishes-carrier-strike-group-1.html |archive-date=5 January 2010}} The ship, under the command of then Captain Bruce H. Lindsey, departed Norfolk for San Diego on 12 January 2010. Accompanying the carrier was Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, Destroyer Squadron 1 and the guided missile cruiser Bunker Hill.

{{Main|Nimitz-class aircraft carrier}}

The keel was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding on 11 October 1975, and on 15 March 1980 the ship was launched/christened. Congressman Carl Vinson became the first person in the history of the United States Navy to witness a ship's launching in his honor.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} After builder sea trials, she was delivered to the Navy on 26 February 1982.

USS Carl Vinson was commissioned on 13 March 1982 at Newport News, Virginia. Present were the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman, keynote speaker Senator John Tower, and ship's sponsor Molly Snead, who was Vinson's nurse for 34 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/02/obituaries/carl-vinson-97-ex-congressman-who-was-with-house-50-years-dies.html|title=Carl Vinson 97 ex-congressman who was with house 50 years dies|newspaper=nytimes.com|date=2 June 1981|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206215307/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/02/obituaries/carl-vinson-97-ex-congressman-who-was-with-house-50-years-dies.html|archive-date=6 February 2019|url-status=live}} After commissioning, Carl Vinson put to sea to conduct flight deck certifications, an evaluation designed to test the ship's ability to conduct modern US Navy carrier air operations. That was followed by numerous at sea periods for various training evolutions along the East Coast.

Carl Vinson departed Norfolk on 1 March 1983 with Carrier Air Wing 15 embarked for her maiden deployment, an eight-month, around-the-world cruise that had them operate in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, South China Sea, and Pacific Ocean in a multitude of exercises and with port visits in Monte Carlo, Monaco, Casablanca, Morocco, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Perth, Australia, Subic Bay, Philippines, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Japan, Pusan, Republic of Korea, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before arriving in her new homeport of Naval Air Station Alameda, California, arriving on 28 October 1983.

Carl Vinson participated in RIMPAC '84 before departing on 14 October 1984 for an overseas deployment in the Western Pacific. Carrier Air Wing 15 was embarked. From January until April 1985, Carl Vinson was in the Indian Ocean for 107 consecutive days. The WESTPAC deployment included Sea of Japan operations while pursuing a Soviet Charlie I class submarine in the Indian Ocean.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1985.pdf |title=1985 Command History |first=G. D. |last=O'Brien, Jr |date=30 November 1988 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095252/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1985.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}

The carrier received her first Meritorious Unit Commendation for operations conducted from November 1984 to May 1985. In February, the Chief of Naval Operations named Carl Vinson the winner of the Admiral James H. Flatley Memorial Award for operational readiness and aviation safety for 1984.

On 12 August 1986, the ship departed Alameda for a western Pacific deployment, again with CVW-15 aboard, and in the process became the first modern U.S. aircraft carrier to operate in the Bering Sea. In January 1987, after operating extensively in the Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea, Carl Vinson transited the Bering Sea once more while returning to NAS Alameda.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1987.pdf |title=1987 Command History |first=G. D. |last=O'Brien, Jr |date=6 December 1988 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095300/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1987.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}

Carl Vinson and CVW-15 departed for the ship's fourth overseas deployment on 15 June 1988. While on station, the carrier supported Operation Earnest Will, the escort of U.S. flagged tankers in the Persian Gulf. The carrier returned to the States on 16 December 1988 and was awarded the Admiral Flatley Memorial Award for aviation safety for 1988.

On 18 September 1989, the carrier departed Alameda to participate in PACEX '89, the largest peacetime naval exercise since the Second World War. During the exercise Carl Vinson operated in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands, eventually leading a three-carrier battle group operation in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. Carl Vinson had a port call in Pusan, South Korea, and then returned to her home port of Alameda shortly after the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1988.pdf |title=1988 Command History |last=Borchers II |first=Doyle J. |date=19 April 1989 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153137/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1988.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

Carl Vinson departed on her fifth deployment (again with CVW-15) on 1 February 1990, the last deployment for the A-7 Corsair. The ship returned to Alameda on 30 July 1990. On 22 September 1990, Carl Vinson entered the yards at Bremerton Naval Station, Washington for a 28-month complex overhaul (COH). The carrier received her first COMNAVAIRPAC Battle "E" award for 1990.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1990.pdf |title=1990 Command History |last=Borchers II |first=Doyle J. |date=6 March 1991 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153142/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1990.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

File:Aircraft of US Navy Carrier Air Wing 14 in flight over USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on 1 May 1994 (6502328).jpg

On 17 February 1994, the carrier, with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen embarked, departed for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. The carrier returned to Alameda on 17 August 1994, receiving her third Admiral Flatley Award for aviation safety.

In 1995, a documentary entitled Carrier: Fortress at Sea was aired on the Discovery Channel, which chronicled the carrier's six-month-long voyage to and from the Persian Gulf.

From 26 August until 3 September 1995, Carl Vinson participated in Exercise Ke Koa, as well as ceremonies to commemorate the end of World War II in the Pacific. During these ceremonies, President Bill Clinton visited the ship in Hawaii. As part of the commemoration ceremonies, Carl Vinson launched 11 World War II-era planes.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1995.pdf |title=1995 Command History |page=12 |last=Baucom |first=L. C. |date=28 March 1996 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095334/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1995.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}

The ship departed for her seventh deployment 14 May 1996, heading for the Persian Gulf with CVW-14 in support for Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Strike. The ship also participated in Exercise Rugged Nautilus before returning to Alameda on 14 November 1996.

With the closing of Naval Air Station Alameda, the ship was transferred to Bremerton, Washington, arriving at her new homeport on 17 January 1997, where she played host to the last carrier launch and recovery operations for the A-6E Intruder.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1996.pdf |title=1996 Command History |last=Crocker |first=D. M. |date=14 March 1997 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095340/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1996.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}

File:USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) RB2.jpg

In 1998 with Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) embarked, the ship participated in RIMPAC '98. During the exercise on the morning of 10 August, the Australian diesel-electric submarine {{HMAS|Onslow}} located the 'enemy' carrier and 'sank' her.{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-October-19-1998.pdf |title=Submarine will stay in-service |last1=Davis |first1=Graham |date=19 October 1998 |newspaper=Navy News |page=3 |volume=41 |number=20 |quote=... Onlsow had acquitted herself well during RIMPAC 98. The submarine had ... "taken out" ... US carrier CARL VINSEN[sic] ... |access-date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032208/http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-October-19-1998.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=live }} Onslow closed to within {{convert|300|m|ft|sp=us}} without being detected, then released green flares to indicate her location, 'sinking' the supercarrier.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} Carl Vinson then departed for the Persian Gulf, launching airstrikes on 19 December 1998 in support of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Southern Watch. These strikes continued into March 1999. In July 1999, Carl Vinson was drydocked in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for 13 months as the Navy spent more than $230 million to upgrade the ship. Post refit shakedowns continued into 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1998.pdf |title=1998 Command History |last=Patterson |first=J. L. |date=7 April 1999 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095349/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1998.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Carrier Strike Group One}}

Image:CIC-USS-CarlVinson-2001.jpg of USS Carl Vinson in the year 2001.]]

In February 2001, Carl Vinson hosted actors Gene Hackman, David Keith, Owen Wilson, and others for filming of the carrier scenes for the movie Behind Enemy Lines during intermediate pre-deployment underway workups. During this two-week period, Carl Vinson crewmembers and CVW 11 crews took part in the filming along with the actors and film crews. Later, prior to commencement of Operation Enduring Freedom, David Keith returned to Carl Vinson on station in the North Arabian Sea to present the first international viewing of Behind Enemy Lines to the combined ship and air wing crew. Prior to deploying to the Persian Gulf, Carl Vinson (CVN-70) was on a roughly four week carrier quals mission off the coast of Hawaii.

On 23 July 2001, Carl Vinson steamed from Bremerton, Washington, to San Diego, California, where CVW-11 airgroup once again embarked, then was bound for the Persian Gulf to support Operation Southern Watch.{{citation |title=CARL VINSON - Naval History and Heritage Command |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/2001.pdf |publisher=US Navy |page=48 |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602095400/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/2001.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2019 |url-status=live }} This changed abruptly on 11 September 2001, as the ship was rounding the tip of India. In response to the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, Carl Vinson changed course and sped toward the North Arabian Sea, where on 7 October 2001, Carl Vinson launched the first airstrikes in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/deployment.map/vinson.html |title=USS Carl Vinson |website=CNN |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024205208/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/deployment.map/vinson.html |archive-date=24 October 2010 |url-status=live }} For 72 days, Carl Vinson, along with Carrier Wing 11, launched over 4,000 combat sorties in the Global War on Terrorism, earning the ship the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Carl Vinson earned the Battle E and Navy Unit Commendation during this deployment. In mid December, Carl Vinson began the return trip home, briefly stopping in Pearl Harbor Hawaii to commence a "Tiger Cruise" allowing crew member family members the opportunity to ride the ship to her homeport of Bremerton, Washington, arriving there on 23 January 2002.{{cite web |author1=Journalist Seaman Sarah Bibbs |title=Carl Vinson "Tiger Cruise": Family, Friends Join America's Newest Heroes for Joyous Homecoming |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=695 |publisher=US Navy |access-date=21 May 2019 |date=24 January 2002 }}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In April, the ship was overhauled, setting sail in September for a post-refit shakedown. During this time several new operational systems were installed, and the ship's flight deck and catapults were completely renovated. Numerous other spaces and crew living areas were also entirely restored, drastically improving working and living conditions for the crew. Completing her maintenance and overhaul period in record-setting time, Carl Vinson and crew got underway in September to conduct sea trials.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=3486 |title=USS Carl Vinson: Back in Action Following a Record-Setting Yard Period |author=Journalist 3rd Class Mat Sohl, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913121934/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=3486 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }}

In January 2003 she was set for a one-month work up for Flight Deck Quals with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) embarked. Due to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom the ship was extended at sea indefinitely. From January 2003 until September 2003, she made port calls in Hawaii, Guam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} After nine months, Carl Vinson finally returned to Bremerton on 15 September 2003.{{cite web |author=Commander, 3rd Fleet Public Affairs |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=9520 |title=Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Returns Home |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913121006/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=9520 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }} Carl Vinson participated in Foal Eagle,{{when|date=February 2021}} an annually scheduled joint and combined training exercise conducted in the Korean theatre.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

{{Main article|2003 Bawean incident}}

On 3 July 2003, five F/A-18 Hornets from the Carl Vinson were intercepted by F-16s from the Indonesian Air Force near Bawean Island over the Java Sea where they engaged in a dogfight and electronic warfare. Carl Vinson and her strike group were transiting through the Java Sea and had sought permission from Indonesia. However, Indonesia denied receiving any request for permission. Later, Indonesia filed a diplomatic complaint to the US for trespassing on its territory.

In competition year 2004, Carl Vinson won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, awarded to the most battle-ready ship in the U.S. Pacific Fleet.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In January 2005, Carl Vinson departed Bremerton, Washington, with CVW-9 embarked for a seven-month deployment, including several months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom.{{cite web |author=Carl Vinson Strike Group Public Affairs |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18266 |title=Carrier Air Wing 9 Aircraft Drop Bombs on Insurgents |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124403/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18266 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }} Highlights of the cruise included port calls to Singapore, Guam, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Rhodes, Greece and Lisbon, Portugal.{{cite web |author=Journalist 3rd Class William Lopez, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16624 |title=Vinson Departs Bremerton for Exercise, Deployment |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124008/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16624 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }} Carl Vinson ended this deployment at Naval Station Norfolk on 31 July 2005.{{cite web |author=Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Chris Fahey, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19460 |title=Mighty 'Gold Eagle' Arrives at New Nest |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124458/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19460 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }} During this deployment two Marine F-18 pilots were lost over Iraq.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/05/02/iraq.planes/ |title=U.S. searches for pilots of two missing jets |date=3 May 2005 |website=CNN |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073425/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/05/02/iraq.planes/ |archive-date=5 April 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7713274 |title=U.S. pilot's body found after crash in Iraq |date=3 May 2005 |website=NBC News |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170204/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7713274/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/us-pilots-body-found-after-crash-iraq/ |archive-date=5 April 2017 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|RCOH}}

In November 2005, Carl Vinson became the third {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|0}} carrier to undergo a mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), which was scheduled to last 36 months.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19433 |title=USS Carl Vinson Arrives in Norfolk |author=Journalist Seaman Davis J. Anderson, Public Affairs Center Norfolk |date=1 August 2005 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=8 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717201642/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19433 |archive-date=17 July 2007 }} The ship moved out of dry dock to a pier side berth at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in May 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29893 |title=Northrop Grumman Newport News, Carl Vinson Celebrate Move to Pierside |author=Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joel Carlson, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |date=5 June 2007 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913115727/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29893 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }}

Carl Vinson commenced post-refueling sea trials on 28 June 2009 and returned to Naval Station Norfolk on 1 July 2009.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} The Navy accepted the carrier back into the fleet on 11 July 2009, after successful completion of her sea trials.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46944 |title=Navy Accepts Re-Delivery of USS Carl Vinson |date=14 July 2009 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=8 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718144030/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46944 |archive-date=18 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}

In October 2009, Carl Vinson entered a four-month shipyard maintenance period at Northrop Grumman Newport News in preparation for her upcoming transit to the Pacific in the spring.{{cite news |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/navy_strike_group_100109w/ |title=New San Diego command preps for Vinson |date=1 October 2009 |newspaper=Navy Times |access-date=19 May 2011}} The ship was scheduled to transit around South America to her new home at NAS North Island, San Diego, joining sister-carriers {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|5}} and {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|5}}, by early 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10675 |title=USS Carl Vinson To Return To Pacific Fleet |date=12 March 2009 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509031129/http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10675 |archive-date=9 May 2009}}

File:US Navy 100115-N-4774B-898 The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) shown operating off the coast of Haiti.jpg

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File:USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) moored at Naval Air Station North Island, California (USA), on 13 July 2011.jpg

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File:F18 operation uss carl vinson.ogg

On 12 January 2010, just hours after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Carl Vinson was ordered to redirect from her current deployment in the North Atlantic Ocean to Haiti to contribute to the relief effort as part of Operation Unified Response. Upon receiving orders from USSOUTHCOM, the Carl Vinson battle group proceeded to Mayport, Florida where the ships loitered offshore to receive additional supplies and helicopters. The ships arrived off Port au Prince on 15 January 2010 to commence operations.{{cite web |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_vinson_haiti_update_011310w/ |title=Carl Vinson, other ships headed to Haiti |date=13 January 2010 |website=Navy Times |access-date=19 May 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50498 |title=Vinson Deploys to Respond to Haiti Earthquake |author=Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Robert A. Wood Sr., U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs |date=13 January 2010 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629192543/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50498 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=64686 |title=USS Carl Vinson arrives in Haiti to support humanitarian operations |date=15 January 2010 |website=BYM Marine & Maritime News |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928091827/http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=64686 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=live }} CNN medical correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, pediatric surgeon Henri Ford, and two Navy doctors removed a piece of concrete from the skull of a 12-year-old earthquake victim in an operation performed aboard Carl Vinson on 18 January.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50603 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805064835/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50603 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Sanjay Gupta assists Vinson medical team |author=Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Thompson, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |date=18 January 2010 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=10 October 2011 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/tv-neurosurgeon-sanjay-gupta-saves-girl/story-e6frg6so-1225821382651 |title=TV neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta saves girl |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=20 January 2011 |newspaper=The Australian |access-date=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411161149/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/tv-neurosurgeon-sanjay-gupta-saves-girl/story-e6frg6so-1225821382651 |archive-date=11 April 2014 |url-status=live }} In addition to providing medical relief, the ship's excess desalination capacity was critical to providing water to Haiti's population during the earthquake relief.{{cite magazine |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100119/wl_time/02880419533791953494195458400 |title=The Post-Quake Water Crisis: Getting Seawater to the Haitians |last=Padgett |first=Tim |date=19 January 2010 |magazine=Time |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121165921/https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100119/wl_time/02880419533791953494195458400 |archive-date=21 January 2010}}

In March 2010, during her transit around South America performed Gringo-Gaucho / Southern Seas 2010 maneuvers with the Argentine Navy.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwuCZSpFPc |title=Portaaviones Carl Vinson en Bahía Blanca |author=Solo Local |date=10 March 2010 |website=YouTube |language=es |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422223955/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwuCZSpFPc |archive-date=22 April 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.abma-usn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:argentina-united-states-in-joint-exercise&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 |title=Argentina-United States in joint exercise |website=Aviation Boatswain's Mates Association |date=18 March 2010 |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514220101/http://www.abma-usn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:argentina-united-states-in-joint-exercise&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 |archive-date=14 May 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=51798 |title=Carl Vinson Unites with Argentina for Southern Seas 2010 |author=Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Jason Thompson, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |date=9 March 2010 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629205528/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=51798 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}

On 12 April 2010, the carrier arrived at her new home port of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego California.{{cite web |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/04/navy_vinson_home_041210w/ |title=Carrier Carl Vinson home at North Island |date=12 April 2010 |website=Military Times}}

On 30 November 2010, with Carrier Air Wing Seventeen embarked, Carl Vinson departed Naval Air Station North Island for a three-week composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) and her 2010–2011 deployment to the U.S. Seventh Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the Western Pacific and U.S. Fifth Fleet Areas of Responsibility in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf as part of Carrier Strike Group One.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=57439 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805133137/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=57439 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title='Carl Vinson' Strike Group to Depart for Training, Deployment |author=U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs |date=30 November 2010 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=3 December 2010 }} This is the first Western Pacific deployment for Carl Vinson in more than five years since the ship entered her Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) in late 2005.

On 11 April 2011 while operating in the Arabian Sea, an F/A-18 Hornet suffered an engine fire immediately after launch from the carrier. The aircraft returned to the carrier with one engine and the fire was extinguished without any damage to the ship or any injuries to the pilot or ship crew members.{{cite news |url=http://www.sduniontribune.com/news/2011/apr/14/pilot-safe-after-jet-catches-fire-on-navy-carrier/ |title=Pilot Safe After Jet Catches Fire on Navy Carrier |agency=Associated Press |date=14 April 2011 |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=3 May 2011}}

On 2 May 2011, following the death of Osama bin Laden, his body was brought aboard Carl Vinson, which was operating in the Northern Arabian Sea, and buried at sea following religious rites.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60124 |author=Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service |title=Bin Laden Buried at Sea |date=2 May 2011 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=2 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304033959/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60124 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/02/carl-vinson-hosts-bin-laden-burial-sea/ |title=Carl Vinson performs bin Laden burial at sea |first=Jeanette |last=Steele |date=2 May 2011 |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |access-date=4 May 2011 |quote=The Associated Press is reporting that the San Diego-based aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, now on deployment in the North Arabian Sea, held the burial at sea of Osama bin Laden. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504231413/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/02/carl-vinson-hosts-bin-laden-burial-sea/ |archive-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=live }}

The ship docked in Manila Bay in the Philippines from 15 to 18 May 2011 for a "routine port call and goodwill visit" meant to "highlight the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines." Among those given a special tour of this aircraft carrier were Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr.{{cite web |url=http://manila.usembassy.gov/aquino_vinson.html |title=President Aquino Visits USS Carl Vinson |date=14 May 2011 |website=Embassy of the United States, Manila |access-date=16 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625135546/http://manila.usembassy.gov/aquino_vinson.html |archive-date=25 June 2011 }} President Aquino Visits USS Carl Vinson Embassy of the United States in Manila website This brief visit was criticized by cause-oriented group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan as well as Filipino youth leader Raymond Palatino and University of the Philippines political science professor Clarita Carlos.{{cite news |url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/region/americas/view/20110514-336382/US-carrier-which-buried-Osama-coming-to-Manila |title=US carrier which buried Osama coming to Manila |last1=Quodala |first1=Schatzi |last2=Esplanada |first2=Jerry E. |date=14 May 2011 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=15 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913080748/http://globalnation.inquirer.net/region/americas/view/20110514-336382/US-carrier-which-buried-Osama-coming-to-Manila |archive-date=13 September 2012}}

The ship docked in Hong Kong in the People's Republic of China on 22 May 2011 to take on supplies for her return to homeport San Diego, and to provide photo opportunities to the Chinese press. The ship returned to San Diego on 15 June 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/navy-capt-asks-bin-laden-burial-crew-to-be-safe/ |title=Navy capt. asks bin Laden burial crew to be safe |last=Watson |first=Julie |agency=Associated Press |date=14 June 2011 |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216094227/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/navy-capt-asks-bin-laden-burial-crew-to-be-safe/ |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/fasttrack/features/2017/04/17/nimitz-class-supercarrier-uss-carl-vinson.html |title=ലാദനെ അറബിക്കടലിൽ സംസ്‌കരിച്ച കാൾ വിൻസൺ പോർവിളിയുമായി കൊറിയൻ തീരത്ത് |date=18 April 2017 |newspaper=Malayala Manorama |language=ml |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153142/https://www.manoramaonline.com/fasttrack/features/2017/04/17/nimitz-class-supercarrier-uss-carl-vinson.html |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

On 21 June 2011, it was announced that the Michigan State Spartans would play a regular season men's basketball game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on the flight deck of Carl Vinson on Veterans Day.{{cite news |url=http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/06/20/1103094 |title=Hoops on a flat top a daunting task to organizers of UNC-Michigan State aircraft carrier game |first=Bernie |last=Wilson |date=21 June 2011 |newspaper=The Fayetteville Observer |access-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829092028/http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/06/20/1103094 |archive-date=29 August 2011 |url-status=live }} On 11 November 2011, the inaugural Carrier Classic took place at the Naval Air Station North Island on San Diego Bay in Coronado, California. U.S. President Barack Obama was one of 8,111 people in attendance as the Tar Heels defeated the Spartans by a score of 67–55.{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-aircraft-carrier-basketball-20111112,0,6935429.story |title=Sloppy basketball is beside the point on aircraft carrier |first=Diane |last=Pucin |date=11 November 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=12 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112160555/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-aircraft-carrier-basketball-20111112,0,6935429.story |archive-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=live }}

On 30 November 2011, Carl Vinson departed Naval Air Station North Island, California, on her scheduled Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=63991 |title=USS Carl Vinson Strike Group Departs for Deployment |author=Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Public Affairs |date=30 November 2011 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=1 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201225200/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=63991 |archive-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64097 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805054556/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64097 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Carl Vinson and CVW 17 Depart on Western Pacific Deployment |author=Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Luke B. Meineke, USN |date=1 December 2011 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=1 December 2011}}

During January 2012, Carl Vinson began her patrol of the Arabian Sea.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}

On 23 May 2012, Carl Vinson returned to Naval Air Station North Island, California, to end her November 2011 deployment. The carrier had stopped earlier in Hawaii to pick up approximately 900 "Tigers" – friends and family of the sailors aboard the ship who traveled with the ship from Hawaii to San Diego.

On 5 July 2012, Carl Vinson began preparations for a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period. PIA is a major maintenance phase that all American naval vessels must go through multiple times throughout their lifetime to be able to sustain underway operations. PIA 2012–2013 for Carl Vinson included overhauls of over 40 crew living spaces, 30 heads and hundreds of workspaces throughout the ship. Also included were upgrades to many of the electronics and defense systems that the ship uses during deployments, to include an upgrade from the Global Command and Control System-Maritime (GCCS-M) to the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy (DCGS-N).

On 30 January 2013, Carl Vinson commenced sea trials, marking her first time underway in seven months, since the ammo offload which ended on 29 June 2012. Upon returning from this underway period, the ship's commanding officer, then Captain Kent D. Whalen, announced on 2 February 2013 that PIA had officially ended, marking the first on-time PIA completion since 1999. Since February 2013, the ship has been underway multiple times conducting carrier qualifications with Carrier Air Wing Seventeen as well as multiple crew certification exercises. The most recent accomplishment for Carl Vinson was the completion of her evaluation of nuclear reactor operation. During this evaluation, the Naval Sea Systems Command embarks a team of proctors who put the ship's Reactor Department through a multitude of drills and exercises to test their ability to safely operate a nuclear reactor and to contain any casualty of the reactor as it occurs. This was completed on 1 July 2013.

On 22 August 2014, Carl Vinson and assigned CVW-17 began a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. {{USS|Bunker Hill|CG-52|6}}, Destroyer Squadron 1 and its ships {{USS|Gridley|DDG-101|6}}, {{USS|Sterett|DDG-104|6}}, and {{USS|Dewey|DDG-105|6}} deployed with the carrier as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG).{{cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=82909 |title=Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Departs for Deployment |author=Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs |date=22 August 2014 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153224/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=82909 |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead }} The carrier was deployed to the Persian Gulf to relieve USS George H. W. Bush in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/09/30/navy-replaces-ships-in-arabian-gulf-as-bombing-continues.html |title=Navy Replaces Ships in Arabian Gulf as Bombing Continues |first=Kris |last=Osborn |date=30 September 2014 |website=Military.com |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030252/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/09/30/navy-replaces-ships-in-arabian-gulf-as-bombing-continues.html |archive-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

On 11 September 2014 at 17:40 hrs local time, two F/A-18Cs from CVW-17 crashed in the western Pacific Ocean whilst operating from Carl Vinson. The carrier was in her area of operations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The planes were attached to Strike Squadron 94 and Strike Fighter Squadron 113 and collided {{convert|7|mi}} from the carrier, an area approximately {{convert|290|mi}} west of Wake Island. USS Bunker Hill, USS Gridley, USS Sterett, USS Dewey, and helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 (HSC 15) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM 73) assisted in the search for the pilots. Whilst one pilot was recovered alive soon after the crash, the second pilot could not be located. The Navy continued its search for the second pilot until 13 September 2014, when the search was abandoned.

Carl Vinson returned to San Diego on 4 June 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=87493 |title=Team Carl Vinson Returns to San Diego |author=Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis Alston, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |date=4 June 2015 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216212203/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=87493 |archive-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead }} Over the course of the deployment, supporting strike operations in Iraq and Syria, CVW-17 successfully flew 12,300 sorties, including 2,382 combat missions and dropped more than half a million pounds (230 tons) of ordnance against ISIS.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=87476 |title=Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Returns from Western Pacific, U.S. Central Command Deployment |author=Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 Public Affairs |date=4 June 2015 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=6 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605233431/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=87476 |archive-date=5 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}

On 14 August 2015, Carl Vinson began a planned incremental availability (PIA) period at Naval Air Station North Island. The ship received more than $300 million worth of improvements over six months during this modernisation,{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=90624 |title=Team Carl Vinson Begins PIA |author=Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis S. Alston, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |date=14 August 2015 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142215/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=90624 |archive-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=dead }} including the first UAV command center installed aboard an aircraft carrier.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94306 |title=First Phase Unmanned Aviation on CVN Complete |author=USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs |date=20 April 2016 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421123059/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94306 |archive-date=21 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}

In 2016, Carrier Air Wing Two was reassigned to Carl Vinson. The carrier began her next scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific with CVW-2 on 5 January 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98352 |title=Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Begins Western Pacific Deployment |author=USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs |date=5 January 2017 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004437/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98352 |archive-date=4 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}

In mid February 2017, it was reported that the Carl Vinson CSG commenced "routine operations" in the South China Sea.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-39018882 |title=South China Sea: US carrier group begins 'routine' patrols |date=19 February 2017 |website=BBC News |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410153828/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-39018882 |archive-date=10 April 2017 |url-status=live }} During the first half of April 2017, after conducting training exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy in the Western Pacific,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39542990 |title=North Korea missiles: US warships deployed to Korean peninsula |date=9 April 2017 |website=BBC News |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418110515/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39542990 |archive-date=18 April 2017 |url-status=live }} the CSG was reportedly ordered towards the Korean Peninsula amid growing concerns about North Korea's ballistic missile program. "We are sending an armada," President Donald Trump announced on 12 April 2017, sending a signal to deter North Korea after missile and nuclear provocations.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}However, the Carl Vinson and her escorts were {{convert|3,500|miles|km}} away, undertaking joint exercises with the Royal Australian Navy in the Indian Ocean south of Singapore. Confusion appeared to stem from a "glitch-ridden sequence of events" that included a premature announcement of the deployment from the Navy.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/asia/aircraft-carrier-north-korea-carl-vinson.html |title=Aircraft Carrier Wasn't Sailing to Deter North Korea, as U.S. Suggested |first1=Mark |last1=Landler |first2=Eric |last2=Schmitt |date=18 April 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215113120/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/asia/aircraft-carrier-north-korea-carl-vinson.html |archive-date=15 February 2019 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

On 5 January 2018, Carl Vinson left San Diego for her next scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=103944 |title=Carl Vinson Strike Group Departs for Deployment to Western Pacific |author=Carrier Strike Group 1 Public Affairs |date=5 January 2018 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=6 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105191539/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=103944 |archive-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=dead }} On 5 March 2018, the ship entered Da Nang Port, alongside {{USS|Lake Champlain|CG-57|6}} and {{USS|Wayne E. Meyer|DDG-108|6}}, on a scheduled visit to Vietnam. This visit was planned from when President Donald Trump was on a State visit to Vietnam. U.S. Navy sailors on the ships engaged in cultural activities and training with the Vietnamese Navy. This visit was hoped to "increase the relations between the two countries."{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=104590 |title=US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Vietnam for Historic Visit |author=Carl Vinson Strike Group Public Affairs |date=5 March 2018 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=14 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414234016/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=104590 |archive-date=14 April 2018 |url-status=dead }} Carl Vinson returned to San Diego on 12 April 2018. In July 2018, Carl Vinson participated in exercise RIMPAC 2018.

On 2 August 2018, it was announced that Carl Vinson will move from San Diego to Naval Base Kitsap to go through a period of maintenance at Puget Sound and {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} will replace Carl Vinson at San Diego.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=106596 |title=Three Aircraft Carriers to Change Homeports |author=Commander, Naval Air Forces Public Affairs |date=2 August 2018 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804200930/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=106596 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}

File:USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Conducts Routine Operations in the Celebes Sea (8860610).jpg. (February 2025)]]

On 8 January 2020, it was announced that Carl Vinson will be changing home port back to San Diego bringing the number of San Diego–based carriers from two to three, joining {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|2}} and {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|2}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2020-01-08/carrier-carl-vinson-to-change-home-port-back-to-san-diego-navy-says |title=Carrier Carl Vinson to change home port back to San Diego, Navy says |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |last=Dwyer |first=Andrew |date=8 January 2020 |access-date=9 January 2020}}

The COVID-19 pandemic was reported to have spread to the crew of Carl Vinson when its first case was reported on 23 March 2020. At the time, the ship was in dry dock for maintenance at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and it was reported that "the sailor did not board the vessel and had no contact with any shipyard personnel."{{cite web |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/03/23/uss-carl-vinson-sailor-tests-positive-novel-coronavirus/2901121001/ |title=USS Carl Vinson sailor tests positive for novel coronavirus |last=Farley |first=Josh |work=Kitsap Sun |date=23 March 2020 |access-date=9 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403164800/https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/03/23/uss-carl-vinson-sailor-tests-positive-novel-coronavirus/2901121001/ |archive-date=3 April 2020 |url-status=live}}

On 2 September 2020, Carl Vinson arrived in her new homeport of San Diego following a 17-month overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.{{cite web

|url=https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/thousands-of-sailors-aboard-uss-vinson-set-for-return-to-san-diego/ |title=USS Carl Vinson returns to San Diego |work=Fox 5 News San Diego |date=2 September 2020 |access-date=7 September 2020}} Carl Vinson left San Diego for her next deployment on 3 August 2021, with CVW-2 embarked. One of the squadrons assigned to CVW-2 was Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147). This was the first operational deployment of a U.S. Navy squadron equipped with the F-35C Lightning II.{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2717334/carl-vinson-carrier-strike-group-departs-on-deployment/|title=Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs: Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Departs on Deployment, 2 August 2021 |website=www.navy.mil}}

On 24 January 2022, while Carl Vinson was operating in the South China Sea, an F-35C with VFA-147 crashed while landing, resulting in injuries to at least seven crew members. The pilot safely ejected and was recovered from the water shortly after. The pilot and two of the injured deck crew were taken to a hospital in Manila, Philippines for treatment, while the remaining injured were treated in the carrier's medical facilities. The wreck of the F-35C was lost over the edge into the sea after the incident.{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/01/25/crashed-f-35c-fell-off-uss-carl-vinson-flight-deck-into-south-china-sea|title=Crashed F-35C Fell off USS Carl Vinson Flight Deck into South China Sea|publisher=usni.org|date=25 January 2022|access-date=25 January 2022}} 37 days after the incident, the plane was recovered.{{Cite news |title=Navy Recovers Stealthy Jet From Deep in the South China Sea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/us/navy-jet-recovered.html |date=3 March 2022 |website=New York Times|language=en |first=John |last=Ismay |access-date=9 October 2022 |url-access=limited}}

Carl Vinson participated in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/video/928776/uss-carl-vinson-arrives-pearl-harbor-rimpac-2024|date=25 June 2024|access-date=27 September 2024 |title=USS Carl Vinson Arrives at Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 2024 }} On December 29 2024, Carl Vinson made a port visit to Port Klang, Malaysia.{{Cite web |last=Azmi |first=Amalia |date=2024-12-29 |title=Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson makes port call in Malaysia {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/12/1154149/nimitz-class-aircraft-carrier-uss-carl-vinson-makes-port-call-malaysia |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=NST Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McElhiney |first=Brian |title=USS Carl Vinson makes year-end stop as Navy resumes visits to Malaysia |url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-12-31/carl-vinson-port-klang-malaysia-16329645.html |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}

In February 2025, the Carl Vinson participated in the week-long Exercise PACIfIC STELLAR 2025, a "multi-large-deck event (MLDE)", along with the French Carrier Strike Group and the Japanese destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).{{cite news|accessdate=May 3, 2025|url=https://news.usni.org/2025/02/07/uss-carl-vinson-to-drill-with-french-carrier-japanese-destroyer-carrier|title=USS Carl Vinson To Drill with French Carrier, Japanese Destroyer Carrier|first=Dzirhan |last=Mahadzir|date=February 7, 2025|work=USNI News}}

Carl Vinson has received many awards, including:

• Battle "E" – 1990, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2011,{{cite web |author=Journalist 3rd Class (SW) Chris Fahey, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18045 |title=Carl Vinson Leads West Coast Carriers, Earns Battle 'E' |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913124815/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18045 |archive-date=13 September 2009 }} 2015{{citation needed|date=August 2016|reason=2015 award can not be cited by a 2011 article.}}, 2018,{{cite web |author=USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108861 |title=Carl Vinson Earns 2018 Battle "E" |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090756/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108861 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=dead }} 2024
• Navy Unit Commendation – 1998, 2001
• Meritorious Unit Commendation – 1985, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2012
• National Defense Service Medal (Second Award)
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (15 awards)
• Vice Admiral James H. Flatley Memorial Safety Award – 1985, 1988, 1994, 1996
• Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award – 2004

• August 1982 to December 1982 – Post Shakedown Availability – SPS-49 search radar replaces SPS-43
• October 1983 to January 1984 – Selected Restricted Availability
• January 1986 to March 1986 – Selected Restricted Availability – forward port sponson changed/enlarged
• March 1987 to August 1987 – Selected Restricted Availability
• September 1990 to April 1993 – Complex Overhaul – aft boarding dock added
• October 1994 to February 1995 – Selected Restricted Availability
• March 1997 to September 1997 – Planned Incremental Availability – bridle catcher removed
• October 1999 to September 2000 – Planned Incremental Availability
• March 2002 to September 2002 – Planned Incremental Availability
• November 2005 to July 2009 – Refueling and Complex Overhaul – top two levels of island replaced; new antenna mast; new radar tower; 2 RAM replace 1 CIWS/1 Mk-29 at forward port sponson/aft starboard sponson; 2 aft CIWS removed. Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) and Cooperative Engagement Systems installed.{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2010/dot-e/navy/2010ssds.pdf |title=FY2010 Annual Report for the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation |chapter=Navy Programs: Ship Self-Defense |date=2010 |via=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=15 February 2019}}
• September 2009 to December 2009 – Post Shakedown Availability
• July 2012 to February 2013 – Planned Incremental Availability – CIWS replaced on aft port sponson
• July 2013 Upgraded the SPS-48E to the SPS-48G radar
• August 2015 to April 2016 – Planned Incremental Availability – 4 Mk-38 added (2 on small bow sponsons, one on stern on old CIWS sponson and one starboard ahead of elevator four).
• February 2019 to August 2020 - Planned Incremental Availability

• List of aircraft carriers
• List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
• Modern US Navy carrier air operations
• Carrier Strike Group One

{{-}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{DANFS|https://web.archive.org/web/20080316101658/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c3/carl_vinson.htm}}

{{Commons category|USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)}}

• [https://www.navy.mil/USS-CARL-VINSON/ Official USS Carl Vinson website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919224450/https://www.navy.mil/USS-CARL-VINSON/ |date=19 September 2020 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090906212948/http://www.navy.mil/local/story_archive.asp?id=13 Story Archive – U.S. Navy – USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)]
• {{navsource|02/70|USS Carl Vinson}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202003322/http://www.gearadrift.com/navy-forums/index.php Unofficial Navy Forum for Carl Vinson Sailors]
• {{hlist|USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1982.pdf 1982]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1983.pdf 1983]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1984.pdf 1984]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1985.pdf 1985]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1986.pdf 1986]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1987.pdf 1987]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1988.pdf 1988]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1989.pdf 1989]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1990.pdf 1990]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1991.pdf 1991]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1992.pdf 1992]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1993.pdf 1993]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1994.pdf 1994]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1995.pdf 1995]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1996.pdf 1996]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1997.pdf 1997]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1998.pdf 1998]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/1999.pdf 1999]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/2001.pdf 2001]
• [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/c/carl-vinson-cvn-70-i/pdf/2002.pdf 2002]

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