The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is a flexible naval force that can operate in confined waters or in the open ocean, during day and night, in all weather conditions .. the principal role of the carrier and its air wing within the carrier strike group is to provide the primary offensive firepower, while the other ships provide defense and support .. these roles are not exclusive, however. Other ships in the strike group sometimes undertake offensive operations (launching cruise missiles, for instance) and the carrier's air wing contributes to the strike group's defense (through combat air patrols and airborne anti-submarine efforts). .. thus, from a command and control perspective, carrier strike groups are combat organized by mission rather than by platform .. carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection capability ..previously referred to as Carrier Battle Groups (CVBG) they are often referred to by the carrier they are associated with (e.g., Enterprise Strike Group) ..there are currently 11 carrier strike groups .. five based on the West Coast, five based on the East Coast, and one forward-deployed to NS Yokosuka, Japan .. when i used to work on a ship, we came across one of these battle groups, off the coast of Africa, it's quite an impressive sight..