| Total Battle Force | Deployed | Underway |
| 291 (USS 232, USNS 59) |
107 (USS 74, USNS 33) |
85 (57 Deployed, 28 Local) |
The US Naval Institute’s news service’s latest Fleet and Marine Tracker only mentions two Coast Guard Units, The USCGC Healy and Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). They are respectively reported in the Western Atlantic and the Persian Gulf. Healy is pictured stopped in Reykjavík, Iceland on Oct. 24, 2023. From there, looks like she headed SW. No info on where she will stop next. They do have a photo from a drug bust by PATFORSWA cutter Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) on Oct. 12 that I have not seen reported elsewhere. I have included the news release I found as a result below.
The usual data indicating how many Navy units are operating under the various Fleet Commanders was not included, so we don’t know how many Navy ships are operating under 4th fleet.
It does look like the Navy is busier than usual with five carrier strike groups underway including four deployed, two in the Med and two in the Pacific.
U.S. Naval Forces in Middle East Interdict $29 Million in Illegal Drugs
From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain – A U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter seized an estimated $29 million worth of illicit narcotics from a fishing vessel while patrolling the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 12, two weeks after another sizable interdiction.
USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) confiscated 2,980 kilograms of opium and 400 kilograms of methamphetamines as the fishing vessel transited international waters. The Coast Guard cutter was operating in support of Combined Task Force 150, which oversees maritime security operations for Combined Maritime Forces in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.
“A success like this is a team effort. I am proud of each and every member of our crew,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Hills, Charles Moulthrope’s commanding officer. “We remain committed to countering the flow of illegal contraband and promoting security and stability across the region.”
Hills’ crew previously interdicted another fishing vessel Sept. 27 while patrolling the Gulf of Oman, which led to the seizure of $85 million worth of illegal drugs.
Charles Moulthrope arrived in the Middle East in May and operates from the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain where U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces are headquartered.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
For some reason the USNI has begun pumping out Fleet Marine Trackers more frequently than once a week. The statistical breakdown of the number of US Navy ships is not being included, but the Navy seems to be unusually busy with almost one third of ships underway rather than the normal one quarter.
The only CG vessel mentioned is USCGC Healy which has left Charleston, SC. It should have arrived in Fort Lauderdale, FL yesterdaty, Nov. 9.
Apparently, at least one Navy ship is operating in 4th Fleet. USS Farragut conducted four drug interdictions in the Central Caribbean in October. https://seapowermagazine.org/uss-farragut-going-full-speed-ahead-making-multiple-drug-busts/
From the Nov. 13 Fleet and Marine Tracker. “USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) pulled into Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 9. Healy is conducting a circumnavigation deployment that started in Seattle, Wash.”
The Nov. 27 edition still does not have the statistical breakdown by fleets but it does show that while more than a third of the fleet is deployed less than a quarter of it is underway.
It notes Polar Star completed a port call at Pearl Harbor and is now on the way to Antarctica (probably with a stop in New Zealand).
No more info on where Healy is now since Nov. 9 arrival at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Nov. 27, 2023