SOUTH CHINA SEA (Dec. 15, 2023) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) conducts a vertical replenishment with the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) in the South China Sea, Dec. 15, 2023. Carl Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, is deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles J. Scudella III)