Two of the ARG ships, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and Harpers Ferry-class dock touchdown ship USS Carter Corridor (LSD 50), returned to Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia.
“It’s nice to be residence,” mentioned Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 8 Commodore, Capt. Martin Robertson. “I am pleased with the Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Prepared Group who return residence right this moment figuring out that for eight and a half months, they have been the nation’s fast response power.”
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) is anticipated to return to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, within the coming days. A lot of the Marines assigned to the twenty sixth MEU(SOC) departed the ARG ships and returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina earlier this week.
Whereas within the U.S. fifth and sixth Fleet areas of operations, the Bataan ARG and twenty sixth MEU(SOC) workforce supported a variety of interoperability alternatives and workouts throughout the North Atlantic, Jap Mediterranean, Baltic area, Purple Sea and Arabian Gulf, growing fight readiness and disaster response capabilities whereas strengthening relationships with each Allies and companions.
“These younger women and men have been referred to as into motion from the begin to assist cease the unfold of wildfires in Southern Europe, to discourage Iran from seizing U.S.-flagged service provider vessels within the Center East, and so they reacted swiftly on the onset of the disaster within the Bab-El Mandeb to make sure service provider transport entry to the Purple Sea,” Robertson mentioned. “Your little children stood prepared to help Americans in international locations impacted by the Israel-Hamas battle, and their efforts instantly prevented the battle from increasing to different nations within the area. Concurrently, we operated near Russia within the excessive north and Baltic areas, reinforcing America’s dedication to the NATO alliance, emphasizing the significance of regional peace and safety. Thanks to our households and associates. Your love and assist made all our successes attainable.”
In July 2023, following the wildfires in Greece, the Bataan ARG disaggregated, with Mesa Verde remaining within the U.S. sixth Fleet space of operations supporting Allies and companions by way of numerous bilateral workouts and operations throughout the theater. Mesa Verde and the embarked Marines visited Greece, Eire, Latvia, Norway, Spain and the UK. Moreover, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Mesa Verde whereas the ship was in Dublin, Eire, for the U.S. Naval Academy versus College of Notre Dame soccer recreation, Aug. 26, 2023.
Bataan and Carter Corridor transited the Suez Canal and operated within the U.S. fifth Fleet space of operations for greater than 4 months, guaranteeing the free movement of navigation and regional stability. Following the outbreak of battle between Israel and Hamas, each ships participated in Operation Prosperity Guardian within the Purple Sea to discourage additional escalation and defend open sea lanes.
“It has been a difficult deployment, however now we have completed lots, and I’m extraordinarily pleased with the arduous work and resilience of each member of the Bataan workforce,” mentioned Capt. Paul Burkhart, Bataan’s commanding officer. “All through the previous eight months, now we have actually proven what it means to be ‘Bataan powerful.’ We have been capable of showcase our amphibious capabilities all through three Navy fleets, deter aggression by way of our presence and have been capable of create and share numerous reminiscences that may final a lifetime.”
Notable guests to the Bataan and Carter Corridor included commanders and employees of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. sixth Fleet, U.S fifth Fleet, U.S. Central Command, Activity Drive 61/2, Activity Drive 51/5, French, Italian and Turkish navies, together with distinguished company from the Kingdom of Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and U.Okay.
The ARG/MEU presence abroad supported strategic pursuits and contributed to regional safety and stability and reassured U.S. dedication to a number of areas. The blue-green workforce supplied operational flexibility to combatant commanders by offering a flexible contingency response power utilizing sea, air, land and logistical belongings. The flexibility inherent to the amphibious power allowed for versatile and mission-tailored forces, whereas representing our nation’s power, functionality and resolve to companions and Allies and deterring potential adversaries.
“Historical past has confirmed the need of getting forward-deployed Marines, embarked aboard amphibious ships. Over the previous eight months, the Marines and Sailors of the twenty sixth MEU(SOC) have showcased the worth, utility and distinctive all-domain operational capabilities you solely discover in a marine expeditionary unit,” mentioned Col. Dennis Sampson, commanding officer of the twenty sixth MEU(SOC). “When coupled collectively, the ARG and the MEU(SOC) type a versatile naval expeditionary power able to reassuring our Allies and companions of our dedication to maritime safety and able to dominating inside the littorals in opposition to any adversary in any clime or place.”
The Bataan ARG is comprised of the Bataan, Mesa Verde, and Carter Corridor. Embarked instructions embody CPR 8, Fleet Surgical Crew 8, Tactical Air Management Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Seashore Grasp Unit 2 and the twenty sixth MEU(SOC).
The twenty sixth MEU(SOC) consists of the Command Component; Aviation Fight Component, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Bolstered); Floor Fight Component, Battalion Touchdown Crew 1/6; and Logistics Fight Component, Fight Logistics Battalion 22.
For extra data, please contact Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs Crew, CPR8PAO@lhd5.navy.mil.
