News - Page 21

Bataan ARG, 26th MEU(SOC) Arrive in Souda Bay for Port Visit
January 21, 2024 — The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), comprised of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), along with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) arrived in Souda Bay, Crete, Jan. 20 and 21, for a regularly scheduled port visit following the completion of a large scale MEU(SOC) exercise Odyssey Encore in Greece alongside the 32nd Hellenic Marine Brigade... MORE

SOUDA BAY, CRETE (Jan. 20, 2024) Deck Department Sailors, assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) prepare for mooring as the ship pulls into Souda Bay, Crete, Jan. 20. Bataan is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S. allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Jones)

USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall and 26th MEU(SOC) Arrive in Piraeus, Greece
January 11, 2024 — The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) arrived in Piraeus, Greece, Jan. 11, 2024, for a regularly scheduled port visit after supporting operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations since early August. ... MORE

26th MEU(SOC) Begins Exercise “Odyssey Encore”, a MEU(SOC) MAGTF Readiness Sustainment Exercise
January 10, 2024 — U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), embarked aboard the amphibious warships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG), will participate in a MEU(SOC) Exercise named “Odyssey Encore”, in vicinity of Volos, Greece, 6-17 Jan. 2024. This MEU(SOC) Exercise is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) readiness sustainment exercise that ensures the 26th MEU(SOC) retains the advanced skills and operational capabilities necessary to rapidly respond to any crisis or other emergent requirements across the Tri-Geographic Combatant Command region during a scheduled deployment spanning both U.S. Sixth Fleet and U.S. Fifth Fleet areas of operation... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michael Bogdanos, a platoon commander with the Light Armored Reconnaissance Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th MEU(SOC), conducts beach landing during an amphibious assault training mission as part of the 26th MEU(SOC) Exercise “Odyssey Encore”, Volos, Greece, Jan. 8, 2024. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness sustainment exercise enhances the unit’s operational capabilities as a crisis response force. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied and partner interests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean)

USS Normandy transits through the Strait of Gibraltar
January 5, 2024 — The Ticonderoga-class guided missile destroyer USS Normandy, a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 5, 2024... MORE

USS Gerald R. Ford Transits the Strait of Gibraltar
January 5, 2024 — The U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and embarked staff from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, transited the Strait of Gibraltar and exited the Mediterranean Sea after conducting operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Jan. 5, 2024... MORE

231103-N-LK647-1272 EAST MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 3, 2023) The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in formation with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a photo exercise, Nov. 3, 2023. Normandy is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and is currently operating in the East Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malachi Lakey)

USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) Arrives in Durrës, Albania
January 3, 2024 — Military Sealift Command (MSC) Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) arrived in Durrës, Albania for a regularly scheduled port visit Jan. 3, 2024... MORE

240103-N-XL526-016 DURRES, Albania (January 3, 2024) USNS Trenton tied portside at the conclusion of sea and anchor detail following the arrival into Durres, Albania, January 3, 2024. USNS Trenton is forward-deployed conducting scheduled port visits throughout the U.S. SIXTH Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class Brooke Minnich/Released)

USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Arrive in Greece
January 3, 2024 — Sailors and Marines assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) MEU((SOC)) arrived in Piraeus, Greece for a regularly scheduled port visit, Jan. 02, 2024. ... MORE

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), right, Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), left, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) sail in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 31, 2023. The U.S. maintains forward deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nolan Pennington)

USS Ford CSG Redeploys To Homeport
January 1, 2024 — Immediately following HAMAS’s brutal attack on Israel, the USS GERALD R. FORD Carrier Strike Group was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture. In the coming days, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group will redeploy to its home port as scheduled to prepare for future deployments... MORE

Ships from the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) and the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and Hellenic Navy frigate HS Navarinon (F 461) sail in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 31, 2023. The ships from the GRFCSG include the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). The ships from the Bataan ARG include the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the San Antonio Class-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). The U.S. maintains forward deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) transited to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
December 28, 2023 — The Wasp-class amphibious ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) transited Dec. 28, 2023, from the Red Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and will join the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19)... MORE

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Aug. 4, 2023) A MH-60S Sea hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, transfers cargo onto the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) during a replenishment-at-sea. Bataan, along with the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) are currently on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps routinely participate in scheduled deployments to improve combined combat readiness, increase operational capacity, and strengthen relationships among allies and partners throughout the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alisha Gleason)

USS Normandy Arrives in Piraeus, Greece
December 26, 2023 — USS Normandy (CG 60), a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), ported in Piraeus, Greece, for a regularly scheduled port visit December 26, 2023... MORE

231125-N-LK647-1183 IONIAN SEA (Nov. 25, 2023) Sailors assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) conduct a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) drill on the forecastle, Nov. 25, 2023. Normandy is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and is currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malachi Lakey)