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NEWS | June 29, 2020

USS New York stops at Naval Station Rota for maintenance, supplies

By Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) visited the safe-haven port of Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, for scheduled maintenance and supplies, June 28.

NAVSTA Rota is designated as a safe haven port for U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) ships and submarines during the coronavirus pandemic. The base is equipped to resupply naval vessels while pierside, protecting ships and service members from COVID-19.

The New York is deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), along with the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). Bataan is operating in the Atlantic Ocean, while Oak Hill is operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

Embarked aboard the ARG ships are the Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

“USS New York was able to benefit from Naval Station Rota’s safe haven port status to take on supplies and conduct scheduled maintenance,” said Capt. Lance Lesher, commander of the ARG. “This safe haven port, alongside our Spanish allies, provides a protected space necessary to keep our Sailors and Marines healthy while doing the regular work to remain fully combat ready. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit remain engaged, postured and ready to support our partners and deter aggression in the region.”

Bataan ARG and the 26th MEU consist of more than 4,000 total Sailors and Marines, who are operating in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

ARGMEUs operate continuously across the globe and provide the geographic combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, flexible and responsive sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The blue-green team is fully capable of conducting operations across a full spectrum of conventional, unconventional and hybrid warfare.

C6F, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.