By Lt. Clint Ramsden, Essex Amphibious Ready Group Public
Affairs
SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group
(ARG) transited the Straits of Malacca and conducted routine operations in the
South China Sea as part of a deployment to the Western Pacific Nov. 7-10.
The ARG's flagship, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship
USS Essex (LHD 2), conducted the patrol as the amphibious transport dock USS
Anchorage (LPD 23) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47)
prepared for bilateral training exercises with Brunei and Malaysia.
On Nov. 10, Rushmore began offloading troops for the 2015
iteration of Malaysia-U.S. Amphibious Exercise (MALUS AMPHEX 2015), in which
U.S. personnel will train with Malaysian amphibious units ashore to instruct
and develop core competencies and enhance interoperability with a key partner
nation in the region.
"Only the flexible, scalable and responsive force
structure of the Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit team allows
for participation in three critically important, concurrent events in the
region," said Capt. Clint Carroll, ARG Commander. "While having the
three-ship composite unit sailing together delivers a wide range of
capabilities that can be sustained longer-term, independent operations make it
possible for Essex ARG Sailors and Marines to meet three theater objectives
concurrently."
"That's one of the primary value-added characteristics
of the amphibious ready group construct - an adaptable, flexible, mobile force
able to meet mission requirements when and where amphibious forces are
needed," continued Carroll.
Routine patrols like this one support security and stability
throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Other U.S. Navy ships performed
similar operations in the 7th Fleet area of operation in recent months,
including the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82)
and USS Preble (DDG 88), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS
Chancellorsville (CG 62), and the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Fort
Worth (LCS 3).
The Essex ARG includes the multipurpose amphibious assault
ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23)
and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), as well as various
supporting elements from Assault Craft Unit 5, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet
Surgical Team 1, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11 and Helicopter Sea Combat
Squadron 21. The Essex ARG is assigned to Combined Task Force 76 (CTF 76)
during its time in the U.S. 7th Fleet AOR.
The Essex ARG and 15th MEU deployed from San Diego, Calif.,
May 11, 2015, on a regularly scheduled deployment and will continue to support
operations and engagements in the U.S. 7th Fleet AOR prior to returning to
homeport.
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