First Ship from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Returns from Deployment

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Waters | 200403-N-PI330-0078 STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Apr. 3, 2020) The dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) transits the Strait of Hormuz on April 3, 2020. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and the three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Waters/Released)  

VA, UNITED STATES

07.15.2020

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet   

NORFOLK, VA - The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 26th Marine
Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are returning from deployment this month, marking the end of a
seven-month deployment to the U.S. 2nd, 5th and 6th Fleet.

The first of the ARG ships, the Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill
(LSD 51) returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on July
15.

“I am tremendously proud of what the Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready
Group and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit accomplished during this deployment. Our team
worked tirelessly to remain fully mission ready during the unprecedented challenge of a global
pandemic,” said Capt. Lance Lesher, who served as commander of Amphibious Squadron
(PHIBRON) 8 through its pre-deployment workup cycle and deployment until conducting a
change of command at sea, July 12.

The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and San Antonio-class
amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) are expected to return to Naval Station
Norfolk, Virginia and Naval Station Mayport, Florida, respectively, in the coming days.
The MEU departed the ARG ships and returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina over the weekend.

“As a ‘certain force in an uncertain world’ the 26th MEU was flexible, resilient, and adaptable
while forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of operation,” said Col. Trevor
Hall, commanding officer of the 26th MEU. “This deployment presented unique challenges, but
the Navy-Marine Corps team prevailed and incessantly provided our fleet commanders with a
responsive, sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force – even during the global novel coronavirus
pandemic.”

The ARG ships and MEU departed for deployment from their respective home bases in
December and remained at sea for more than 150 consecutive days before returning home.

“The crews onboard USS Bataan, USS New York and USS Oak Hill should feel great
satisfaction and fulfillment knowing that, during this deployment, they played a crucial role as
part of a premier crisis response team across the U.S. 2nd Fleet, 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet,” said
Lesher. “The daily actions of our Sailors and Marines over the past seven months have made a
positive impact on the world, and I’m pleased they will now be reunited with their friends,
families and loved ones.”

Lesher turned over command of PHIBRON 8 to Capt. Jason Rimmer during a change-of-command ceremony at sea onboard Bataan in the Atlantic Ocean.

“It has been inspiring to get to know the Sailors and Marines of the ARG-MEU team in recent
days and I am incredibly impressed by what this group of hardworking men and women has been
able to accomplish on this challenging deployment,” said Rimmer. “Our families, friends and
loved ones at home should be proud not only of the Sailors and Marines who deployed, but of
their own service as well,” he continued. “Their love, support and watch over the homefront over
the course of the last seven months has given our ARG-MEU team the strength and confidence it
has needed to stay focused and ready to carry out any mission our nation has asked of it.”

While in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU remained healthy
and fully mission ready while working with regional partners. The Blue-Green team worked with
partners from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to coordinate multiple complex training evolutions
on the uninhabited Karan and Kurayn islands in the Arabian Gulf, as well as with partners from
the United Arab Emirates to hold training in an isolated location within that country.

While in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, the ARG-MEU increased interoperability with
regional allies and partners by conducting maneuvering operations and at-sea exercises with
navy and coast guard ships from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey in the Black
Sea. The crew additionally worked with allied ships from France and Italy during their time in
the Mediterranean Sea.

U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venoms and AH-1W Super Cobras assigned to the 26th MEU
additionally participated in a live-fire training exercise in Bize, Albania.

The Sailors and Marines of the ARG-MEU also strengthened international partnerships by
hosting the head of the Royal Jordanian Navy and deputy commander of Kuwait Naval Forces
aboard Bataan in separate visits that reinforced shared goals and fostered personal relationships.

Throughout the deployment, the BAT ARG-MEU strictly adhered to the CDC, Department of
Defense and host nations coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines to mitigate contracting and
spreading the virus and to maintain the health and readiness of the crew.

There are more than 4,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the units of the ARG-MEU, nearly
2,500 of which were aboard the Bataan.

Also embarked on the ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group were the staff of
Amphibious Squadron 8 and personnel from Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, Fleet Surgical
Team 4, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Naval Beach Group 2, Assault Craft Unit 4,
Assault Craft Unit 2 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

ARG-MEUs 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. The blue-green team is fully capable of conducting operations across a full spectrum
of conventional, unconventional and hybrid warfare.

• Date Taken: 07.15.2020
• Date Posted: 07.15.2020 13:16
• Story ID: 373957
• Location: VA, US