Tarawa ESG, 11th MEU to deploy

[unhappycamper]

Tarawa ESG, 11th MEU to deploy
Staff report
Posted : Friday Nov 2, 2007 15:34:13 EDT

SAN DIEGO — More than 5,500 Marines and sailors are making final preparations this weekend for a Monday departure and deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, Navy officials said.

The amphibious assault ship Tarawa will lead two other San Diego-based amphibs, the dock landing ship Germantown and the amphibious transport dock Cleveland for the scheduled six-month deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet regions.

En route, the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group will link up with three ships: the frigate Ingraham, based in Everett, Wash., and the cruiser Port Royal and destroyer Hopper, both based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The strike group includes the San Diego-based Amphibious Squadron 1, led by Navy Capt. John Miley, elements of Naval Beach Group 1 from Coronado, Calif., and the Camp Pendleton-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, led by Col. John Bullard.

The 11th MEU’s elements are Battalion Landing Team 1/5, which includes 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (Reinforced) 166; and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.


Article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/navy_11thmeu_deploys_071102w/