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Bataan Transits Suez Canal, Enters 5th Fleet
Story Number: NNS090623-08
Release Date: 6/23/2009 3:40:00 PM
From USS Bataan Public Affairs
USS
BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the multi-purpose amphibious
assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and embarked Marines from the 22nd
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal June 20,
entering 5th Fleet's Area of Operations and relieving the USS Boxer
Amphibious Group.
While deployed to the region, Bataan will conduct maritime security
operations, helping to set conditions for security and promote regional
stability and global prosperity.
"The focus is maritime security, but regardless of the mission, we
stand ready," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "Our
training leading up to deployment and the inherent capability of
Bataan's blue/green team provides the combatant commander with a
versatile force that's able to respond to tasking at a moment's
notice."
Bataan serves as the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready
Group/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU). The 22nd MEU is
comprised of a ground combat element, battalion landing team, 3rd
Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; aviation combat element, Marine Medium
Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced); logistics combat element,
Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and the MEU command element.
Bataan is also the first ship to deploy with embarked MV-22B Ospreys in
an amphibious environment. VMM 263, with a complement of 10 Ospreys,
provides more flexibility than the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-46D Sea
Stallion in transferring equipment and troops from ship to shore. The
Osprey brings greater range, lift capacity, speeds and the ability to
conduct aerial refueling.
Amphibious Squadron Two (PHIBRON 2) includes Bataan, the amphibious
dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 42), the amphibious transport
dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Fleet
Surgical Team (FST) 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU-4 and
Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was
commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to
bear her name. USS Bataan (CVL-29) was an Independence-class light
aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving
in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned
in 1954.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.
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