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USS Bataan to Deploy in Support of OIF Force Rotation
Story Number: NNS040113-06
Release Date: 1/13/2004 4:16:00 PM
From U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), will deploy Jan. 19 from Norfolk to the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF II) force rotation.
Bataan will provide amphibious lift support for Marines from the Second Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C. II MEF forces, including units from the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Force Service Support Group and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, will augment forces from the First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), headquartered at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Major II MEF units to deploy are 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and 8th Communications Battalion from Camp Lejeune and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 261 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 from Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C. Smaller elements from other II MEF units will deploy, as well.
For logistical support, Bataan will deploy with 2 MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 6, Det. 2 of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and three Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) hovercraft from Assault Craft Unit 4 (ACU 4) of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.
Bataan is expected to return to Norfolk in the early spring after offloading embarked Marines and equipment in the CENTCOM AOR.
Bataan most recently returned to Norfolk June 25 from a six-month deployment to the North Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in theatre, Bataan performed the traditional role of an amphibious ship, transporting and off-loading Marines to fight the ground war. They shifted gears and reconfigured the ship into the East Coast’s 'Harrier Carrier,' where they took on 24 Harriers - the most in the history of the Navy – enabling them to provide close air support to Marines on the ground. Bataan stayed underway for five months straight, flying 135 flight days, 3,200 flight hours and 1,400 combat flight hours. Nine months prior to the 2003 deployment, Bataan returned from a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Bataan, 840 feet long and displacing more than 40,000 tons, is the fifth ship in the Wasp-class of multi-purpose amphibious assault ships.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/clf.