Posted on 08/25/2017 7:38:08 AM PDT by libh8er
NEW DELHI: In its first visit to India, American Navy's amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor arrived in Goa today as part of defence cooperation between the two countries.
USS Pearl Harbor is a Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship with a crew of over 700 sailors and marines.
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which is one of seven marine expeditionary units of the US Marine Corps, has also come to Goa as part of the trip.
While in Goa, the ship's sailors and marines will conduct exchanges with the Indian Navy's marine commandos relating to amphibious warfare, the US embassy said in a statement.
"We are thrilled by the opportunity to visit India," said Theodore Essenfeld, USS Pearl Harbor's commanding officer.
He said the sailors and marines of Pearl Harbor were looking forward to experiencing the culture and and traditions of India while strengthening the US Navy's long-standing partnership with the Indian Navy.
USS Pearl Harbor was launched on February 24, 1996, and commissioned on May 30th, 1998. The ship is based in San Diego, California.
The 15th MEU is based at Camp Pendleton, California.
Both USS Pearl Harbor and the 15th MEU are currently deployed as a part of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group, which is operating in the Indo-Asia Pacific region to strengthen partnerships and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency, the US Embassy said.
Why hasn’t this ship been run over by some lumbering container vessel? Maybe of exiting the India port? /s
Give it time... Such an embarrassment, our sinking ships. Next you will have Blackhawks dropping out.. o wait ;).
“Both USS Pearl Harbor and the 15th MEU are currently deployed as a part of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group, which is operating in the Indo-Asia Pacific region to strengthen partnerships and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency, the US Embassy said.”
The America (LHA-6) is 42,000 tons, 900 ft flight deck.
It is the first deployment of “Extended Aviation” Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) of 3,000 Marines...heavy weapons (tanks even)...F-35 VSTOL/Stealth...MV-22 Osprey...and multiple helos.
A full hospital is aboard the LHA with 30 beds and two surgeons.
This ready group carries enough supplies to sustain itself, without relief, for 30 days.
It can put 2 Combat Brigades ashore in 4 hours and provide all of its own air support.
Alone, it could effect regime change in 80% of the nations in the world.
An ARG is an absolutely impressive amount of military muscle.
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