IN THE NORTH ARABIAN GULF

U. S. Navy ^ | April 20, 2003 | US Navy

[Tank-FL]

April 20, 2003 IN THE NORTH ARABIAN GULF

-- The amphibious assault ships of Task Force 51 come together in an unprecedented formation during operations in the North Arabian Gulf.

This marked the first time that six large deck amphibious ships from the East and West coasts have deployed together in one area of operations.

Led by the flag ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the ships in the second row from bottom to top are USS Saipan (LHA 2) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3); and the third row ships are USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

Commander, TaskForce 51 led Navy amphibious forces in the Arabian Gulf region during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 32 ships of Task Force 51 composed the largest amphibious force assembled since the Inchon landing during the Korean War.

OIF is the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein.

[Tank-FL]

Proud, damn I am PROUD!

[firewalk]

bttt

[deadhead]

Awesome photo!

Go Navy!

[Ford Fairlane]

A sub commander would love to see that - I'm glad the Iraqi's don't have any

Nice pic though

[Tango Whiskey Papa]

"We are not a warlike people. Nor is our history filled with tales of aggressive adventures and imperialism, which might come as a shock to some of the placard painters in our modern demonstrations. The lesson of Vietnam, I think, should be that never again will young Americans be asked to fight and possibly die for a cause unless that cause is so meaningful that we, as a nation, pledge our full resources to achieve victory as quickly as possible." --Ronald Reagan (1974)

[onedoug]

Nice post. Thanks.

Gator Navy Bump!

[TopQuark]

Salute to the Navy!

[The Shrew]

I hope you don't mind if I post that quote on my profile page!

Regards,

TS

[The Right Stuff]

the Bonhomme Richard has an awesome webpage

[blam]

"This marked the first time that six large deck amphibious ships from the East and West coasts have deployed together in one area of operations."

May be they can come together again off the coast of North Korea. Excellent picture.

[rwgal]

Thanks for the pic Tank. My son is a Sr. Chief aboard the Tarawa and a fellow freeper (bkwells). Hope he gets to bring the Jarheads home soon. We are already making plans to meet them in San Diego.

[Tallguy]

Looks like the Gator-Navy has a monopoly on all the great ship's names. In a way it's too bad that the naming scheme of the big deck carriers was changed.

[Mariner]

"A sub commander would love to see that"

The ONLY sub commander that would ever see THAT formation, saw this picture......or is a sub commander in the US Navy:)

I assure you there were at least two US boats within 10 miles, if not four. Additionally, there would be at least one CG Battle Group and a Destroyer Group within 100.

What we DON'T see in this pic is the other 4-6 amphibious vessels (LPH, LSD etc.) that would accompany these capital ships in their battle group. A force of this size could put a complete Marine Assault Brigade ashore.....helicopters, Harriers, fuel, food, tanks, jeeps and all.....sufficient to sustain ops for 30 days without outside help.

We could take France with that group:)

[Mariner]

And I served on the Tarawa for 2 years.........many years ago.

[theirjustdue]

Thanks, T-FL, an awesome photo!

In 65/66 we operated off the Iwo-Jima, a nearly new LPH (a Helicopter landing ship) now, no doubt scrap and later transfered onto the "old' (very, very old) "Valley Forge". An old, but much honored WWII Aircraft Carrier converted into an LPH. So old, in fact, that, still in service in 1965, it even had a wooden flight deck. The Marine firepower onboard was never-the-less, every bit as effective as today, but to see these six great ships gathered together in one photo is absolutely stunning!

[The Shrew]

I spent 7 months on the Tarawa in 1983. She is a great ship!

Semper Fi!

TS

[Ford Fairlane]

We could take france with a couple of kids with red ryder bb guns in an old canoe

[RaceBannon]

There will be pics later today of the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit in 1980, we were the first Marine Unit in the Arabian Sea ever for the Iranian Crises.

[snippy_about_it]

Woo-Hoo. Great pics. Hi RW!

As much time as I spend on FR it always amazes me when I get the link from Brian directing me back to FR. LOL.

Good to 'see' you. I understand congratulations are in order for your family, too. :)

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the Ping Snippy.