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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious readiness group and the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit to the Gulf region, according to US officials. The readiness group consists of three ships, including the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship. An expeditional unit usually consists of about 2,500 Marines. In an announcement, US Central Command said the deployment will provide "even greater flexibility and maritime capability in the region.” The announcement did not name the ships, but US officials detailed the units involved in the deployment on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements. Along with...

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is now deployed after picking up Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on Thursday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News. Made up of amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD-21) and dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), the Bataan ARG took aboard the Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., ahead of the expected deployment six-month deployment. Ordinarily, ARG/MEU deployments are announced by the Navy and Marines. However, in this instance there was no public notification of the departure. A U.S. 2nd Fleet spokesperson told USNI...

Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Admiral Removed from Command By: Sam LaGrone September 27, 2019 6:24 PM The commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2 has been removed from command due to a loss of confidence by the commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, service officials told USNI News. “Rear Adm. Erik Ross, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG-2), was relieved of his duties by Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F), due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” reads a statement from the command. Ross was involved in an alleged off-duty incident that prompted Lewis’ decision...

Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi, whose real name was Ali Mohammed al-Fakheri, 46, took his own life in his prison cell, according to the Libyan newspaper Oea. Information gained from the interrogation of al-Libi was cited on several occasions by the Bush administration as justification for the war in Iraq. He told his CIA interrogators that al-Qaeda had sent two men to Iraq to seek training in chemical and biological weapons in December 2000. Classified documents added that the men did not return, so al-Libi did not know whether the training took place, and that, in any case, he was probably "intentionally...

Bound, masked and surrounded by heavily armed U.S. Marines, 20 of the most dangerous al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners arrived for indefinite incarceration at this remote Caribbean naval base. The prisoners' arrival Friday came four months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The prisoners face intense interrogation, especially concerning the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, accused by the United States of orchestrating the attacks. "These are people who would gnaw through hydraulic lines in the back of a C-17 to bring it down," Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, ...

Marine Corps News #Marines w/22nd MEU have arrived of the coast of #Haiti and the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group will begin relief operations immediately 2 minutes ago

The US is sending up to 3,500 soldiers and 2,200 marines to Haiti to help rescue efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake. President Barack Obama pledged one of the biggest relief efforts in recent US history and said Haiti would "not be forgotten" in its hour of need. The search for survivors continues but rescuers lack heavy lifting equipment and many are using their bare hands. The Red Cross estimates 45,000-50,000 people are dead and up to 3m affected. BBC correspondents say the situation is increasingly desperate, with aid only trickling in. Mr Obama confirmed that some US...

<p>The United States is operating "floating prisons" to house those arrested in its war on terror, according to human rights lawyers, who claim there has been an attempt to conceal the numbers and whereabouts of detainees.</p> <p>Details of ships where detainees have been held and sites allegedly being used in countries across the world have been compiled as the debate over detention without trial intensifies on both sides of the Atlantic. The US government was yesterday urged to list the names and whereabouts of all those detained.</p>

D'IBERVILLE, Miss. (NNS) -- Seabees stationed at Gulfport, Miss. received aid Sept. 8 from U.S. and international forces in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts here. U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., Mexican marines from ARM Papaloapan (A 411), Sailors on board USS Bataan (LPD 5) and Dutch sailors on board HMS Van Amstel (F 831), participated in one of the first international humanitarian efforts here, repairing D'Iberville Elementary School just outside of Biloxi. The elementary school is currently being used as both a shelter and a food and water distribution center. The 75 Mexican marines arrived Sept. 8 via...

The USS Bataan, having just finished exercises off Panama, was in a position to shadow Hurricane Katrina as she headed for New Orleans. The Bataan boasts 6 operating rooms, beds for 600 patients, helicopters, and a crew of 1200 able sailors. Yesterday, Andrew Sullivan linked to a post on The Carpetbagger Report claiming that, once Katrina passed through New Orleans, the Bataan sat impotent some 90 miles south of the city awaiting President Bush's orders to help with the emergency. According to Carpetbagger, the Bataan needed permission to proceed: << Apparently, that permission could have been given right away, but...

USS Bataan Public Affairs USS BATAAN, Gulf of Mexico (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) was tasked Aug. 30 to assist with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. Two MH-60 search and rescue helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HC) 28, based out of Norfolk, Va., launched at 5 p.m. CST Aug. 30 to assist in the search and rescue efforts that are currently ongoing in and around the New Orleans area. At 6:30 p.m. CST, two MH-53 helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, based out of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, also...

Battaan sailors break ground with experimental aircraft Story Identification #: 20056207230 Story by - Seaman Joanne De Vera ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 12, 2005) -- USS Bataan (LHD 5) took on eight of the experimental MV-22 Ospreys and two AV-8B Harriers for training and testing while steaming in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina this week. For this final operational test phase, Bataan has the largest number of Ospreys on any ship at one time. Along with the aircraft, 185 Marines, including Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty-Two (VMX-22) personnel, representatives from Boeing and Naval Air...

17 employees for a contractor working on a drydocked Navy ship are in court Wednesday facing charges they had false identification documents.U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said the men are illegal aliens and worked as sandblasters for Network Industries, Limited. That company is working at Metro Machine Corporation in Norfolk on the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan.According to the federal indictment, one of the men had been deported but somehow was back in the country.All are charged with having and using a false immigration document and false representation of social security numbers. Eight are also charged with aggravated identity theft."These...

Thursday, February 26, 2004 Marines taking over for Army in Iraq By Scott Schonauer, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Thursday, February 26, 2004 Scott Schonauer / S&S Marine Staff Sgt. Marvin Clark secures the front rotor of a CH-46 "Frog" helicopter from the New River, N.C.-based Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 at Al-Asad Airfield, about 110 miles from Baghdad. About 25,000 Marines are streaming into western Iraq to take command of security and rebuilding duties from the Army. Scott Schonauer / S&S A Marine guards a CH-46 "Frog" helicopter as crewmembers refuel the aircraft at Tallil air base in southern Iraq....

Sunday, February 22, 2004 Navy deposits Marines, gear in Kuwait By Scott Schonauer, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Saturday, February 21, 2004 Scott Schonauer / S&S Marines from the II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to get on a CH-46 helicopter from the USS Bataan on Friday. Two amphibious assault ships unloaded Marines and gear in Kuwait as part of a huge rotation of forces into Iraq. Scott Schonauer / S&S Navy Seaman Henry Gonzalez moves a cart of Hellfire missiles out of the USS Bataan's magazine Thursday in the Persian Gulf. The Bataan dropped off Iraq-bound Marines and equipment in Kuwait...

Monday, February 16, 2004 New deployment plan keeps sailors guessing By Scott Schonauer, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Tuesday, February 17, 2004 Scott Schonauer / S&S A group of Navy firefighters get ready for training aboard the USS Bataan on Thursday during "general quarters." The amphibious assault ship is on its way to the Persian Gulf to drop off Marines. The Navy wants its fleet and sailors to be ready to go on a moment's notice for "surge deployments." Scott Schonauer / S&S Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Coley looks over the shoulder of Seaman Percy Upshaw as he works...

Monday, February 9, 2004 Vert reps: Routine, dangerous By Scott Schonauer, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Monday, February 9, 2004 Scott Schonauer/ S&S Navy aircraft directors guide a helicopter during a vertical replenishment operation aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan on Thursday in the Mediterranean Sea. ABOARD THE USS BATAAN — The helicopter drifted above the ship’s flight deck and hovered within feet of Pvt. John Purcell’s helmet.His mission: Latch a piece of cargo to the belly of the MH-60 Night Hawk and get out of the way quickly — without getting killed, of course. Fighting off hurricane-strength winds, Purcell...

Official U.S. Navy file photo of USS Bataan (LHD 5). View Larger Download HiRes   USS Bataan to Deploy in Support of OIF Force RotationStory Number: NNS040113-06Release Date: 1/13/2004 4:16:00 PM   From U.S. 2nd Fleet Public AffairsNORFOLK, 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...

The Source for Navy News   030924-N-9109V-001 Portsmouth, Va. (Sept. 24, 2003) -- Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski (right), Commanding General of the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade, presents an AK-47 rifle to Capt. Chris Hase, the Commanding Officer of USS Saipan (LHA 2), in appreciation for the support the crew gave Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The rifle was confiscated from an Iraqi enemy prisoner of war during the bloodiest day of battle in March of 2003. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kyle Voight. (RELEASED)   View Larger Download HiRes   Marine General Thanks Sailors for SupportStory...

Story Number: NNS030515-07 Release Date: 5/15/2003 3:46:00 PM Click on graphic for high-resolution image 030131-N-1512S-020 At sea with USS Bataan (LHD 5) Jan. 31, 2003 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan steams through the Mediterranean Sea as one of seven ships attached to Amphibious Task Force-East (ATF-E). The task force departed the east coast January 17 carrying the North Carolina-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s 7,000 Marines on an undisclosed mission. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kenny Swartout. (RELEASED) ABOARD USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Four and-a-half months ago when the order came to deploy to the...