Thursday, June 25, 2009

USS BATAAN STRIKE GROUP OFF SHORES OF IRAN United for Peace: "On Jun. 20, the day the crackdown began in Iran, the U.S. expeditionary strike group known as LHD-5 Bataan or 'Amphibious Group Two' passed through the Suez Canal, U.S. military sources reported Tuesday. The commanding officer of the USS Bataan called the group 'a versatile force that's able to respond to tasking at a moment's notice.' Stratfor's naval update map showed the group to be in the Persian Gulf as of Jun. 24. PR human interest stories from the Bataan assault group failed to mention where the group was or where it was headed. The Daily News of Jacksonville, NC, reported that the group deployed (from its homeport of Norfolk, VA) in May before training had been completed for its maritime security mission. BACKGROUND: Global Security's out-of-date description of the group says that 'The principal mission of WASP Class ships is to enable the Navy/Marine Corps team to accomplish a seamless transition from the sea to a land battle, primarily as the command ship of an Amphibious Ready Group. LHDs are specifically designed to lay off a troubled area of the world, and insert forces ashore by helicopters and 50 m.p.h. LCAC hover craft.' The USS Bataan, which is 844 feet long and carries 1,894 marines (plus 184 surge) as well as dozens of attack aircraft, can be seen leaving Norfolk on May 13, 2009, in this photograph. LHD-5 is said to be relieving the LHD-4 Boxer group, which has been in the region since January. Thus the U.S. now has two expeditionary strike groups off the shores of Iran. (By the way, as of Jun. 25, the USS Bataan's web site is still misreporting its location.)" 2:57:40 PM

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