Bataan MED 04 Surge Deployment
LHD-5 Bataan
"Big 5"
The Navy announced on January 13, 2004 that the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, would deploy Jan. 19 from Norfolk to the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 (OIF 2) force rotation.
Bataan provided 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, to augment forces from the First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), headquartered at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
For logistical support, Bataan deployed 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.
On February 4, 2004, the USS Bataan (LHD 5) transited the Suez Canal.
USS Bataan (LHD 5) offloaded Marines, their equipment and ammunition into Kuwait Feb. 20-22 for their scheduled seven-month tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The offload began at sunrise while the ship was in the northern Persian Gulf. CH-46 Helicopters took wave after wave of Marines, with their packs, rifles and gear, into Kuwait. The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) crews of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 hit the beach at Kuwait Naval Base loaded with the Marines' equipment. For three days, three attached LCACs shuttled the nine to 12 nautical mile ride between the ship and land.
The Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C., are part of a 25,000 member air-and-ground task force that is contributing to the largest rotation of U.S. forces since World War II to help stabilize Iraq. The major II MEF units that offloaded from Bataan included 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 also were launched from Bataan.
Bataan was expected to return to Norfolk in the early spring after offloading embarked Marines and equipment in the CENTCOM AOR.
Chronology
-
31 Mar 2004 - Returns to Norfolk
22 Mar 2004 - Atlantic Ocean
16 Mar 2004 - port visit, Rota
12 Mar 2004 - Mediterranean Sea
08 Mar 2004 - port visit, Malta
03 Mar 2004 - Red Sea
27 Feb 2004 - North Arabian Sea
20 Feb 2004 - Arabian Gulf
18 Feb 2004 - Gulf of Oman
17 Feb 2004 - Gulf of Aden
10 Feb 2004 - Red Sea
02 Feb 2004 - Mediterranean Sea
26 Jan 2004 - Atlantic Ocean
20 Jan 2004 - Onslow Beach for upload
19 Jan 2004 - Deploys for OIF 2 Rotation
mid Nov 2003 - Norfolk???
09 Dec 2003 - Atltantic Ocean
20 Nov 2003 - Norfolk?
14 Nov 2003 - Atlantic Ocean
01 Nov 2003 - Norfolk?
24 Oct 2003 - port visit Mayport
15 Oct 2003 - Atlantic Ocean
20 Sep 2003 - Returns to Norfolk
16 Sep 2003 - Surge from Norfolk [Hurricane]
20 Aug 2003 - Returns to Norfolk?
19 Aug 2003 - Atlantic Ocean
18 Aug 2003 - departs Staten Island
15 Aug 2003 - port visit @ Staten Island
12 Aug 2003 - W. Atlantic
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