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USS Tarawa Departs for 13th Western Pacific Deployment

By USS Tarawa Public Affairs
July 17, 2005

The ‘Eagle of the Sea’ USS Tarawa LHA 1, is heading towards the Arabian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  The ship and it’s complement of over 3,000 Sailors, Marines and civilians will depart its homeport of San Diego, Ca, the morning of July 16, for it’s major Western Pacific deployment.

The USS Tarawa LHA 1, will be among an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG-1), force of approximately 5,500 Sailors and Marines deployed on six ships and one submarine.  Tarawa serves as the flagship for ESG-1.

“All of the training over the past year, all of the preparations, everything we’ve done up to this point will now be put to the test wherever we’re ordered to go,” said Tarawa Commanding Officer Capt. Peter D. Murphy.  “We’re going to make sure it pays off.”

 ESG-1 is comprised of the ships of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) One, the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7) and the Landing dock ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).  Joining the PHIBRON One ships in the strike group are the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG-65), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham  (FFG-61), based in Everett, Wash, and the fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN-763).  USS Decatur (DDG-73) played the role of the guided missile destroyer for the exercise.   The Norfolk, Virginia-based guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) is already forward deployed and will join up with ESG-1 later this summer as part of the Navy’s Sea Swap initiative.

The three amphibious ships will carry a total of approximately 2,200 Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 13^th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

The primary mission of the Tarawa ARG is to land and sustain U.S. Marines on any shore during hostilities.  Tarawa embarks the Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier attack jets, CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, CH-46 Sea Knight medium lift helicopters, AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey multi-purpose helicopters.  In addition, Tarawa embarks landing craft air cushion (LCAC) surface assault boats and landing craft utility (LCU) boats.

  During the most previous deployment in 2003, Tarawa participated in ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ and ‘Enduring Freedom’.  While in the Arabian Gulf at that time, Tarawa supported the U.S.-led coalition operations in southern Iraq to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein.