Military

ESG 1 Arrives in NAVCENT AOR

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050831-07
Release Date: 8/31/2005 8:00:00 AM

By Lt. Ron Flanders, Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Public Affairs

USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1, centered around the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), entered the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s area of operations Aug. 30.

The amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD 7), dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) and frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) joined the ESG’s flagship, Tarawa, for a regularly scheduled deployment to support maritime security operations (MSO) in the region.

“We intend to pressurize the maritime environment, denying terrorists the use of this valuable sea,” said Rear Adm. Michael A. LeFever, commander of ESG 1. “The ESG has the capability to conduct operations across the spectrum, including setting the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment.”

More than 2,100 combat-ready Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) are embarked aboard Tarawa, Pearl Harbor and Cleveland.

ESG-1 units departed their homeports in July.