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Bataan Transits Suez Canal, Enters 5th Fleet

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090623-08
Release Date: 6/23/2009 3:40:00 PM

From USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal June 20, entering 5th Fleet's Area of Operations and relieving the USS Boxer Amphibious Group.

While deployed to the region, Bataan will conduct maritime security operations, helping to set conditions for security and promote regional stability and global prosperity.

"The focus is maritime security, but regardless of the mission, we stand ready," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "Our training leading up to deployment and the inherent capability of Bataan's blue/green team provides the combatant commander with a versatile force that's able to respond to tasking at a moment's notice."

Bataan serves as the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU). The 22nd MEU is comprised of a ground combat element, battalion landing team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced); logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and the MEU command element.

Bataan is also the first ship to deploy with embarked MV-22B Ospreys in an amphibious environment. VMM 263, with a complement of 10 Ospreys, provides more flexibility than the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-46D Sea Stallion in transferring equipment and troops from ship to shore. The Osprey brings greater range, lift capacity, speeds and the ability to conduct aerial refueling.

Amphibious Squadron Two (PHIBRON 2) includes Bataan, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 42), the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU-4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.

Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear her name. USS Bataan (CVL-29) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.