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Bonhomme Richard ARG/MEU Loads For Initial Integration

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090626-05
Release Date: 6/26/2009 3:19:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Tim Hawkins, Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines loaded and stored more than 2 million pounds of supplies, vehicles and weapons aboard three amphibious ships at Naval Base San Diego, kicking off pre-deployment training for the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) June 24.

In the upcoming weeks, Bonhomme Richard ARG and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will work side-by-side to complete Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON)/MEU Integration Training, the first of three at-sea training evolutions before the start of a scheduled deployment.

"We learned a lot of lessons during the onload planning process but more importantly we built ARG/MEU team relationships which will continue to strengthen throughout the work-up process," said Capt. Rodney Clark, ARG commander.

More than 100 crew members and MEU landing support personnel worked 30 hours over the course of three days to move ammunition and equipment. Eleventh MEU Marines traveled 50 miles from their headquarters located north of San Diego at Camp Pendleton.

"This was a joint effort between the Navy and Marine Corps to make this happen," said Marine Corps Capt. Anthony Green, the ARG's senior combat cargo officer, who oversaw the loading process for all three ships, which includes the group's flagship, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6); amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7); and amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47).

Most of the gear stored on Cleveland and Rushmore was driven across metal ramps wedged between the pier and the ships' stern gates. However, Bonhomme Richard relied on landing craft units to onload cargo items too large to fit in its narrower portside loading entrance.

Medium-sized M-198 155m field artillery howitzers and high performance, all-terrain vehicles called Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements were some of the items ferried from Naval Base Coronado across San Diego Bay on LCUs and loaded onto Bonhomme Richard.

The loaded equipment allows the Bonhomme Richard ARG/MEU team to practice tactical scenarios, conduct live-fire training, test communications systems, and complete other drills during integrated training evolutions.

The upcoming training evolutions enable the ARG/MEU team to execute a range of operations during deployment to include security cooperation and theatre-engagement missions that help maintain freedom of the seas and prevent war; the hallmarks of the new maritime strategy endorsed by all three sea services in 2007.

Bonhomme Richard ARG is augmented by various support elements. These include Tactical Squadron 12, Detachment (DET) 1; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, DET 3; Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1, DET B; ACU 5, DET F; Beachmaster Unit 1, DET B; and Fleet Surgical Team 9.

For more news from USS Bonhomme Richard, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd6/.