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USS Carter Hall Arrives in US 6th Fleet

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110426-02
4/26/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristin L. Grover, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4 Public Affairs

USS CARTER HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- After transiting through the Suez Canal, amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 13.

Carter Hall, part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), departed the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR to join the other ships of the Kearsarge ARG in the Mediterranean Sea.

Carter Hall conducted additional maritime security operations and theater security engagements with our allies in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

"During the nearly 7 months in 5th Fleet, we conducted every type of operation this class of ship is designed to perform," said Carter Hill Command Master Chief Eric Kafka. "I could not be more proud of the Carter Hall's crew and how well they have preformed throughout this deployment."

While deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, Carter Hall participated in interoperability training, completed national tasking, provided support for Operation Enduring Freedom and took part in the Kuwait 50/20 celebration.

Carter Hall also visited Bahrain five times while in the area, where Sailors and Marines performed seven community relations projects. They were able to get involved with the community in Bahrain by working with children, painting, donating supplies and playing wheelchair basketball and other games with local students.

Through the completion of maritime security operations, Carter Hall was successful in supporting U.S. 5th Fleet's mission of protecting maritime freedoms, promoting regional stability and sustaining cooperative relationships with international partners.

"It is exciting to be a part of a real world mission and to watch everyone on the ship work together as a team toward completing the ship's goals," said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Elisa Perez. "This deployment has been a great experience for the entire crew to learn because we constantly maintain a focus on training. We have become more efficient as a whole and have helped new Sailors get used to life at sea."

Now serving in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR, Carter Hall's main mission consists of maritime security operations and supporting Operation Unified Protector off the coast of Libya.

Carter Hall is part of the Kearsarge ARG, which is led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4, and comprises amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15). The Kearsarge ARG also includes Fleet Surgical Team 6; Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Detachment 1; Assault Craft Unit 4; and Beach Master Unit 2 detachments. The embarked Marines are 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based out of Camp Lejuene, N.C., consisting of Battalion Landing Team 3/8; Combat Logistics Battalion 26; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced); 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and the command element.