Tag Archives: 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit

13th MEU, Essex ARG Return Home, Ending First F-35B Combat Deployment

13th MEU, Essex ARG Return Home, Ending First F-35B Combat Deployment

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An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), moves into position to land aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Jan. 9, 2019. US Marine Corps photo.

This post has been updated to include a statement from U.S. 3rd Fleet.

Marines and sailors with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit flowed off their ships and back home on Thursday, ending an eight-month deployment that included the first-ever combat strikes by the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. Read More →

First Marine F-35B Combat Deployment Hints at New Roles for Amphibious Ready Group

First Marine F-35B Combat Deployment Hints at New Roles for Amphibious Ready Group

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An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to land aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), while another F-35B Lightning II flies over on Dec. 4, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

After eight months at sea with a squadron of F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters, the Marines and the Navy are seeing how the next-generation aircraft will expand the effectiveness of U.S. amphibious forces. Read More →

Top Stories 2018: U.S. Marine Corps Operations

Top Stories 2018: U.S. Marine Corps Operations

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An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the “Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 sits on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) on March 7, 2018. US Navy Photo

USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2018. This story is part of a series; please also see U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy Operations.

The Marine Corps spent 2018 preparing the force for a new era of warfare, modernizing how it conducts its business in ways large and small. Read More →

USS Essex Enters Persian Gulf with Squadron of Marine F-35s

USS Essex Enters Persian Gulf with Squadron of Marine F-35s

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Lt. Cmdr. Luis Alvarez, navigator aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) on Oct. 11, 2018. US Navy Photo

Amphibious warship USS Essex (LHD-2) is now in the Persian Gulf, bringing for the first time a squadron of Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Marines' F-35B Joint Strike Fighter Conducts First-Ever Combat Mission with Strike in Afghanistan

Marines’ F-35B Joint Strike Fighter Conducts First-Ever Combat Mission with Strike in Afghanistan

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U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), stage ordnance before loading it into an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike, Sept. 27, 2018. US Marine Corps photo.

This post has been updated to include additional information from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

The Marine Corps’ F-35B Joint Strike Fighter has conducted its first-ever combat strike, completing a mission in Afghanistan today in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Read More →

Marines Prepared to Use F-35Bs in Middle East Combat If Needed; No Other Naval Aviation Nearby

Marines Prepared to Use F-35Bs in Middle East Combat If Needed; No Other Naval Aviation Nearby

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F-35B Lightning II, attached to the “Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, sit on the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) on Sept. 4, 2018, while transiting the Indian Ocean with San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG and 13th MEU is the first U.S. Navy/Marine Corps team to deploy to U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations with the F-35B Lightning II. US Navy photo.

The Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters are the only ship-based fixed-wing aircraft in the Middle East right now, and service leaders say the new jets are ready to handle any fight in Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan they may be tasked with. Read More →

Missing Marine From USS Essex Identified, Declared Deceased

Missing Marine From USS Essex Identified, Declared Deceased

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The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) maneuvers into position to conduct a fueling-at-sea with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. US Navy Photo

A Marine who was reported missing from USS Essex (LHD-2) while operating in the Sulu Sea, has been identified as Cpl. Jonathan Currier and declared deceased, according to a statement from U.S. Pacific Fleet. Read More →

Marine Missing from USS Essex Not Found as Search Concludes

Marine Missing from USS Essex Not Found as Search Concludes

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Sailors, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, conduct search and rescue operations for a missing Marine assigned to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). US Navy Photo

This post was updated with additional information from 13th MEU. The official status of the lost Marine is missing, not presumed dead.

A Marine who went missing from USS Essex (LHD-2) last week has not been found after the Navy and Marines concluded a five-day search of the Sulu Sea, Mindanao Sea and the Surigao Strait. Read More →

Search Underway in Sulu Sea for Marine Missing from USS Essex

Search Underway in Sulu Sea for Marine Missing from USS Essex

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The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) maneuvers into position to conduct a fueling-at-sea with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. US Navy photo.

A search is ongoing in the Sulu Sea for a 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marine assigned to USS Essex (LHD-2) who has been missing for almost two days. Read More →

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