Tag Archives: Amphibious Ready Group

Navy, Marines Practice 'Littoral Combat Force' Construct in Alaska

Navy, Marines Practice ‘Littoral Combat Force’ Construct in Alaska

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 set up at a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) as a CH-53E from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 flies overhead during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) in Adak, Alaska on Sept. 18, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

This post has been updated to include additional comments from U.S. 3rd Fleet.

The Navy and Marine Corps recently used a new Littoral Combat Force concept to command and control units spread over 2.2 million square miles of land and sea, in the latest demonstration of what a future operation near and on the shore might look like. Read More

Kearsarge ARG Completes First East Coast SWATT Advanced Training Event

Kearsarge ARG Completes First East Coast SWATT Advanced Training Event

A Naval Aircrewman observes from a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter as simulated fast attack craft approach the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) during a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise.

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) recently completed a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT), the first time the such an exercise was conducted off the East Coast and signifying the Navy’s commitment to standardize training for both Pacific and Atlantic-based amphibs.

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Marines Won't Need a Carrier for High-End Fight With MUX Unmanned System

Marines Won’t Need a Carrier for High-End Fight With MUX Unmanned System

DARPA demonstrator system of a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air system (UAS). DAPRA Image

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Marine Corps and Navy are preparing for a high-end fight that will require ships to be distributed across the ocean rather than clustered around an aircraft carrier, and the Marines’ future Group 5 unmanned aerial system will give them the airborne early warning capability to break free from the carrier and its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft. Read More

14 Amphibs Tied Up In Maintenance, Exacerbating Shortfall in Available Ships for Marines' At-Sea Training

14 Amphibs Tied Up In Maintenance, Exacerbating Shortfall in Available Ships for Marines’ At-Sea Training

Capt. Mark Melson, commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8), and executive officer Cmdr. David M. Oden inspect the hull of the ship in a floating dry dock at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), Aug. 25. 2017. US Navy Photo

CAPITOL HILL – Nearly half the Navy’s amphibious ships are currently tied up in maintenance availabilities and the service would be several ships short of need if it had to scramble the fleet for a major contingency, in large part due to continuing resolutions and other budget challenges, top Navy and Marine Corps operations officials said today. Read More

Navy, Marines Ponder Alternative Platforms' Role as First ESB Now Operating in 5th Fleet

Navy, Marines Ponder Alternative Platforms’ Role as First ESB Now Operating in 5th Fleet

AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Huey helicopters assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) land on the flight deck of the expeditionary mobile base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) in support of Alligator Dagger 2017. Alligator Dagger is a dedicated, unilateral combat rehearsal led by Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Combined Navy and Marine Corps units of the America Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Units are to practice, rehearse and exercise integrated capabilities that are available to U.S. Central Command, both afloat and ashore. US Navy photo.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy and Marine Corps are committed to using alternative platforms to move Marines around at sea, but there are still decisions yet to be made about how to maximize these ships’ effectiveness and minimize risk while operating independently or as part of a strike group. Read More

Navy Revives Idea to Beef Up Trauma Surgery at Sea

Navy Revives Idea to Beef Up Trauma Surgery at Sea

U.S. Navy Fleet Surgical Team – 3 (FST-3) and USS Essex (LHD 2) medical department personnel triage a simulated casualty as part of a casualty evacuation drill between the Essex and the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during Exercise Dawn Blitz, Oct. 22, 2017. Navy Medicine, in concert with Exercise Dawn Blitz, is experimenting with placing Role 2 capabilities across the amphibious force. US Marine Corps photo.

The Navy is experimenting with operating a specialized medical team on a smaller amphibious ship to provide more front-line trauma care at sea, filling a capability gap that arises when deployed ships are operating apart from their larger strike groups. Read More

USS America Leadership Look To Aircraft Carriers For Inspiration On Leveraging Aviation-Centric Design

USS America Leadership Look To Aircraft Carriers For Inspiration On Leveraging Aviation-Centric Design

The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), left, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) are underway in formation during a simulated straits transit on June 5, 2017. US Navy photo.

As the first-in-class USS America (LHA-6) begins operations on its first major overseas deployment, leadership has a good understanding of the basics of operating this new type of ship – an amphibious assault ship without a well deck – but also a lot of room to learn how to maximize the new capability it brings to the fleet. Read More