The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) conducted set of routine operations in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) as part of a deployment to the Western Pacific from November 7 to 10, Essex ARG Public Affairs said. Essex ARG includes the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47).
Essex ARG’s flagship, USS Essex, conducted the patrol while USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS Rushmore (LSD 47) prepared for bilateral training exercises with Brunei and Malaysia.
“Only the flexible, scalable and responsive force structure of the Amphibious Ready Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit team allows for participation in three critically important, concurrent events in the region,” said Captain Clint Carroll, Essex ARG Commander. “While having the three-ship composite unit sailing together delivers a wide range of capabilities that can be sustained longer-term, independent operations make it possible for Essex ARG Sailors and Marines to meet three theater objectives concurrently.”
The US Navy conducts routine patrols in this part of the world to support security and stability throughout the region. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Preble (DDG 88), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) performed similar operations in the 7th Fleet area of operation in past months, Essex ARG Public Affairs said.