The thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit wrapped up a MEU Train in Okinawa on Friday because it prepares for an upcoming Indo-Pacific deployment. On the identical time, Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 211 “Wake Island Avengers,” an F-35B Lightning II fighter squadron primarily based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, has deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, beneath the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program.
Elsewhere a U.S. Navy destroyer carried out drills with the Republic of Korea Navy within the Sea of Japan geared toward countering North Korean particular operations forces whereas Individuals’s Liberation Military Navy surveillance ships transited by means of Japan’s southwest area on their return from finishing up surveillance missions within the Pacific.
A Friday launch by the thirty first MEU said that the unit carried out MEUEX in Okinawa, from Apr. 28 to Friday and that MEUEX is performed twice a yr and offers practical coaching occasions for standing missions.
MEUEX ready 2,400 Marines and sailors for the deployment. “MEUEX is 2 weeks of Marine Air-Floor Job Drive integration coaching, and this occasion welds collectively every aspect of the MAGTF guaranteeing the MEU fights as a coherent unit,” mentioned Col. Chris P. Niedziocha, the commanding officer of the thirty first MEU within the launch, “The final word purpose is what I prefer to name ‘first night time of the conflict’ readiness. This ensures that after we’re known as, we’re prepared.”
The Amphibious Fight Automobile (ACV) is being built-in with the thirty first MEU for the primary time for future operations, in accordance with the discharge.
The thirty first MEU/America ARG deployment would mark the second time each items have deployed out this yr having deployed out from Jan. 28 to Mar. 6. The Japan-based Amphibious Squadron 11, whose ships kind the America ARG, consists of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), amphibious transport dock ships New Orleans (LPD-18) and USS San Diego (LPD-22) and amphibious dock touchdown ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47). The upcoming deployment is predicted to be America’s final engagement as a forward-deployed amphibious assault ship earlier than being changed by amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7).
For the reason that fifteenth MEU and Boxer ARG wrapped up their Indo-Pacific deployment with the return of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) to San Diego on Nov. 24, 2024, no West Coast-based MEU/ARG power has deployed to the Indo-Pacific thus far although amphibious dock touchdown ship USS Comstock (LSD-45) is presently deployed within the area with the first Gentle Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, launched into it.
In the meantime on Saturday, F-35Bs of VMFA-211 “Wake Island Avengers” arrived at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, on Saturday beneath the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program, becoming a member of Marine Plane Group (MAG) 12, 1st Marine Plane Wing (MAW) in help of flight operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area, in accordance with a Marine Corps launch, “The Unit Deployment Program offers continental U.S.-based items with expertise working within the Indo-Pacific by means of steady and overlapping deployments to the area. The Wake Island Avengers will increase 1st Marine Plane Wing in offering vital aviation help from naval and expeditionary environments.”, learn the discharge.
In 2021, VMFA-211, primarily based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, had deployed to the Indo-Pacific, launched into Royal Navy plane service HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) alongside Royal Air Drive 617 Squadron “Dambusters”. 617 Sqn is presently launched into plane service HMS Prince of Wales (R09) which is main deployment to the Indo-Pacific which incorporates Japan in its itinerary and it’s anticipated that each squadrons will reunite throughout joint drills there.
In the meantime from Thursday to Sunday, destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) together with P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Plane (MPA) carried out an train known as Maritime Counter Particular Operation Drive (MCSOF) within the East Sea (Sea of Japan) with greater than 10 ROKN ships and submarines, together with destroyer ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992) and 10 plane together with ROKN P-3C Orion MPA and AW-159 Lynx maritime operations helicopters and Republic of Korea Air Drive (ROKAF) FA-50 and KF-16 fighter plane, in accordance with a ROKN launch.
The discharge said that the U.S. and South Korean forces performed coaching to counter simultaneous ‘provocations’ within the sea, underwater and the air, specializing in MCSOF workouts to defeat North Korean particular warfare forces infiltrating south and anti-submarine warfare workouts to detect, determine, monitor, and destroy enemy submarines infiltrating underwater. The 2 sides additionally carried out drills to counter infiltrating enemy unmanned aerial autos, countering nationwide safety threats, stopping the maritime proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and maneuvering forces at sea, in accordance with the discharge.
William P Lawrence deployed on Nov. 18, 2024, from San Diego along with plane service USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) and destroyer USS Sterett (DDG-104) as a part of the Carl Vinson CSG, nevertheless, it didn’t observe the CSG to the Center East and remained behind to function round North East Asia, finishing up a Taiwan Strait transit on Apr. 23.
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