4 ATLANTIC OCEAN – The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWOARG) and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) reached the milestone of 60 days underway with no COVID-19 cases, April 20, 2021.
“The IWOARG is at maximum readiness when it comes to combating COVID-19,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Darren Nelson, commodore Amphibious Squadron Four. “Our operational readiness allows us to maintain regional stability and maritime security during a time of international crisis.”
The combined IWOARG and 24th MEU of roughly 4,300 Sailors and Marines dispersed among three warships and several locations ashore across the SIXTH Fleet area of operations have had no cases of COVID-19 in the past two months. Many of the ARG/MEU personnel on ground across Europe are Marines conducting training.
VIRIN: 210326-N-NQ285-1061 It was a pleasure to host Commodore Coulson on a tour of Carter Hall and show him our ship s capabilities,” said Cmdr. LaDonna Simpson, Carter Hall’s commanding officer. “Our visit to Plymouth was extremely beneficial for crew morale, routine upkeep and critical ship repairs. The ability to conduct forward deployed maintenance is a force multiplier that allows us to quickly conduct repairs and get back to the mission. Our visit to Naval Base Devonport absolutely strengthens our maritime commitments to the Royal Navy and reassures both sides of mutual support going forward.
During the tour, Simpson escorted Coulson through the ship’s well deck, aboard the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1661 and then to the flight deck where he was shown the 24
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 26, 2021
April 26, 2021 11:09 AM
USNI News Graphic
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 26, 2021, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.
Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:
296
In Japan
Seaman Zhihao Luo, from San Francisco, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), secures a line during small boat operations training on April 22, 2021. US Navy Photo
DVIDS - News - USS IWO JIMA arrives at Naval Station Rota, Spain, for Mid-Deployment Voyage Repair dvidshub.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dvidshub.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
17 NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain – Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG), arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain, for its mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR), April 23, 2021.
Iwo Jima’s maintenance visit comes after more than two months constant underway operations including a pre-deployment exercise, transiting the Atlantic Ocean, and interoperability exercises with U.S. Second Fleet, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and the United Kingdom’s armed forces.
“Interoperability and support with partner nations is vital to sustained operations at sea,” said USS Iwo Jima Commanding Officer Capt. David Loo. “There are maintenance items and repairs that only become apparent once the ship goes underway. The MDVR gives us an early opportunity to make those fixes and continue our mission at full strength, plus it allows the crew a time-out from watch stations in order to rest and refresh.”