Now eyeing a longer haul, the U.S. reshuffles its warships in the Mediterranean
(19 Jan 2024) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4473822 ASSOCIATED PRESS Central Aegean Sea, Greece - 18 January 2024 1. Aerial of USS Bataan, amphibious assault vessel HEADLINE: U.S. RESHUFFLES WARSHIPS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Central Aegean Sea, Greece - 19 January 2024 2. U.S. flag flying from ship ANNOTATION: The U.S. Navy is reshuffling its warship deployment in the Middle East to maintain dominance in the region. 3. Personnel cleaning CH53 helicopter 4. Personnel carrying out maintenance work on CH53 helicopter ANNOTATION: It comes amid mounting concerns that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could set off a regional conflict. 5. Infantry marines on lower deck 6. Close of weapons used by infantry marines 7. Trucks and armored vehicles next to landing craft bay ANNOTATION: Late last year crewmembers worked round the clock to shoot down missiles and drones surging in the Red Sea, stopping them reaching merchant vessels. ASSOCIATED PRESS Central Aegean Sea, Greece - 18 January 2024 8. Person walking item across deck ASSOCIATED PRESS Central Aegean Sea, Greece - 19 January 2024 9. Marines walk past Ospreys tiltrotor military aircraft on the deck ANNOTATION: At sea for six months, crew members have had their deployment extended because of the crisis. 10. Wide of flight deck, with CH53 Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopters STORYLINE: When attacks with missiles and drones surged in the Red Sea late last year, crewmembers of the USS Bataan worked round the clock to make sure they were shot down before reaching passing merchant vessels. Weeks later, they are still perfecting that operation in training and simulations, along with a dozen other scenarios, despite moving north to the Mediterranean where commercial marine traffic is at little risk. The U.S. Navy is reshuffling its warship deployment in the Middle East to maintain dominance in the region – now eyeing the longer haul as concerns mount that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could set off a regional conflict. An amphibious warship, the Bataan is a multi-deck assault vessel jammed full of armored vehicles and military hardware with a lower bay that can take on water to release landing craft directly into the sea. The ship is now leading the United States’ task force in the eastern Mediterranean, following the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, which was sent home at the New Year. The Bataan and two support ships, the USS Mesa Verde and USS Carter Hall, have a combined force of nearly 2,500 Marines and sailors. Now in its 15th week, the war in Gaza continues to pile tension onto multiple flashpoints in the wider region, many involving militant groups supported by Iran, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen. At sea for six months, crew members have had their deployment extended because of the crisis, the U.S. military relying on the fast deployment skills of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in North Carolina, combined with the Navy. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
