USS Wasp Amphibious Assault Ship Deployed to Mediterranean Sea by US

June 28, 2024 TruthUSA

The U.S. Navy announced that the USS Wasp will be collaborating with allied maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea.

The USS Wasp, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship with troops from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard, transited the Strait of Gibraltar on June 26 and has now entered the Mediterranean Sea.

Joining the Wasp-class ship is the USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class amphibious landing dock ship, which also passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on June 18.

The mission of the USS Wasp is to focus on “theater security cooperation efforts to further regional stability and showcase the strong maritime partnership between the U.S. and its allies and partners,” as stated by the U.S. Navy.

Capt. Chris Purcell, commanding officer of the USS Wasp, described the ship as the top vessel in the fleet and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to tackle challenges in the coming months.

This deployment marks the first time the USS Wasp has operated in the Mediterranean region since relocating from Sasebo, Japan, to Norfolk, Virginia, in 2019, according to the U.S. Navy.

The duration of USS Wasp’s operation in the Mediterranean Sea was not specified by the Navy.

Built to provide support to U.S. Marines in combat scenarios and deliver disaster relief and medical aid, the USS Wasp plays a crucial role in various missions, as outlined by the U.S. military.

This deployment follows the recent announcement on June 24 of the arrival of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) and its carrier strike group (CSG) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea after departing the Red Sea on June 22.

Accompanying the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean region are the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely.

The IKECSG departed from their homeports in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, 2023, for a scheduled deployment, according to the U.S. Navy.

Rear Adm. Kavon Hakimzadeh, commander of Carrier Strike Group 2, emphasized the readiness and flexibility of the IKE strike group to operate wherever needed.

According to a post by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on the social media platform X, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group has consistently prioritized the safety of seafarers by rescuing mariners in distress following unprovoked attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Iranian-backed Houthis.

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