Expeditionary Strike Group set to deploy to Western Pacific, Indian oceans

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By Gidget Fuentes
Times staff writer

SAN DIEGO — A naval force of more than 3,000 Marines and sailors will leave here Feb. 15 on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, Navy officials said.

The amphibious assault ship Peleliu will lead the five-ship expeditionary strike group, which includes dock landing ship Germantown and amphibious transport dock Ogden, from its home at the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego. The naval force will be joined en route by the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based guided-missile frigate Reuben James and guided-missile cruiser Port Royal.

Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen commands the strike group, which last month was certified for deployment after completing the final joint task force exercises off Southern California.

More than 2,000 men and women with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and led by Col. John Bullard, will deploy with the naval force. The 11th MEU, which deployed to Iraq during in late 2004, sent more than 450 Marines and sailors to the Gulf Coast to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief operations last summer.

The MEU’s ground combat element includes Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, led by Lt. Col. Barton Sloat and augmented with amphibious assault vehicles, light armored vehicles, Abrams battle tanks, artillerymen, reconnaissance men and combat engineers.

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, is the MEU’s air combat element. The “Sea Elks,” commanded by Lt. Col. Jeff Arruda, are reinforced with CH-53E Super Stallions, AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N Huey helicopters. Also deploying is the Pendleton-based MEU Service Support Group 11, led by Lt. Col. Stephen Sklenka.