THE TENSION: Combat Camera: USS Bonhomme Richard Marines on Deployment

ARABIAN SEA (May 30, 2007) - Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) participate in the run/walk portion of the spring 2007 Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) as Command Fitness Leaders standby to observe the number of laps each member has completed around the flight deck. The PFA is administered twice a year to ensure Sailors remain in proper physical condition. Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is conducting maritime operations in 5th Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios (RELEASED)

ARABIAN SEA (May 30, 2007) - Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) participate in the curl up portion of the spring 2007 physical fitness assessment (PFA). The PFA is administered twice a year to ensure Sailors remain in proper physical condition. Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is operating in 5th Fleet conducting maritime operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios (RELEASED)

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (May 27, 2007) - Sailors offload cargo from Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 64 after arriving at Kuwait Naval Base. LCAC-64 is part of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Detachment B, attached to USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, offloading Marines and equipment from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuel Rios (RELEASED)

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (May 25, 2007) - Marines assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) make their way into Kuwait Naval Base after disembarking a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). The LCAC is part of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Detachment B, attached to Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Omar A. Dominquez (RELEASED)

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait -- Amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) drive in formation after arriving ashore from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). AAVs can carry up to 25 Marines on the sea and over land. The Marines and AAVs are part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which recently offloaded from the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. Photographer: Seaman Omar Dominquez, U.S. Naval Forces, 5th Fleet Public Affairs

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait -- Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, offload from a landing craft air cushion here May 25 after disembarking the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, are attached to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and recently offloaded from the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. The LCAC is part of Assault Craft Unit 5, Det. B, attached to the BHR Expeditionary Strike Group. Photographer: Seaman Omar Dominquez, U.S. Naval Forces, 5th Fleet Public Affairs

Video: Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman
B-roll of Navy ships in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman area. Scenes include aerial footage of individual and multiple ships in formation including the USS Stenis, USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Rushmore, helicopters flying with ships, and some interior footage looking out from inside the helicopters.

USS Bonhomme Richards Offloads 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
05.31.2007
By Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Tabios

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait -- The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)(BHR) offloaded the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) here May 25-28.

The four-day offload included the departure of more than 2,200 Sailors and Marines from BHR, USS Denver (LPD 9) and USS Rushmore (LSD 47). The offload also included 300,000 pounds of equipment and heavy artillery and the MEU’s Aviation Combat Element.

“This was a calculated and well executed movement of personnel and equipment from ship to shore,” said Gunnery Sgt. Flan Harrell, BHR’s assistant combat cargo officer. “It takes a great deal of planning to accomplish an event of this size and the coordinated efforts of the many departments involved were nothing short of outstanding.”

Harrell said the amphibious offload was a complete team effort.

“Altogether, we accomplished this offload in the most efficient way possible,” said Harrell, a native of Baton Rouge, La. “There is no way we could have met our demanding timelines if it were not for the outstanding leadership of my staff and the Navy-Marine Corps team.”

Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 operates the landing craft air cushion and ACU 1 operates the landing craft utility used to transport Marines and equipment ashore. Beach Master Unit (BMU) 1 mans the beaches and coordinates the landing craft’s movement ashore.

Commander, Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Capt. Bradley Martin said after spending the past few months with the 13th MEU, he is confident in their ability to carry out any mission they are tasked with ashore.

“The Marines have used every second of their time and every inch of this ship to prepare for this moment,” said Martin. “I am more than confident that their time ashore will be productive and successful. We look forward to the onload when their mission is completed, but for now the strike group will carry out our maritime operations mission in support of the theater commander.”

BHR Commanding Officer Capt. Steve Greene, said the offload of the 13th MEU signifies the completion of only a portion of BHR’s mission.

“Our mission is to embark, deploy and land elements of the Marines Corps,” said Greene. “The offload is only part of our mission. We will now continue to conduct maritime operations to help set the conditions for security and stability in the region. Once the MEU has completed their mission ashore and we bring them and our Sailors back home safely to San Diego at the conclusion of our deployment, we will have completed our mission.”

Greene said with the offload complete, BHR will now continue to conduct sustained combat operations at sea in support of the theater warfare commander.

“Our mission does not stop here,” said Greene. “We will continue to play a vital role in the region and are ready to take up and successfully complete any mission we are tasked with.”

BHRESG is comprised of BHR and its embarked staff, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7, 2,200 combat-ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Denver, Rushmore, USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) and USS Chosin (CG 65).

Maritime operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts in regional nations’ littoral waters. Coalition forces also conduct maritime operations under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region.