THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Aboard USS Essex, June 29, 2009

CORAL SEA (June 25, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Steven Viles, from Chicago, stages an AV-8B Harrier for take off from amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 25, 2009) Sailors participate in an M-16 service rifle qualification exercise aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Tortuga is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready group, underway for Summer Deployment and scheduled to participate in military exercise Talisman Saber 2009 with the Australian Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino.)

CORAL SEA (June 25, 2009) Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) signal to a helicopter pilot before launching a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson.)

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 22, 2009) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) fast-rope onto the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 262. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gabriel S. Weber.)

PHILIPPINE SEA (June 19, 2009) Fire Controlman 1st Class Jason Clarke, from Sierra Vista, Ariz., conducts a safety check on a close in weapons system (CWIS) during a pre-aimed calibration fire exercise aboard the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Tortuga is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, underway for Summer Deployment, and scheduled to participate in military exercise Talisman Saber with the Royal Australian Forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino.)

PHILIPPINE SEA (June 21, 2009) Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) receive fuel lines from the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) during a refueling at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gabriel S. Weber.)

OKINAWA, Japan (June 14, 2009) Landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) 21, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Det. Western Pacific, enters the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during an embarking of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The 31st MEU embarked Essex in preparation for exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09). TS09 is a biennial, joint, combined exercise sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian Defense Force that focuses on the planning and execution of contingency response operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson.)

OKINAWA, Japan (June 15, 2009) The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) are moored pierside at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit loads gear and personnel before deploying for Talisman Sabre 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Denver Applehans.)