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Six San Diego based ships have been diverted to provide disaster and humanitarian assistance to victims of earthquake and tsunamis in South Asia, according to the US Navy's Seventh Fleet.The ships with Expeditionary Group 5, including the amphibious ships Rushmore, Bonhomme Richard, and Duluth, the guided missile cruiser Bunker Hill, guided missile destroyer Milius and guided missile frigate Thach.The strike group will provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand and other affected nations, according to the Navy. The Navy is also sending the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, according to the Seventh...

THE US military said today it had diverted an aircraft carrier, other ships, at least 20 aircraft and thousands of sailors and marines to Asian countries struck by devastating tsunami waves. The men and material were dispatched by US Pacific Command with many of the aircraft heading for Thailand and Sri Lanka, two of the worst hit countries. Logistical problems hampered a massive humanitarian relief operation along Asia's devastated shores as the death toll from a huge earthquake and deadly tidal waves surged past 55,000. “We have diverted the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier and its five ships. They left Hong...

15th MEU tests amphibious skills during first at-sea periodSubmitted by: 15th MEUStory Identification #: 2004930141915Story by Lance Cpl. Scott L. Eberle ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD (Sept. 25, 2004) -- The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Rushmore, and the USS Duluth, recently put their amphibious skills to the test during their first at-sea period, Expeditionary Strike Group Exercise. Deep into their workup cycle, this exercise is the first time this year the entire 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked ships and headed out to sea in preparation for their upcoming six-month deployment. “This is the...

Sailors and Marines will stop in Hawaii en route to San Diego Nearly 6,400 sailors and Marines will arrive at Pearl Harbor this morning for a brief Hawaiian port call on their way home to San Diego and Camp Pendleton from the Iraq war. The Marines belong to Regimental Combat Team 1, while the sailors are assigned to five amphibious ships -- USS Boxer, USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Cleveland, USS Dubuque and USS Pearl Harbor. They are part of the first groups of Marines that shipped out for the Iraqi war from San Diego as part of the USS Tarawa...

USS Bon Homme Richard prepares to dockPROUDLY waving a flag, with tears in his eyes, an Australian was among the 6,500 US troops to hit Sydney today for four days well-earned R&R. Lieutenant Commander Terrance Nealer was the only Australian among sailors and marines arriving on five US Navy ships for four days of rest and recreation. Three of the five amphibious assault ships have docked at Sydney's Garden Island - the USS Boxer, the USS Bonhomme Richard, the USS Pearl Harbor - with two more expected to dock this afternoon. The five warships are bound for their home port...

April 20, 2003 IN THE NORTH ARABIAN GULF -- The amphibious assault ships of Task Force 51 come together in an unprecedented formation during operations in the North Arabian Gulf. This marked the first time that six large deck amphibious ships from the East and West coasts have deployed together in one area of operations. Led by the flag ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the ships in the second row from bottom to top are USS Saipan (LHA 2) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3); and the third row ships are USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS...