Peleliu ESG departs for 6-month deployment

Setting sail
Force includes five other ships, 15th MEU


Peleliu ESG departs for 6-month deployment
Staff report
Posted : Monday May 5, 2008 15:44:49 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Six ships carrying more than 3,000 sailors and 2,200 Marines left San Diego Naval Base on Sunday for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

The force includes the San Diego-based Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton. Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship, is the flagship for the strike group commander, Capt. Jonathan M. Padfield, who commands Amphibious Squadron 3 in San Diego.

The 15th MEU, commanded by Col. Brian Beaudreault, includes Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (Composite) 165; and Combat Logistics Battalion.

The strike group includes the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor, amphibious transport dock Dubuque, cruiser Cape St. George and destroyers Halsey and Benfold.

Deploying as part of the strike group are detachments with Assault Craft Unit 1 and 5, Beam Master Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 45.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/navy_peleliudeploys_050508w/