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ATF East Returns from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom
Story Number: NNS030625-07
Release Date: 6/25/2003 3:51:00 PM
By By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Chris Hoffpauir, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
AT SEA IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Six Hampton Roads-based ships that participated in the largest amphibious force assembled in decades are returning from an unplanned six-month deployment that began in early January in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The ships are USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Saipan (LHA 2), and USS Ponce (LPD 15), based at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. All six ships will return to homeport between June 25 and June 30, and represent the last of the homecoming ships that were specifically deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Additional naval support elements returning include fleet surgical teams (FST), Helicopter Combat Support Squadron detachments (HC), Assault Craft Unit 4 detachments (ACU), a Fleet Information Warfare Center (FIWC) detachment, a Naval Beach Group (NAVBEACHGRU) detachment, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) detachment and a Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON).
This group of Atlantic Fleet ships, along with USS Portland (LSD 37), formed Amphibious Task Force East (ATFE), the most powerful amphibious force ever to leave the East Coast. Combining nearly 5,000 Sailors and the nearly 8,000 embarked troops of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2D MEB) from Camp Lejuene, N.C., the force had 13,000 personnel. 2D MEB’s Commanding General is Brig. Gen. Richard Natonski.
Commander, Amphibious Group 2, Rear Adm. Michael P. Nowakowski, assembled the ships and led ATF-E to the Arabian Gulf. Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8 (CPR-8), Capt. Gregg Jackson, retained tactical control of the ships in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as hostilities commenced against the Iraqi regime, and leads the force back to Hampton Roads.
The task force, known as the “Magnificent Seven” and the “Beast from the East,” also carried aircraft of the 2nd Marine Air Wing. The group's mission was to deliver the fighting force to the battle space.
From the moment the ships deployed, some as much as a year earlier than planned, ATF-E began making history. With minimal planning time, the onload of the 2D MEB was conducted quickly and safely, proving the expeditionary force was indeed ready to meet the challenge issued by President George W. Bush following Sept. 11. The surge deployment also helped prove the time to prepare for a deployment can be shortened. The surge of ATF-E is one of the successes that now drives the Navy to revamp its inter-deployment training cycle (IDTC).
Once on station in the Arabian Sea, the entire ATF-E team combined with ATF-West and two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), to form Task Force (TF) 51 under Rear Adm. W. Clyde Marsh, commander, Amphibious Group (CPG) 3, for the duration of Operation Iraqi Freedom combat operations. Throughout the war, the ships of ATF-E provided critical support to the 2D MEB by flying close-air support sorties, as well as flying almost non-stop combat re-supply missions.
CPR-8, the naval support elements and the ships of ATF-E can rightfully take great pride in their contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Among the vital roles filled were basing and support to Marine Corps aviation units flying combat sorties over Iraq; medical care for combat casualties; coordination for temporary at sea detainment and interrogation of enemy prisoners of war; and participation in Central Command’s federated intelligence production.
While in the Arabian Gulf, each ship in the task force played a different role in supporting the fight ashore.
Kearsarge served as ATF-E's flagship and carried a mix of Marine Corps aircraft to the Gulf. The ship became the consolidated Heavy Lift Ship, providing sea basing for 16 CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters.
Bataan carried 24 AV-8B Harriers, and along with USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) from the Pacific Fleet, became TF 51's "Harrier Carriers," launching air strikes and close air support missions 24 hours a day during the major combat phase of OIF.
Saipan supported a mix of 42 rotary wing aircraft, the largest number of any assault ship in the Gulf. The ship was home to the “skids," Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1 Hueys, as well as CH-46 Sea Knight medium-lift helicopters.
Ponce and Gunston Hall were key platforms in the Mine Countermeasures Mission, after they offloaded elements of the 2D MEB. Gunston Hall played a unique role by housing marine mammals (dolphins) trained to hunt naval mines.
Ashland carried the heavy firepower of Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to the fight. The ship served as a “ready deck” for the aviation ships, as well as a logistic shuttle ship for task force.
Portland was a ready deck for rotary wing aircraft and provided significant logistic support for the task force, before returning early to Hampton Roads due to a main engine casualty.
As the six ships were about to pass through the Suez Canal and head home, Kearsarge was diverted to provide support to the President of the United States in the Gulf of Aqaba during his summits with Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, and Aqaba, Jordan. Completing that mission, Kearsarge again set a course for its homeport.
Just days later, Kearsarge was again redeployed, this time to the west coast of Africa to support Operation Shining Express. Despite the additional tasks, Kearsarge will arrive home only four days later than first planned.
The ships of Amphibious Task Force East racked up impressive statistics. During the six-month deployment, 264 Sailors reenlisted, 919 earned Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification, 635 earned Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification and 45 earned Surface Warfare Officer qualification. Additionally, 502 Sailors were advanced from the Spring 2003 Navywide exam, 17 people advanced to Senior Chief, 1 to Master Chief and 28 officers were promoted.
The collective accomplishments of ATF-E “re-wrote the book” on surge deployments. For years, Sailors and Marines have trained for the eventuality of a surge deployment, hoping that if such an event ever occurred, they would be ready. Today, every Sailor and Marine who served with Amphibious Task Force East and Task Force Tarawa in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom know that they were ready!
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/clf.
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USS Bataan to Deploy in Support of OIF Force Rotation - 1/13/2004
HC-5 Detachment Returns to Guam After Supporting War Against Terrorism - 7/3/2003
Amphibious Task Force East Returns - 6/6/2003
Kearsarge Commences 2-MEB Backload - 5/8/2003
USS Portland First Operation Iraqi Freedom Ship to Return - 4/11/2003
Amphibious Task Force East Deploys on Short Notice - 1/24/2003
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