Sat, Aug 14, 2010
Aircraft Launched From USS Peleliu In Humanitarian Effort
Two Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters of the 15th
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) launched from the flight deck of
amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Thursday as part of the
continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of
flood relief from the recent monsoon.
The helicopters are the first two aircraft of 19 U.S. Navy and
Marine Corps helicopters that will deploy to Pakistan to operate in
partnership with the Pakistani military throughout flood-impacted
areas. Their mission is simple: support the Pakistani government as
needed, and provide additional critical heavy-lift capability.
These helicopters have the strength to lift 16 tons of food and
equipment and the capacity to evacuate stranded people on short
notice, a necessity in areas damaged by flood water.
As monsoon rains continued to worsen the flood region and
displace millions of people, the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group
(ARG) and embarked Marines of the 15th MEU arrived in international
waters off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan, on short notice with
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced) (HMM-165).
HMM-165 (REIN) contains four CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, as
well as 12 CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift and transport-capable
helicopters. In support of the relief efforts, the ARG is augmented
with three MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Navy Mine
Countermeasures Squadron 15, based from Norfolk, Va.
"On my last deployment with the 15th MEU, we conducted
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Indonesia following
the tsunami," said Lt. Col. Todd Oneto, commanding officer of
HMM-165 (REIN). "I am confident in our ability to help Pakistan in
its relief efforts."
The Navy and Marine Corps team is uniquely capable of providing
sustained humanitarian assistance operations at sea and ashore. The
Peleliu ARG consists of Peleliu, amphibious dock landing ship USS
Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), and amphibious transport dock ship USS
Dubuque (LPD 8). All three ships are capable of moving equipment
and personnel, simultaneously by surface or air.
Peleliu ARG and 15th MEU are currently executing a regularly
scheduled deployment to the region in support of ongoing maritime
security operations, and serve as the theater reserve force for
U.S. Central Command. The ARG/MEU team report directly to
Expeditionary Strike Group 5, which is responsible for all
amphibious forces deployed to 5th Fleet, and oversees the planning
and execution of contingency response missions and maritime
humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.
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