New strike group to embark from Pearl

Advertiser Staff

Five ships from San Diego-based Expeditionary Strike Group One were scheduled to arrive at Pearl Harbor this morning to join up with the Hawai'i-based cruiser Port Royal and attack submarine Greeneville for an eight-month deployment to an unspecified location.

The strike group is a new type of warship flotilla considered representative of a new flexibility in the Navy. This is its first deployment.

"The Navy has looked at what the essentials are for a strike group," said Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell with the Navy Region Hawai'i Public Affairs Office. "They provide a joint commander, give them a group of ships which are highly mobile and self-sustaining across an entire spectrum of operations. It is flexible, powerful and effective."

About 5,000 Marines and sailors left San Diego last week with the strike group, which takes the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and traditional amphibious ready group of three amphibious vessels and bulks up the force with a destroyer, cruiser, frigate and submarine.

The strike group is based around the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu. Accompanying the Peleliu today will be the USS Germantown, USS Ogden, USS Decatur and USS Jarrett.