An Amphibious Ready Group of the The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. The U.S. Navy consists of slightly fewer than 300 ships and over 4,000 operational aircraft. It has over a half million men and women on active or ready reserve duty... United States Navy consists of a Navy element — a group of ships known as an amphibious task force (ATF) — and a landing force (LF) of United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. The United States Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is... United States Marine Corps (and occasionally, The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. As of fiscal year 2002 (FY02), it consisted of 480,000 soldiers on active duty and 555,000 in reserve (350,000 in the Army National Guard (ARNG) and 205... United States Army troops), in total about 5000 people. Together, these elements and supporting units are trained, organized, and equipped to perform amphibious operations. A typical US Amphibious Ready Group consists of:

• An Amphibious Assault Ship (LHA or LHD) — the primary landing ships, resembling a small Two aircraft carriers, USS John C. Stennis (left), and HMS Illustrious (right), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier and a light V/STOL aircraft carrier. USS Harry S. Truman anchors outside Portsmouth, England, while her crew enjoy a port visit. An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main... aircraft carrier, designed to put troops on hostile shores. In a secondary role, using See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Harrier II is a second generation, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) light_attack jet aircraft used by the United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Spanish Armada and Italian navy. The aircraft is known as the AV-8B Harrier II in USMC service... AV-8B Harrier aircraft and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, these ships perform sea control and limited power projection missions.

• An Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) Ship — a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions.

• A The United States Navy Dock Landing Ship (Navy hull classification LSD) was designed to support amphibious operations. These amphibious assault ships transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel. They are mainly used to carry LCACs (Landing Craft Air Cushion), as well as carrying... Dock Landing Ship (LSD) — a warship supporting amphibious operations including landings via Landing craft Rapière A landing craft is a type of boat used to convey infantry and vehicles on to a shore during an assault from sea to land. Most renowned are the amphibious mechanized assault landing craft used to storm the beaches of Normandy during WWII. Landing Craft... Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters, onto hostile shores. In the This article is about the decade starting at the beginning of 2000 and ending at the end of 2009. For the century or millennium starting in 2000, see the links below. Millennia: 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium - 4th millennium Centuries: 20th century - 21st century - 22nd century Decades: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s... first decade of the (20th century - 21st century - 22nd century - other centuries) Definition In calendars based on the Christian Era or Common Era, such as the Gregorian calendar, the 21st century is the current century, as of this writing, lasting from 2000-2099. The 21st century is the first century of the 3rd millennium... 21st century, three classes of LSDs were in service: the Harper's Ferry, the Whidbey Island, and the Anchorage classes.

• A A Marine Expeditionary Unit is the smallest combined forces unit in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is normally built around a Marine infantry battalion, a composite helicopter squadron, and an MEU Service Support Group. Troop strength is about 2,200, commanded by a Colonel. The MEU... Marine Expeditionary Unit — a force capable of conducting missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to major theater war.

• See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Harrier II is a second generation, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) light_attack jet aircraft used by the United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Spanish Armada and Italian navy. The aircraft is known as the AV-8B Harrier II in USMC service... AV-8B Harrier II aircraft — attack aircraft designed to attack and destroy surface targets.

• The Sikorsky S-65 is a heavy transport helicopter originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, who designated it the CH_53 Sea Stallion. Much of the design was derived from the Sikorsky S-64. First flight was on 14 October 1964, with deliveries of the CH-53A... CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters — medium-lift helicopters designed to transport personnel, supplies and equipment in support of amphibious and shore operations.

• The CH-46D Sea Knight helicopter is a medium lift assault helicopter, used by the United States Navy for shipboard delivery of cargo and personnel. The CH-46E is used by the United States Marine Corps to provide all_weather, day_or_night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Troop assault... CH-46D Sea Knight helicopters — medium-lift assault helicopters, primarily used to move cargo and troops.

• • By the end of the This article is about the decade starting at the beginning of 2000 and ending at the end of 2009. For the century or millennium starting in 2000, see the links below. Millennia: 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium - 4th millennium Centuries: 20th century - 21st century - 22nd century Decades: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s... first decade of the (20th century - 21st century - 22nd century - other centuries) Definition In calendars based on the Christian Era or Common Era, such as the Gregorian calendar, the 21st century is the current century, as of this writing, lasting from 2000-2099. The 21st century is the first century of the 3rd millennium... 21st century, both types of medium-lift helicopters will be replaced by The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. It performs VTOL missions as effectively as a conventional helicopter while also having the long-range cruise abilities of a twin turboprop aircraft. The Osprey is the worlds first production... MV-22 Osprey aircraft.

• AH-1W SuperCobra of the U.S. Marines The AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter, designed by Bell Helicopter Textron. Employing the UH-1 engine, transmission and rotor system, it is now fully replaced by the AH-64 Apache in US Army service, but continues to fly with US... AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters — combat helicopters providing fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore.

The resulting forces may range from a single Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [ARG/MEU (SOC)], to a larger organization capable of employing a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) or even a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).

Amphibious forces must be capable of performing missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to major theater war (MTW). Additionally, they can be configured and deployed to operate at various levels of conflict and in multiple theaters simultaneously. They can provide a presence that may preclude adventurous actions by a potential belligerent.

Because they are sea-based and because the decision to position and engage amphibious forces will always be easily reversible, amphibious forces greatly expand the repertoire of available response options. Among other national resources, they are particularly well placed to provide a demonstration of the The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America¹, the States, or (archaically) Columbia — is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii... United States's commitment and resolve to friends and allies as well as adversaries.

Normally two to three ARGs are forward deployed: one in the -1... Mediterranean Sea/ A satellite image showing the Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf (Persian: خلیج فارس, Arabic: الخليج الفارسي) is an extension of the Gulf of Oman in between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. It is... Persian Gulf- The Indian Ocean is the third-largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths water surface. It is bounded on the north by southern Asia (the Indian subcontinent); on the west by the Arabian Peninsula and Africa; on the east by the Malay Peninsula... Indian Ocean area, and one or two in the western The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the worlds largest body of water. It encompasses a third of the Earths surface, having an area of 179.7 million km² (69.4 million sq... Pacific Ocean area. The other ships of the ARG are either working up to deploy, in transit, or in overhaul. One ARG/MEU is forward based in Sasebo (佐世保市; -shi) is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. Categories: Cities in Nagasaki Prefecture | Japan geography stubs ... Sasebo and This article is about the prefecture. For the city, see Okinawa, Okinawa. Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese 沖縄県; Okinawan Uchinā) is Japans southernmost prefecture, and consists of 169 islands known as The Ryūkyū Islands or Ryūkyūs, in an island chain over... Okinawa, Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0.8% Population  - Total ( 2004)  - Density Ranked 10th 127,333,002 337/km² GDP  - Total (PPP, 2005)  - Total (nominal)  ... Japan.

In most cases, the ATF will be deployed under the protective umbrella of an The carrier battle group (CVBG or CARBATGRU) or carrier strike group (CVSG) is a fleet of ships in support of an aircraft carrier. They are primarily used by the United States Navy which has 13 carrier battle groups scattered across the world. Their existence is an important part of the... aircraft carrier battle group (CVBG), which provides cover for the ATF and combat support to operations ashore. Ships of the ATF are capable of embarking and supporting other forces when the mission requires, including the The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. As of fiscal year 2002 (FY02), it consisted of 480,000 soldiers on active duty and 555,000 in reserve (350,000 in the Army National Guard (ARNG) and 205... United States Army, Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. These exclusive units rely on stealth, speed, self reliance and close teamwork, and highly specialized equipment. Traditionally, the mission of the Special Forces are... Special Operations Forces (SOF), or other joint and combined forces.

References

Based on public domain information published by the United States Navy Office of Information.