Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group Arrives at U.S. 6th Fleet Waters

The U.S. Navy has announced the arrival of the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group (BATARG) into the U.S. 6th Fleet’s area of responsibility (AOR), which is half of the Atlantic Ocean. There are approximately 4,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines assigned to the BATARG and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), all of whom will serve in the 6th Fleet’s waters before moving on to the U.S. 5th Fleet, whose AOR includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.

According to a release from the Navy, the BATARG will “support theater security cooperation and provide a forward naval presence by providing crisis response, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and combat capabilities” while in the 6th and 5th fleet AOR.

“The Sailors and Marines of the BATARG and the 22nd MEU have trained hard over the past year and have proven our team is ready to handle the task at hand,” said Bataan Commanding Officer, Capt. George Vassilakis. “We’re now ‘at the ready’ to answer our nation’s call.”

The BATARG includes the flagship USS Bataan (LHD-5), as well as the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44).

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