NORFOLK (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) returned to its homeport of Norfolk Nov. 23 following a successful expeditionary strike group integration exercise (ESGINT) with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) and vessels from the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).
ESGINT is a pre-deployment exercise designed to test the fundamental capabilities and shipboard interoperability between vessels from the strike group and the 22 MEU.
"This underway gave Bataan as well as other participants of the Bataan ESG Blue/Green team the opportunity to work together and formulate a more cohesive combat team," said Lt. Ronald Ocheltree, assistant operations officer. "It was also an experience that we will all learn from and will continue to use to build our teams for future work-ups, ultimately leading to a successful Fifth Fleet deployment."
Bataan's Sailors and Marines will continue preparing for deployment by completing a composite unit training exercise (COMPUTEX) and certification exercise (CERTEX) early next year.
"Our main mission aboard Bataan is as the Marine Air Group Task Force (MAGTF), a mission that consists of a complete package that will allow us to deploy with a complete and trained command group and air and logistics element in which teamwork is the base of our foundation to become a combat-ready ESG," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Stewart Stout, of the 22 MEU.
The Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group is comprised of Commander, Amphibious Squadron 2; Bataan; USS Porter (DDG 78); USS James E. Williams (DDG 95); USS Anzio (CG 68); USS Ponce (LPD 15); USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43); Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22; Tactical Squadron 21; Fleet Surgical Team 6; Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2; ACU 4; and Beachmaster Unit 2.
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997 and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.