Armed Forces News

The amphibious assault ship Essex departed Naval Station San Diego July 10 on a deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East, with a squadron of Marine Corps F-35B Lighting II aircraft, the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) Press reported July 12. Joining the ship as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group are the amphibious transport dock Anchorage and dock landing ship Rushmore. The aircraft are attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, USNI reported. The deployment marks the first time Marine F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have been forward deployed from a U.S. base, USNI reported.