USS Iwo Jima Arrives at Naval Station Rota, Spain, for Mid-Deployment Voyage Repair

23 April 2021

From USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain - Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG), arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain, for its mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR), April 23, 2021.

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The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) arrives at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Apr. 23, 2021.

Iwo Jima’s maintenance visit comes after more than two months constant underway operations including a pre-deployment exercise, transiting the Atlantic Ocean, and interoperability exercises with U.S. Second Fleet, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and the United Kingdom’s armed forces.

“Interoperability and support with partner nations is vital to sustained operations at sea,” said USS Iwo Jima Commanding Officer Capt. David Loo. “There are maintenance items and repairs that only become apparent once the ship goes underway. The MDVR gives us an early opportunity to make those fixes and continue our mission at full strength, plus it allows the crew a time-out from watch stations in order to rest and refresh.”

Iwo Jima is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

The IWOARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17).

Embarked detachments for the Iwo Jima ARG include Amphibious Squadron Four, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Six, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, Naval Beach Group (NBG) Two, Beach Master Unit (BMU) Two, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) Two and Four, and Sailors from Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) Two.

The combined IWOARG and 24th MEU have roughly 4,300 Sailors and Marines. The ARG-MEU is deployed to SIXTHFLT in support of regional NATO Allies and partners as well as U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.

The IWOARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Carter Hall (LSD 50) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). Embarked detachments for the Iwo Jima ARG include Amphibious Squadron Four, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Six, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, Naval Beach Group (NBG) Two, Beach Master Unit (BMU) Two, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) Two and Four, and Sailors from Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) Two.

The 24th MEU mission is to provide the United States with a forward-deployed, amphibious force-in-readiness capable of executing missions across the full spectrum of combat and military operations other than war, and consists of four basic elements, the Command Element, Ground Combat Element, Air Combat Element and the Logistics Combat Element. The unit consists of a ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/8, a logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 24, and an aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron (VMM) 162 Reinforced.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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