ATLANTIC OCEAN - The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) flagship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) celebrated the Navy's 240th birthday Oct. 13, 2015.

The Kearsarge ARG team is comprised of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), and embarked Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which departed the U.S. on October 6, 2015.

Quote:

"I'd personally like to thank all the Sailors past, present and future who ensure our Navy remains ready always, to respond around the globe. The young Americans aboard the Kearsarge, the Sailors and Marines, are such incredible patriots dedicated to defending their nation. All Americans can be proud of those who serve us so well."

- Capt. David Bossert, USS Kearsarge commanding officer

Quick Facts:

Kearsarge celebrated the event with 1MC announcements throughout the day, a cake cutting and singing during a ceremony aboard.

While in U.S. 6th Fleet, the three ships of the Kearsarge ARG and Marines of the 26th MEU will participate in theatre security cooperation events and exercises before continuing to 5th Fleet.

Modern U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) / Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). These ships transport and land elements of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) or Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) with a combination of aircraft and landing craft. A Marine Expeditionary Unit missions range from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to major theater war.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force with strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of four major parts: a command element, a ground combat element, an aviation combat element, and a logistics element.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.