방향타 고장으로 샌디에이고항에 머무르고 있었던 LHD-4 USS 박서함의 수리가 완료돼 7월 3일 해상시험차 항구를 출항했네요. 빈 드라이독이 없어서 수중수리를 한다고 했었는데..
해상시험이 완료되면 해병대 부대를 다시 승함시켜 예정된 훈련과 작전을 진행할 예정입니다. 박서 상륙전단의 다른 구성함들인 LPD-25 USS 서머셋, LSD-49 USS 하퍼스 페리는 태국에서 진행된 코브라 골드, 필리핀에서 진행된 발리카탄, 말레이시아에서 진행된 타이거 스트라이크 훈련 등에 참여했었습니다. 서머셋함은 림팩 2024 훈련 참가차 진주만에 도착했고, 15MEU의 부대원들은 LSD-42 USS 저먼타운에 승함해 지난 화요일 하와이에 도착했다고 합니다.
https://news.usni.org/2024/07/05/uss-boxer-repairs-complete-marines-preparing-to-return-on-deployment
USS Boxer Repairs Complete, Marines Preparing to Return on Deployment
SAM LAGRONE
JULY 5, 2024 1:45 PM
USS Boxer (LHD-4) departing Naval Station San Diego, Calif., on July 3, 2024. San Diego Web Cam Image
Rudder repairs to USS Boxer (LHD-4) are complete and the crew has left to test the fixes at sea, Navy officials have told USNI News. Meanwhile, the Marines are preparing to return to sea to continue a deployment that was interrupted by the damaged ship.
In a statement earlier this week provided to USNI News, Naval Surface Force said that the pier-side tests have been completed and Boxer was preparing for sea trials.
“The repairs and in-port operational test are complete,” reads the statement.
“There is still the at-sea operational test remaining when the ship gets underway from San Diego.”
The amphib got underway on July 3, according to shipspotters.
Since April, Boxer has been sidelined at Pier 2 at Naval Station San Diego, Calif., following the damage to the starboard rudder that split the deployment of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Now, the Marines are moving to continue the deployment, a service spokesperson told USNI News.
“The Boxer is in the process of reembarking the Landing Force and conducting sustainment training in anticipation of reintegrating with the Boxer ARG/MEU,” reads the statement from the service.
Neither the Navy nor the Marines provided details as to how the deployment would proceed. San Antonio-class amphibious warship USS Somerset (LPD-25) left from San Diego in January and was later joined by USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) in April.
Among the exercises Somerset and the embarked 15th MEU participated in included Cobra Gold in Thailand, U.S.-Philippines exercise Balikatan 2024 in the Philippines with U.S.-Malaysia exercise Tiger Strike 2024 in Malaysia.
Amphibious Combat Vehicles embarked on Harpers Ferry made their operational debut at the Balikatan exercise with the Philippines before being offloaded last week on Okinawa.
U.S. Marines disembark Amphibious Combat Vehicles at Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2024. US Marine Corps Photo
This week, Somerset arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to participate in the Rim of the Pacific exercise 2024. Other elements of the 15th MEU had arrived earlier in Hawaii on June 21 aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD-42) and on Tuesday, together with an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a fast-rope demonstration for partner nations.
“For the first five months of our deployment we travelled all over the Indo-Pacific, conducting training with great partners. Now it’s our turn to be the hosts,” said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Lindsay Mathwick, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 15 and commander of Marines aboard Somerset in the release.
“At RIMPAC, we will apply lessons learned throughout our deployment, in our largest exercise yet, truly challenging our ability to operate as a combined, joint force across a wide array of military training scenarios.”
USNI News contributor Dzirhan Mahadzir contributed to this report.
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