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Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Conducts Port Visits Throughout Southeast Asia

Story Number: NNS161017-14Release Date: 10/17/2016 10:14:00 AM
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By Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Villegas, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20, and amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LDS 42), with embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived for respective port visits, Oct. 15-16.

The Sailors and Marines of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group will have the opportunity to enjoy the culture, history, and communities of Singapore; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; and Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The port visits come after the ESG and embarked MEU participated in the bilateral Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 33, where Sailors and Marines built on longstanding relationships with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"After successfully completing PHIBLEX, Sailors and Marines of the ESG have a well-deserved opportunity to enjoy the unique community, food, and culture of these cities," said Rear Adm. Marc H. Dalton, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7, who also commands the BHR ESG. "We look forward to building relationships with our partners through events scheduled for each ship's visit."

Each ship has different events planned, but each will interact with the host nation community with either a community service project, ship tours, or reception.

The ships' Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) offices are also offering tours to experience amusement parks, local markets, and the culture and heritage of the cities as well.

The ships of the BHR ESG departed their forward-deployed base of Sasebo, Japan, Aug. 10 as part of a regularly scheduled patrol in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

ESG 7 units include flagship Bonhomme Richard, Green Bay, Germantown, HSC 25, Naval Beach Group 7, and the 31st MEU. The 31st MEU consists of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment (2/4), Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 31, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 Reinforced.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmphibForceC7F and Twitter @Amphib7Flt.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.

 
RELATED PHOTOS
U.S. Navy ship steam in formation as part of interoperability drills between the Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) and Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) in the South China Sea Sea.
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161013-N-SU278-229 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 13, 2016) Clockwise from left, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), the Military Sealift Command (MSC) ammunition and cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11), the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73), the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) steam in formation as part of interoperability drills between the Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) and Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) in the South China Sea Sea. The drills are meant to enhance readiness of cruiser-destroyer ships to rapidly integrate with an amphibious task force to provide increased capability for amphibious operations in support of crisis response or disaster relief. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Will Gaskill/Released)
October 13, 2016
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