Bataan amphibious group heading toward home

The Bataan amphibious ready group has left the Middle East and entered the Mediterranean Sea on the tail end of a deployment that began May 13.

The Navy has not yet announced a homecoming date for the group, which is composed of amphibious squadron 2, the amphibious assault ship Bataan, the dock landing ship Fort McHenry, the transport dock Ponce, tactical air control squadron 21, helicopter sea combat squadron 22, fleet surgical team 6, assault craft units 2 and 4, and beachmaster unit 2.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is aboard with 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is made up of battalion landing team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Marine medium tiltrotor squadron 263 (reinforced); combat logistics battalion 22; and its command element.

The 22nd MEU served as a reserve force for U.S. Central Command and, with the amphibious group, took part in several exercises, including Fifth Fleet's largest multinational exercise, Bright Star 2009, according to a news release. The amphibious group also conducted maritime security operations for Fifth Fleet, which covers the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.