USS Carter Hall Arrives in Naval Station Rota, Spain

[Boats]

USS Carter Hall Arrives in Naval Station Rota, Spain
By: USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) Public Affairs - 05-18-21
Re: https://www.c6f.navy.mil/Press-Room/...on-rota-spain/

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain, –

The Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), operating as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (IWOARG), arrived at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, May 17, 2021 after its multi-week exercise conducted with the Portuguese Navy and Marine Corps.

Carter Hall’s visit to NAVSTA Rota will allow for the ship to bring on food stores, medical supplies and mail. It will also provide an opportunity to conduct maintenance required to continue the ship’s deployment in support of maritime security.

“Naval Station Rota is a ‘working port’ for Carter Hall, therefore, the crew expects to complete normal work while in port,” said Cmdr. LaDonna Simpson, Carter Hall’s commanding officer. “The crew of the Carter Hall will have access to the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Rota ‘Fleet Zone,’ an on-base area consisting of restaurants, sports fields, bowling alley and liberty center. Naval Station Rota’s Navy Exchange and Commissary will also open their doors for exclusive hours, supporting the crew in maintaining their COVID-free deployment.”

Support for the ship was coordinated through the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUPP) Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella – Rota, Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Rota and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia, Public Works Department Rota.

Carter Hall 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 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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