Working Marines: USS Bataan

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (March 28, 2011) Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) embark aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is deploying to the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Julio Rivera (Released) Marines embark

USS Bataan (LHD-5) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1997. She is named to honor the defense of the Bataan Peninsula on the western side of Manila Bay in the Philippines during the early days of US involvement in World War II. Ship's Sponsor, Linda Sloan Mundy, wife of former Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr., christened the new ship "in the name of the United States and in honor of the heroic defenders of Bataan."

She served in the Iraq war between 2003 and 2007; provided relief services to victims of Hurricane Katrina; served as a testbed for the V-22 Osprey; assisted in humanitarian relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake; and on On March 23, 2011 was deployed to Libya to assist in enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya. Wikipedia

The mission of Bataan is to enable the Navy and Marine Corps team to accomplish a seamless transition “….from the sea” to the land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). A multi-mission ARG is capab...le of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian assistance missions. USS Bataan on facebook

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit works ... and plays hard, on and off the USS Bataan.



Lt. Col. David Monroe, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit executive officer, inserts a large torch into a boiler aboard USS Bataan, Jan. 30, 2012. The ship’s boilers are used to generate electricity and hot water. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force, comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element. Photo: Staff Sgt. Wayne Campbell 22ndmeu



The USS Bataan soccer team, comprised of Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS Bataan, play soccer against a Portuguese team during a Lisbon, Portugal, port visit, Jan. 24, 2012.

Bataan is 844 feet long, with a beam of 106 feet. Her well deck is 267 feet long and capable of holding three LCACs. Two steam propulsion plants, developing a combined 70,000 horsepower, drive the 40,500-ton ship in excess of 20 knots. The ship's living areas can accommodate approximately 3,200 crew members and embarked troops.

USS Bataan is the Navy's first amphibious assault ship designed and built from the keel up with accommodations for female sailors. This "Women at Sea" modification provides it with living areas for nearly 450 female officers, chiefs, enlisted personnel and embarked troops. 

GULF OF ADEN-Female Marines and Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) conduct weapons handling exercises as part of female search team training, Aug. 17-20. The 22nd MEU is currently deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) as the U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, also providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility., Sgt. Amber Blanchard, 8/18/2011 3:49 AM