Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet

Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departs Naval Base San Diego, for a six-month deployment. Bonhomme Richard is part of Expeditionary Strike Group Five (ESG-5). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shannon K. Cassidy

The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 23, while enroute to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism.

BHRESG is a rapid response strike group available for humanitarian or non-combatant evacuation operations. While operating in the 7th Fleet AOR, the BHRESG will conduct drills and exercises to prepare for operations in the Persian Gulf. The strike group proved their many capabilities prior to deployment by successfully completing their Composite Training Unit and Joint Task Force exercises.

“Throughout our strike group integration, Composite Training Unit and Joint Task Force exercises, the Sailors and Marines of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group have been training to support fleet requirements,” said Capt. Bradley D. Martin, commander of BHRESG and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7. “Today we are a joint, seamless strike group properly trained, capable and ready to flex to the fleet commander’s mission tasking.” BHRESG is comprised of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), and USS Chosin (CG 65). The strike group also includes PHIBRON 7 and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The BHRESG serves under the Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

From USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs