Navy
GalleryWasp Amphibious Ready Group back home after 7-month deployment
Stars and Stripes
December 8, 2024
Friends and families of sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, assigned to the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, wait to welcome home their loved ones from deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. More than 4,000 sailors and Marines assigned to the WSPARG supported a wide range of interoperability opportunities and exercises, increasing combat readiness and crisis response capabilities while strengthening relationships with NATO allies and partners. (Sophie A. Pinkham/U.S. Navy)
The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group returned to its home in Hampton Roads, Va., on Friday after completing a seven-month deployment, according to a U.S. Navy news release.
The group consisted of the flagship USS Wasp, a first-in-class amphibious assault ship; the USS New York, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship; and the USS Oak Hill, a Harpers Ferry-class amphibious landing dock ship. The ships were accompanied on deployment by the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York greet their families after returning to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. (Sophie A. Pinkham/U.S. Navy)
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Joseph Griffith, assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), reunites with a loved one following deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Dec. 6, 2024. (Leah Moore/U.S. Navy)
Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York greet their families after returning to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. (Sophie A. Pinkham/U.S. Navy)
Chief Quartermaster Jason Gibson, assigned to the USS New York, hugs his wife and child upon returning from a deployment on the pier in Norfolk, Va., Dec. 6, 2024. (Jesse Turner/U.S. Navy)
Friends and families of Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, assigned to the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, wait to welcome home their loved ones from deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. (Sophie A. Pinkham/U.S. Navy)
Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York greet their families after returning to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. (Sophie A. Pinkham/U.S. Navy)
Friends and families of the crew of the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) await the ship’s return to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort on Dec. 7, 2024, from a seven-month deployment. (Torrey W. Lee/U.S. Navy)
Sailors assigned to the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill disembark for liberty as the ship returns to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort on Dec. 7, 2024, from a seven-month deployment. (Torrey W. Lee/U.S. Navy)
Hull Technician 2nd Class Zack Mulvihill, assigned to the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, is interviewed by a reporter with his family as the ship returns to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort on Dec. 7, 2024, from a seven-month deployment. (Torrey W. Lee/U.S. Navy)
The deployment entailed high-profile exercises in the Baltic Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and over a dozen port visits. The Baltic Operations 2024 exercise prompted flyovers by Russian bombers in June.
The MEU also regularly rotated forces to the Republic of Cyprus for bilateral training there, the release said. The training came just weeks before U.S. President Joe Biden met with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides in late October. The latter expressed hope for expanded defense cooperation shortly after the meeting.
Capt. Nakia Cooper, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 4, reunites with his wife following deployment, Dec. 6, 2024. (Leah Moore/U.S. Navy)
Capt. Nakia Cooper, the commodore of Amphibious Squadron 4 (which commanded the WSP ARG-24th MEU group), said the deployment showed the strength of the amphibious forces.
Commanding officer of the 24th MEU Col. Todd Mahar said the deployment strengthened ties with U.S. allies and that it “ensured regional stability and deterred adversaries,” per the release.
The 24th MEU returned home to Camp Lejeune, N.C., earlier in the week. The USS Wasp and USS New York returned to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia and the USS Oak Hill is returning to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, also in Virginia.
Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp man the rails on the ship’s flight deck as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk, Dec. 6, 2024. The Wasp, flagship of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG), returned from a seven-month deployment operating in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation. (Sydney Milligan/U.S. Navy)
Sailors assigned to the USS New York (LPD 21) and Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC), render honors as the ship enters port in Klaipėda, Lithuania, June 4, 2024. The New York was in port to support the Baltic Operations 2024 pre-sail conference in Klaipeda as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th MEU (SOC). (Jesse Turner/U.S. Navy)
A Spanish Navy AV-8 Harrier from ESPS Juan Carlos prepares to launch from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, June 15, 2024, during a cross-deck evolution as part of Baltic Operations 2024 in the Baltic Sea. (Darren M. Moore/U.S. Navy)
Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC), troubleshoot an issue with a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, June 12, 2024. New York was underway in the Baltic Sea in support of the exercise Baltic Operations 2024 as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th MEU (SOC). (Jesse Turner/U.S. Navy)
Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New York, man the rails as New York enters port in Kiel, Germany, June 21, 2024. New York was in port in support of the exercise Baltic Operations 2024 as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group-24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable (SOC). (Jesse Turner/U.S. Navy)
