- The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, has arrived in the Middle East along with thousands of U.S. soldiers to help defend against Iran.
- “U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 27,” U.S. Central Command wrote in a post Saturday. “The America-class amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about 3,500 Sailors and Marines in addition to transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets.”
- USS Tripoli and the elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard are based in Japan. They were conducting exercises around Taiwan when an order came to deploy to the Middle East almost two weeks ago.
- Tripoli joins the Gerald R. Ford and Abraham Lincoln warships in the Middle East, though the Gerald R. Ford has been sent to Croatia's Adriatic port of Split for repairs and maintenance after a fire and plumbing issues.
- Tripoli, which is 844 feet in length, has a displacement of approximately 44,000 long tons and is capable of operating at speeds of over 20 knots, was commissioned on July 15, 2020 and was the second America-class amphibious assault ship built for the U.S. Navy. The ship’s name recognizes the U.S. Marine Corps’ victory at the Battle of Derna during the First Barbary War in 1805.
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