US Navy landing ship patrols West Philippine Sea

From Update.Ph (Feb 27): US Navy landing ship patrols West Philippine Sea 

An amphibious dock landing ship of United States Navy, USS Ashland (LSD 48), conducted a routine patrol in waters of West Philippine Sea February 26. Prior to said patrol, Ashland participated in Thailand-US co-sponsored multinational joint exercise Cobra Gold 16.

“As always, the officers and crew navigated the ship in a highly professional manner. Routine in execution, transits like these have the additional benefit of training our junior officers and watch standers on real world applications associated with International Maritime Law,” said Cmdr. Dan Duhan, commanding officer of Ashland.

According to US Navy, other Navy ships have conducted similar operations in the 7th Fleet area of operations including the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Preble (DDG 88), the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).

USS McCampbell (DDG 85) completed a similar patrol February 22.

Ashland, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently on patrol in 7th Fleet as part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The Bonhomme Richard ARG is comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Ashland and amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42).

http://www.update.ph/2016/02/us-navy-landing-ship-patrols-west-philippine-sea/2886