The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), now operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed from Mina Salman Pier, Bahrain, Oct. 5 following a four-day port visit.
The port visit marked the first stop for Comstock since departing Hong Kong Aug. 23, where the ship and her crew participated in a weeklong interoperability exercise with the Malaysian military before transitioning to the Arabian Gulf.
Sailors and Marines had many opportunities to experience the sites Bahrain has to offer through a variety of tours made available through the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation committee.
Bahrain marks the second port visit of Comstock’s 2014 deployment, but the first while supporting U.S. 5th Fleet.
Comstock is part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the 11th MEU, maintains its readiness to promote long-term regional security by conducting regularly scheduled, recurring exercises in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
[mappress] Press Release, October 10, 2014; Image: US Navy