Beach Party Team Delta Ends Deployment

Authorities

Members of Beachmaster Unit One (BMU 1) Beach Party Team (BPT) Delta returned to homeport Feb. 23 after completing a seven-month deployment with the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

After several months of predeployment work-ups, BPT Delta departed San Diego on July 25, embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), the amphibous transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) and the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45).

The members of BPT Delta conducted port visits to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. These visits provided an opportunity for U.S. military forces to strengthen ties with partner nations and foster positive relationships.

As part of the deployment the Makin Island ARG and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a relocation of National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration researchers from Tropical Storm Iselle near Hawaii, conducted air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq, worked with British and Kuwaiti forces in Exercise Cougar Voyage 14, participated in Exercise Red Reef 15 with Saudi Arabian forces and performed Marine sustainment exercises in Kuwait and Djibouti.

During the deployment the Makin Island ARG transited nearly 35,000 nautical miles, flew approximately 3,100 sorties, and logged nearly 5,020 flight hours. Amphibious craft completed more than 4,000 passenger transfers and moved more than 90,000 tons of equipment to and from the shore.

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Image: US Navy