U.S. Navy’s amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned to operations in the South China Sea, March 2.
Green Bay returned to sea after successfully completing exercise Cobra Gold 2017 (CG17) February 24, operating in the Gulf of Thailand and various locations throughout the Kingdom of Thailand.
Cobra Gold is an annual joint/coalition multinational exercise and is the latest in the continuing series of U.S.-Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and stability.
During CG17, Green Bay Sailors and 31st MEU Marines demonstrated their ability to conduct multinational amphibious operations with partner nations throughout the exercise.
“Our sailors and marines performed magnificently,” said Capt. Nathan Moyer, commanding officer of Green Bay. “The exercise was very complex and challenging, and it required a lot of flexibility and professionalism from everyone, but we pushed forward and met every mission requirement.”
After Green Bay returned to sea, the crew used the routine patrol in the South China Sea as an opportunity to improve as a ready maritime force by improving inter-ship communications and maneuvering skills.
Green Bay, with embarked 31st MEU, is serving on a multi-month patrol from its forward deployed base of Sasebo, Japan, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.