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Caption:
Okinawa, Japan (Mar. 14, 1999) -- Marines and Sailors from the 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious assault ship USS
Belleau Wood (LHA 3) man the rails as the ship returns to Okinawa
after a four-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf. Modern U.S. Navy
amphibious assault ships are called upon to perform as primary landing
ships for assault operations of Marine expeditionary units. These ships
use Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and
helicopters to move Marine assault forces ashore. In a secondary role,
using Harrier aircraft (AV-8B) and anti-submarine warfare helicopters,
these ships perform sea control and limited power projection missions.
U.S. Navy photo by Sgt. Chris Tourge. (RELEASED)
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