Talisman Sabre 2011

WHITE BEACH, Okinawa (June 27, 2011) - A Landing Craft Air Cushion departs from the well deck of the forward-deployed dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). The ship was in Okinawa embarking Sailors and Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Germantown, part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, is currently underway preparing for Talisman Saber. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Johnie Hickmon)

OKINAWA, Japan (June 28, 2011) – Landing craft utility 1627 enters the well deck of the forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran)

June 29, 2011, a U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate guides a U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as it lands aboard the flight deck of the forward deployed amphibious assault ship U.S.S. Essex (LHD-2). HMM-265 is conducting an air qualification exercise in order to provide air support to the 31st MEU during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Steve Acuff/Released)

June 29, 2011, a U.S. Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the flight deck of the forward deployed amphibious assualt ship U.S.S. Essex (LHD-2). HMM-265 is conducting an air qualification exercise in order to provide air support to the 31st MEU during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Steve Acuff/Released)

June 29, 2011, a pair of U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land aboard the flight deck of the forward deployed amphibious assualt ship U.S.S. Essex (LHD-2), during flight operations. VMA-214 is conducting an air qualification exercise in order to provide air support to the 31st MEU during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Steve Acuff/Released)

Tugboats pull the forward deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) alongside the forward deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) in Okinawa, Japan. Germantown and Tortuga are part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, which is embarking the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran)

The forward deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) pulls away from the pier at Naval Facilities White Beach, Okinawa, Japan. Germantown is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)

PHILIPPINE SEA (July 1, 2011) – An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, lands on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)

PHILIPPINE SEA (July 1, 2011) – A Marine UH-1N Huey helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)

PHILIPPINE SEA (July 1, 2011) - An CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to participate in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran)

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 3, 2011) USS McCampbell (DDG 85), front, and Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa transit behind USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). Guided-missile destroyers McCampbell and Fitzgerald are attached to Destroyer Squadron 15. All three ship will take part in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 following a port visit in Sydney, Australia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikey Mulcare)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 6, 2011) USS George Washington (CVN 73) steams in the Indian Ocean after transiting from the Java Sea through the Sunda Strait with ships from the Indonesian and Royal Australian navies. The aircraft carrier will be taking part in combined exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 with Australia, which begins next week. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2rd Class Adam K. Thomas)

SUNDA STRAIT (July 6, 2011) Gunner's Mate Seaman Keith Ford mans a .50-caliber gun aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54). Curtis Wilbur, operating with aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), is currently enroute to Australia to participate in combined exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Ryan Smith/Released)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 7, 2011) Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Darwin (FFG 04), foreground, Indonesian ship KRI Slamet Riyadi (352), middle, and USS Cowpens (CG 63) steam in formation after transiting from the Java sea through the Sunda Strait with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and Cowpens will be taking part in combined exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 with Australia, which begins next week. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2rd Class Adam K. Thomas)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 8, 2011) An SH-60 Seahawk attached to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) airlifts boxes of supplies from the Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) to deliver to the carrier during a replenishment at sea (RAS)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 8, 2011) Sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) observe as the Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) approaches the carrier before conducting a replenishment at sea (RAS). George Washington took on fuel and dozens of pallets of supplies during the RAS to ensure sustainable operational readiness while underway. 

INDIAN OCEAN (July 8, 2011) An SH-60 Seahawk attached to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) airlifts boxes of supplies from the Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) to deliver to the carrier during a replenishment at sea (RAS).