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15th MEU, Peleliu sail to Western Pacific

SAN DIEGO — Six ships carrying 2,200 Marines and more than 3,000 sailors left San Diego Naval Base on Sunday for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

The force includes the San Diego-based Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton. Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship, is the flagship for the strike group commander, Navy Capt. Jonathan M. Padfield, who commands Amphibious Squadron 3 in San Diego.

The 15th MEU, commanded by Col. Brian Beaudreault, includes Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (Composite) 165; and Combat Logistics Battalion.

The strike group includes the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor, transport dock ship Dubuque, guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George and guided-missile destroyers Halsey and Benfold.

Deploying as part of the strike group are detachments with Assault Craft Unit 1 and 5, Beam Master Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 45.

Peleliu spent last summer conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during a short deployment to the South Pacific as part of the Pacific Fleet’s Pacific Partnership. The 15th MEU spent several months in western Iraq in late 2006 and early 2007 during an extended eight-month deployment.