The Marine Corps is shipping out the Bataan and two landing ship docks (the Carter Hall and McHenry) to help out in Haiti. About 2,000 Marines from the 22 MEU (which was on leave after a CENTCOM pump) are heading down there with a bunch of gear. Here's a partial list:
8 CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters4 UH-1N Hueys
15 7-ton trucks
1 fork lift
81 humvees
8 Light Armored Vehicles
12 Medical Blocks
1 Dental Block
2 Tactical Water Purification Systems (can produce 60,000 gal per day of drinking water from any water source including sea water)
9 assorted large and portable water containers
6 large fuel containers
16 generators
20 tents
Various HA care kits (these kits have basic need items in them)
Notice that there aren't any Ospreys headed down there. Not sure if that's because the MEU's ACE gave up her Ospreys to the 2nd MEB ACE in Afghanistan or what, but one wonders why they didn't push a few medium lifters onto the Bataan.
So far as I know, one company from the 82nd Airborne has been lifted there. The Coast Guard says it's deploying:
The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Miami, Fla.The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Key West, Fla.
The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, N.H.
The Coast Guard Cutter Forward, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Va.
U.S. Coast Guard C-130, HU-25 and C-144 fixed-wing aircraft and HH-60 and HH-65 helicopters
The Navy sent down the Vinson with 19 Helicopters. I've also seen a couple Navy C-2As from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 out of Norfolk heading down there and some SH-60 Sea Hawks joining with the guided missile destroyer Normandy which is also on its way.
Check out our latest story on the Haitian surge at Military.com.
-- Christian
