Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a House subcommittee Tuesday that the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island is preparing to go on deployment with Marines from Camp Pendleton, a mission that could make the group part of the U.S. conflict with Iran.
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The 843-foot Makin Island, which carries advanced F-35 fighter jets, has been training in local waters with two large transport ships, the USS Somerset and USS San Diego. It’s common for three ships to operate as an amphibious ready group (ARG).
Cao did not specify how many Camp Pendleton Marines would be part of the Makin Island group, or when it will leave San Diego.
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The news comes about two months after the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group left San Diego with about 2,200 Camp Pendleton Marines. The Navy says the group has been operating in the South China Sea. But the U.S. Naval Institute reported on Monday that the Boxer is en route to the Middle East.
In recent days, President Donald Trump has said the U.S. might resume its attacks on Iran in the absence of a peace deal.
