The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement on its social media account that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, carrying approximately 3,500 sailors and marines, has reached its area of operations in the Middle East.
The USS Tripoli, which is approximately 260 meters long and has a displacement of 45,000 tons, houses F-35 fighter jets and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, as well as landing craft used for the deployment of troops to land. With these features, the ship functions as a small-scale aircraft carrier.
Although the amphibious ready group commanded by the ship, which is only about 6 years old, is normally expected to include the landing/dock ships USS New Orleans and USS San Diego, it is not yet clear whether these units are accompanying the Tripoli.
These amphibious units play an active role in missions requiring evacuation operations, sudden raids, and military deployments from ship to shore. It is stated that these structures, which house both land and air elements, also include troops trained for special operations.
News Source: 12punto
