The U.S. Navy continues to actively deploy the forces required for amphibious operations. On Thursday, March 19, an amphibious ready group, consisting of USS Boxer (LHD‑4), USS Comstock (LSD‑45), and USS Portland (LPD‑27), along with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Group, departed from the base in San Diego, California.
According to OSINT communities and U.S. media reports, this group is headed for Iran. This means not only that the U.S. will have two such groups deployed for operations related to Iran, but it also suggests that the timing of their arrival could be an indicator of the conflict's duration.
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The first such amphibious group, consisting of the USS Tripoli (LHA-7), the USS San Diego (LPD-22), and the USS New Orleans (LPD-18), passed through the Singapore Strait on Wednesday, March 18. This means that, barring any additional stops, they are expected to reach the Strait of Hormuz sometime between March 23 and 25.
The group led by the USS Boxer will have to cover about 20,000 kilometers. This will take about three weeks, not including any additional stops that are likely to occur.
If this group is heading toward Iran, this could indicate that the Pentagon currently plans to extend Operation Epic Fury for at least another month.
The only caveat is that the Boxer group may not be heading to Iran, but to Okinawa, where it is set to replace the Tripoli group, which had been stationed there previously.
It should be noted that both groups have a very similar structure. The USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is a large America-class amphibious assault ship capable of deploying approximately 1,700 marines using MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors, with air cover provided by F-35B fighters. A distinctive feature of this ship is the lack of a well deck, which is essential for amphibious assault ships and for launching AAV amphibious assault vehicles.
The USS San Diego (LPD-22) and the USS New Orleans (LPD-18) are San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships capable of deploying approximately 700 marines, primarily through conventional beach landings using LCAC hovercraft, standard LCUs, and AAVs.
At the same time, the USS Boxer (LHD-4) belongs to the older Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, which can carry approximately 1,900 Marines. For their deployment, the ship utilizes both MV-22B Ospreys and helicopters, as well as LCAC and AAV air-cushion landing craft.
The USS Comstock (LSD-45) also belongs to the older Whidbey class, designed to transport over 300 marines and deploy them via landing craft, with very limited capacity for aircraft. The USS Portland (LPD‑27) is a San Antonio-class ship, as previously described.
So, the Tripoli amphibious ready group can carry approximately 3,100 marines, while the Boxer can carry about 2,900.
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