Keywords: US Navy 061020-N-5067K-009 Guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) sails in a combined formation during an amphibious exercise with Essex Amphibious Ready Group.jpg en South China Sea Oct 20 2006 Guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem DDG 63 sails in a combined formation during an amphibious exercise with Essex Amphibious Ready Group comprised of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD 2 dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49 and amphibious transport dock USS Juneau LPD 9 along with the Philippine navy ship Artermio Ricarte PS 37 Essex and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit MEU are in the Philippines participating in bilateral exercises Exercise Talon Vision TV 07 and Amphibious Landing Exercise PHIBLEX 07 with the Armed Forces of the Philippines AFR Essex is the Navy s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group based in Sasebo Japan U S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael D Kennedy RELEASED 2006-10-20 061020-N-5067K-009 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 40136 U S Navy photo PD-USGov-Military-Navy USS Stethem DDG-63 Aboard USS Harpers Ferry LSD-49 |