U.S. Marine amphibious unit arrives in Persian Gulf region

WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) -- A flotilla of U.S. Marines reported for duty in the Persian Gulf region to relieve a task force that will sail for its home base in California, the Navy said.

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group consisting of approximately 1,200 Marines and sailors will provide U.S. Central Command with manpower for the next five months or more, the 5th Fleet in Bahrain said in a written statement Thursday.

The unit is led by the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge out of Norfolk and includes the landing ships San Antonio and Carter Hall.

The East Coast flotilla this week relieved the three ships in the USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, which began the long trip back to its home port in San Diego with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton.