SAN DIEGO / WASHINGTON — March 20, 2026 : The United States has advanced the deployment of the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Middle East, departing Naval Base San Diego approximately three weeks ahead of schedule. The accelerated movement is intended to reinforce U.S. rapid-response and amphibious strike capabilities as maritime security conditions deteriorate in the Strait of Hormuz under the operational framework of Operation Epic Fury.
The deployment follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, a critical global energy chokepoint that normally facilitates the daily transit of approximately 20 million barrels of oil and nearly 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. U.S. defense officials assess that maintaining access to the waterway is essential to global energy stability and regional security.
Amphibious Ready Group Composition and Capabilities
The Boxer ARG consists of three amphibious warfare ships designed to project U.S. Marine Corps combat power ashore without reliance on fixed port infrastructure.
The USS Boxer (LHD-4), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, serves as the flagship and forward command node. Displacing more than 40,500 tons and measuring over 250 meters in length, the vessel functions as a light aircraft carrier. Its aviation component includes F-35B Lightning II short take-off and vertical landing fighters, MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. The ship also features a well deck for launching landing craft directly into the water, enabling simultaneous air and surface assault operations.
The USS Portland (LPD-27), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, provides advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. These systems support coordination of distributed landing forces and complex littoral operations.
The USS Comstock (LSD-45), a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, specializes in deploying Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft and mechanized units. It provides the logistical backbone necessary for transporting heavy equipment and sustaining operations ashore.
Together, the three ships carry approximately 4,000 personnel, including around 2,500 Marines assigned to the 11th MEU. The unit is structured as a self-contained Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), composed of a command element, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, a composite aviation squadron, and a logistics combat element. This configuration enables a wide range of missions, from non-combatant evacuation operations to high-intensity amphibious assaults.
Strategic Context and Operational Objectives
While specific operational directives for the 11th MEU have not been publicly disclosed, the composition and readiness of the deployed force indicate preparation for both deterrence and potential combat operations. The deployment aligns with ongoing discussions within the U.S. administration regarding measures to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
One option under consideration, according to U.S. defense officials and regional analysts, involves a potential blockade or military operation targeting Kharg Island. Located approximately 30 kilometers off Iran’s northwestern Gulf coast, the island handles roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. Any operation in this area would place U.S. forces within range of Iranian coastal defense systems, including anti-ship cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles.
Expansion of U.S. Regional Force Posture
The Boxer ARG deployment follows the earlier movement of the USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, which carries elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and is currently transiting toward the region. The combined presence of these two amphibious formations will increase the number of forward-deployed U.S. personnel in the Middle East to nearly 50,000.
This concentration of amphibious forces brings the total number of U.S. amphibious ships in the region to six, adding roughly 8,000 service members across both ARGs. The deployment reflects a broader adjustment in U.S. military posture aimed at maintaining operational flexibility and supporting regional allies dependent on secure maritime trade routes.
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations
In parallel with naval deployments, the U.S. Navy has increased the operational tempo of its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets. The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle is conducting persistent surveillance missions over the northern Persian Gulf.
Operating at altitudes above 50,000 feet with endurance exceeding 24 hours, the Triton employs a multi-function active sensor radar capable of wide-area maritime surveillance. The platform can monitor shipping activity, detect surface contacts, and identify asymmetric threats such as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) across thousands of square kilometers.
Tactical Considerations in the Persian Gulf
The deployment of two Amphibious Ready Groups enhances the U.S. military’s ability to conduct distributed amphibious operations in a contested maritime environment. The integration of sea-based aviation, vertical lift capabilities, and surface assault craft allows forces to bypass heavily defended shorelines and project combat power at multiple landing zones simultaneously.
However, operations in the confined waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz impose significant constraints. Amphibious ships operating close to shore remain vulnerable to saturation attacks involving fast-attack craft, uncrewed surface vessels, and loitering munitions. As a result, the deployed forces require layered air and missile defense coverage to maintain survivability.
Operational Framing
Official U.S. Navy statements have described the initial movement of the Boxer ARG as routine deployment activity in the Indo-Pacific. However, Pentagon officials have confirmed that the force was redirected toward the Middle East in response to evolving security conditions. The forward positioning of Marine Expeditionary Units provides the United States with a scalable and rapidly deployable force capable of responding to a range of contingencies in one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime regions.
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