Marines Headed To Gulf Bring Firepower, Could Target Strategic Kharg Island

As I recommended days before, and the Pentagon recently announced, an amphibious ready group (ARG) led by the Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) ship USS Tripoli and its 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has been redeployed from the Pacific to the Persian Gulf, with added escorts, as part of an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).

Prior to receiving orders to depart for the Middle East, the Tripoli, her Marines, and her escorts were taking part in exercises in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines and had returned to their bases in Japan.

I served aboard a similar helicopter assault ship and MEU in the Pacific years ago as the artillery forward observer with the unit’s helicopter assault infantry company. The MEU’s capabilities are unique and impressive.

Read more about how a MEU, in conjunction with Navy SEALs, might take the island in my earlier SUBSTACK piece: Trump Should Seize Iran’s Kharg Island.

While some argue the MEU’s move will help us respond to Iran’s attacks against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, I note it will more importantly give President Trump and his military commanders what I specifically suggested: the offensive ground capability to seize key maritime targets, specifically Iran’s most vital one, Kharg Island. (RELATED: What They’re Not Telling You About The Strait Of Hormuz)

As I explained before Trump announced that we had devastated Iran’s military forces on the island, Kharg is vital to the regime. Trump referred to Kharg as Iran’s “Crown Jewel” when he announced the strikes, a term which I used in the subtitle of my Substack article days earlier.

And the MEU being sent is the way to take it.

Retired Marine Corps Col. Mark Cancian, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which I was also affiliated with years back, reinforced my argument that seizing Kharg could be a knockout blow to the Iranian regime:

These are the first ground combat troops that are headed to the region. The U.S. might be able to capture the island [Kharg] and then say ‘OK, we’re done.’

This could be a war ender. But what is the MEU and its lead ship, the Tripoli LHA? (RELATED: Trump’s Strategy Is Forcing Beijing To Recalculate)

While our vaunted carrier strike groups get the most attention, the MEU/ESG is America’s most versatile maritime capability. During any global crisis, the president usually asks: Where are my carriers? The second question should be: Where are my MEUs?

These mini-armadas, headed by an LHA, typically consist of around 5,000 sailors and Marines distributed across several warships, the amphibious assault ship flattop, two transport docks, and a support vessel.

The ESG also includes surface combatant escorts that can lend their formidable Aegis anti air capabilities to the fight and launch surface attack Tomahawk cruise missiles at myriad targets.

The Marine component is centered on a battalion landing team (BLT) with 2,200-2,500 ground, aviation and support Marines.

The ground combat force of that BLT consists of three rifle (infantry) companies, a weapons company with heavy machine guns, anti-tank weapons and mortars, as well as light armored vehicles and HIMARS rocket launchers; about 800 infantry marines in total.

The ground Marines are backed by a composite squadron of assault helicopters (CH-53E Super Stallions) as well as MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, to airlift the Marines low and fast to their objectives, as the attack helicopters (UH-1Y Venoms, AH-1Z Vipers, and MH-60S Knighthawks/Seahawks) provide close-in gunship support.

All these assets are commanded by a single Marine commander.

Meanwhile, the Tripoli LHA is a remarkable aircraft platform. While technically not an aircraft carrier, it sure looks and acts like one. Though much smaller than our supercarriers, and only carrying helicopters, tiltrotors and vertical takeoff jets — at 45,000 long tons — the Tripoli is similar in size to the French Charles de Gaulle and the Indian Vikramaditya fixed-wing aircraft carriers.

Unlike my LHA (the USS Peleliu) which had a floodable well deck with amphibious assault vehicles and hovercraft, the Tripoli is an America class aviation-focused LHA without the well deck or landing craft, limiting ground operations to air assaults.

What the Tripoli brings to the table that my old LHA did not, is that it can be deployed as an F-35B “Lightning Carrier” loaded with the vertical takeoff version of our premier stealth fighter, giving it a substantial fixed wing stealth air support punch.

With our air dominance over Iran — and 10 days till the MEU arrives in the Gulf, allowing for substantial strikes on remaining Iranian defenses on and near the Island — when it arrives, this MEU should be uniquely positioned to take the critical oil facilities on Kharg island.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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