The USS Boxer, the heart of the next Marine-carrying task force, has finally deployed from San Diego after months of delays and mechanical issues that were driven, at least in part, by poor leadership aboard the ship.
A Navy official confirmed to Military.com that the Boxer set sail for her deployment on Monday. The official also confirmed that the ship would not leave the San Diego area before taking on a complement of MV-22B Osprey aircraft.
The Ospreys were grounded for months following a deadly November crash of an Air Force aircraft that claimed the lives of eight airmen. The flight hold was lifted in March, and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit began training to integrate the aircraft with the ship nearly two weeks ago.
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The deployment, first reported by USNI News, will also be the first operational outing of the Marine Corps' new amphibious combat vehicles, or ACVs, which replaced the aging amphibious assault vehicles, called AAVs.
The USS Somerset, which is part of the amphibious ready group that the Boxer commands, as well as more of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are currently in the waters off India.
In the latter part of 2023, Navy officials were adamant that the ship was getting ready to deploy despite the fact that it had sat in port for more than a year after having completed a $200 million, two-year overhaul.
A pair of command…
