Ship to Carry Marines and Helicopters to Iraq
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The amphibious assault ship Boxer will sail next week for the Persian Gulf to support the return to Iraq of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton.
The Boxer will carry 200 Marines, 900 sailors, and 16 CH-53 Sea Knight helicopters and other gear.
The voyage will take about six weeks; most of the Marines will return to Iraq aboard transport planes.
The 840-foot-long Boxer returned to San Diego in late July after service during the combat phase of the U.S. war in Iraq.
Cargo ships carrying additional gear also will leave for the Persian Gulf in coming weeks.