Nassau Ready Group returns home

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - More than 4,000 sailors from the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group returned to Norfolk Sunday following a seven-month deployment.

The USS Nassau, USS Mesa Verde, and USS Ashland left Hampton Roads on January 18.

During the deployment, the group supported earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. During Operation Unified Response, the sailors oversaw the delivery of more than 57,000 meals, 1 million pounds of rice, 31,000 bottles of water, 3,200 pounds of medical supplies and 80,000 jars of baby food.

After departing Haiti, the Amphibious Ready Group supported Maritime Security Operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

In April, the USS Ashland captured six suspected pirates off the Horn of Africa. Those six are among 11 suspected pirates now facing criminal prosecution in Norfolk Federal Court.

The Ashland capture was unique because the Navy said the suspected pirates actually fired upon the amphibious dock landing ship.The ship returned fire and destroyed the suspected pirate skiff. All six people on board were rescued and taken aboard the Ashland.

The Ashland suffered no injuries or damage in the attack.

The Nassau, an amphibious assault ship, and the Mesa Verde, an amphibious transport dock ship, are homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

The Ashland is homeported out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story.