Out to the amphib

Met up with our team at 700, then with some other military and contractors and were en route via CH-53 Sea Stallion out to the amphibious assault ship (BHR) by 800. The primary mission of the BHR is to embark, deploy and land Marines by helicopter, landing craft, or amphibious vehicle. Because of this mission, although it is a Navy ship, it is Marine Corps in character. Hot, as usual, on the airstrip, but the 53 gets up high enough that when it's 120 on the ground, its a cool 80-90 in flight. This helo is powerful and muscular for heavy-lift missions. The first picture here is out the back of our helo as we are landing on the ship in the central Arabian Gulf. As we debark, we rush through the ship and into the hangar bay where a rope ladder is waiting for us to climb into a Coastie speed boat to take us out to sea.