Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE HISTORY OF 'IST BATTALIGN, SIXTH MARINES he First Battalion Sixth Marines was organized at Ouantico VA in August 1917 with the advent of World War l On 19 September 1917 the Battalion departed for France arriving at St. Nazaire on 5 October 1917 As an element of the Forth Marine Brigade on 16 June 1918 the battalion launched one of the most decisive battles of the war against entrenched German forces in Belleau Wood finally driving the enemy from the area. after 19 da s of bitter fighting ln recognition the Marines were awarded the French Croix de Guerre ln June 1918 at Soissons the attalion was cited with the second award of the Croix de Guerre and the fourregere. Followin the armistice on 11 November 1918 the bat talion was stationed in Germany on occupation duty until September 1919 w en the battalion returned to the United States and was disbanded ln 1925 the battalion was re activated and sent to Shanghai arrivin in April 1927 to protect American interests In January 1929 the battalion returned to San Diego California and again isbanded September of 1937 found the battalion re-activated and again in Shangai China protecting American interests On 21 September 1943 the battalion landed in rubber boats on Betio island Tarawa Atoll and from 15 June until 7 Jul 1944 the battalion participated in the Saipan action. The period 24 July until 31 July 1944 found the 1st Battalion 6th arines at Camp Pendleton California but on 17 October 1949 the Regiment was re-constituted at Camp Legeune North Carolina Since this re organization the 1st Battalion 6th Marines has been deployed to the Caribbean during the Cuban Crisls ln 1962 and to the Caribbean during the Dominican Crisis in 1965. BLT 1 6 deployed on the Caribbean Cruise as LANFORCRIB 1-71 during June 1971 On January 1973 BLT 116 departe CONUS enroute to the Mediterranean for a six month de Ioyment Durin the cruise the BLT articipated in joint operations with Spanish Turkish British and Greek forces. On 2 ul 1973 the BL returned to CONU aftera successful deployment January of 1978 found BLT 116 deployed on operation mpire Glacier at Fort Drum NY for winter operations During June 1978 the 1st Battalion 6th Marines became the Primary Airlift Alert Forces contingency until August 1978 A ain ln January 1979 Blt 116 deployed on the Caribbean Cruise as LANFORLANT 1-79 and return to CONUS in February 1 9 The Battalion has participated in numerous landing and training exercises including Alpine Warrior Solid Shield Ex press Char er Escorte Ti er and Solid Punch. In early ay of 1980 a vance elements of the Battalion went aboard ship and sailed to the Straits of Florida to aid ln Cuban refugee assistance operations. One month later the remainder of the Battalion deployed to Key West to provide securit for the refugee assistance program being conducted there. The attalion returned to Camp Lejeune in June 1980 and was almost immediately deployed again in August to the Jungle Warfare Training Center Panama. This was soon followed by deployments in November to Twenty-Nine Palms California for CAX 2 81 in January to gampNRipleyg1Minnesota for pre-NATO exercise cold weather training' and in February to Norway for NATO exercise o inter The battalion assumed Prima Airlift Alert Force and Am hibious Readiness Force commitment on 27 Aug 81 through 29 Oct 81 During that time the attalion participated in RL 6-81 Ex which took place at Camp Legeune NC the RLT ex ercise incorporated the use of amphibious vehicles for beach assault mechanized movement to a river cross: and the use of helicopter airlifts for three company size assualts. The exercise included extemporaneous mechanize lcountef mechanized operations and large unit wind-up operations. The battalion was tasked organized as BLT 116 from 17 Nov. 81 to 15 Dec. 81 and deployed as the Ground Element f0l' READ EX 1-82 The three major phases of the exercise were Phase l 124 Nov. 811 Embarkation from Morehead Ci NC Phase ll Q30 Nov-3 Dec 811 Amphibious Operations and Training ashore on the island of Vieques PR Phase lll l4- D60 811 Washdown conducted at Roosevelt Roads PR. BLT 116 was embarked on Phibron 4 shipping QUSS Nashville LPD13 and EES Ft Snelling LSD 301 during the period of 24 Nov. to 12 Dec. 81 to augment Navy-Marine Corps presence in thi an an area From 13 March 82 to 2 April 82 the Battalion deployed to the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Fort Sherman Panami and less than one month later participated in Operation Ocean Venture 82 returning 26 May 1982 l 152 1