US Navy Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) 1:350

The United States Navy regularly embarks Amphibious Ready Groups to exercises around the world. Both Joint exercises with other nations, and US training exercises to ensure that its amphibious operations are always proficient and ready at a moments notice should the need arise.

An ARG is made up of the following Amphibious vessels which are the center of the group:

1 x Wasp class LHD or America class LHA
1 x San Antonio Class LPD
1 x Harper's Ferry or Whidbey Island LSD

Each of these vessels is capable of carrying hundreds of US Marines and their equipment. In the case of the LHD/LHA it amounts to close to 2,000 Marines. The LPD can carry up to 800 Marines, and the LSD up to 500 Marines. So one ARG is capable of assaulting a beach by amphibious assault and/or air assault, or an inland target via air assault, with upwards of 3,300 US Marines.

Generally, these vessels have several supporting surface combatants. Usually that would consist of a couple of frigate sized vessels and a couple f Burke AEGIS destroyers,...and perhaps a Ticonderoga class cruiser.

The Wasp class or America class would generally be the Flagship of the group.

I have built an entire ARG to 1:350 scale. My AMphibious vessels include the following:

1 x USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, a Wasp Class LHD
1 x USS New York, LPD-21, a San Antonio Class LPD
1 x USS Harper's Ferry, a Harper's Ferry Class LSD.

Here are pictures of these vessels together:

 

Here are more pictures of the ARG amphibious vessels:

 

Now lets show the whole group with its surface escorts. I have two Burke class DDGs, one a Flight I and one a Flight IIA. I also have two Independence class LCS, one outfitted for counter-mine operations and one for ASW operations, although the MCM vessel can also perform ASW.

Note that ultimately, the Zumwalt class will often accompany ARGs because of their superior fires upport capabilities, as will the America class, air centric LHS because f its superior air support capabilities. One day when they have 1:350 scale models of these, I will add them to my ARG.

As it is, here is the entire group with its escorts as I have it:

 

More pictures of each of the vessels in the group:



This is a powerful capability.

the US Navy's goals is to maintain 12 of these groups, meaning, depending on whether the US was required to surge all vessels available at a given time, anywhere from five to eight groups could be available at one time.

A powerful force for sure.

But then consider that the US Navy regularly trains with alied who also have powerful ambhibious capabilities, albeit not in as great numbers. These include:

The Royal Navy
The French
The Japanese
The Australians
The Koreans
The Italians
Singapore

...and others. Soon Turkey and Egypt will also have similar capabilities and will be training with the US too. In a large conflict, this would mean that very large amphibious or air assault capabilities could be planned.

Not to mention what help and assistance such large groups could provide in disasters when large scale humanitarian assistance was needed.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my 1:350 scale ARG fleet.

I also have 1:350 scale Aircraft Carrier Battle groups for each of the major naval forces who embark them.

You can see each of these ships and how they were build at:

Jeff Head's 1:350 Scale Model Site

 

@bd popeye @Obi Wan Russell @Brumby @SouthernSky @Equation @FORBIN @navyreco @Blackstone @tphuang @cirvine11 @Bltizo @siegecrossbow @Jura ... thought you guys might enjoy this.

 

Yes...compae:

 

US Navy Makin Island ARG completes Certification Exercises

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