History
Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8, or CPR-8), is one of four tactical amphibious squadrons in the Naval Surface Force, Atlantic. Currently, the squadron is assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 and operates as the Immediate Superior In Command (ISIC) for USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), USS New York (LPD 21), USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), the Naval Support Element Fleet Surgical Team Four, and are based out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (JEBLC).
A tactical amphibious squadron's organization is unique. Ships are assigned periodically to one of the tactical squadrons for specific operations or for temporary administrative purposes. The squadron staff supports the commander in tracking, maintaining, and achieving the operational readiness of each ship. The amphibious squadron commander with their staff is charged with responsibilities for planning and executing amphibious operations and deployments with a reinforced Marine Battalion. The amphibious squadron staff is capable of planning and executing amphibious assaults at the Marine Expeditionary Unit level with augmenting detachments from a Tactical Air Control Squadron, Naval Beach Group, Special Warfare Group, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, and Fleet Surgical Team. Additionally, it serves as Naval Forces Commander in various Joint Task Force Operations. When deployed Amphibious Ready Group's (ARG) capabilities range from landing combat ready Marines ashore to providing medical supplies, personnel and food for evacuation in the event of natural disaster.
Formed in February 1955, Amphibious Squadron 8, then known as TRANSPHIBRON EIGHT, have operated in such diverse regions as the Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, and the Middle East. In 1959, the name was officially changed to Amphibious Squadron EIGHT. Squadron tasks have varied from fleet exercises and training to resupplying the Early Warning Radar Network (DEWLINE); evacuating the UN Truce team from Gaza Strip; landing Marines to reinforce the Guantanamo garrison in 1962; evacuation of non-combatants from the island of Cyprus in 1974 and from war-torn Beirut, Lebanon in June 1976; evacuation of refugees from Cuba; experimental AV-8A Harrier operations in the Mediterranean; command of Amphibious Forces Lebanon, Amphibious Forces SIXTH Fleet and the United States contingent of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force, Lebanon in 1983; humanitarian relief efforts for over 250,000 Kurdish refugees as part of Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq; Search and rescue platform in the Adriatic Sea for Operation Provide Promise; Operation Restore Hope in Somalia; the rescue of downed Air Force pilot Capt. Scott O'Grady in 1995; evacuating American Embassy personnel, U.S. citizens and third country nationals from Albania during Operation Silver Wake in 1997; and in 1998 participating in a security mission in Albania and conducting Black Sea operations and Partnership for Peace exercises in Albania, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania and the Ukraine.
The squadron moved to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in the Fall of 2000.
More recently in the Fall of 2018 the squadron operated as the Surface Combatant Commander (SCC) for Operation Trident Juncture, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, demonstrating readiness to operate in the High North employing high-end warfighting capabilities in a coalition environment. To further accomplish this, CPR-8 used surface combatants and aircraft to search for and identify all vessels in the vicinity, and maintained the ability to destroy or neutralize any ships or submarines that were classified as threats.
The following year in the fall of 2019 Hurricane Dorian made landfall as the strongest storm to ever hit the Bahamas and the second strongest storm measured by wind speed on record. CPR-8 and the 26th MEU rapidly combined and deployed as part of Task Force 81. Tasked with performing Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) duties, the squadron coordinated and provided tens of thousands of pounds of humanitarian aid and supplies as well as lifesaving Search and Rescue (SAR) support.
In early 2020 after the successful removal of General Soleimani, The CPR-8 USS Bataan ARG (BATARG) received emergent re-tasking from the 6th Fleet, to 5th Fleet AOR, where it conducted interoperability exercises in a high threat and COVID-19 environment with the U.A.E., Oman and Saudi Arabia. While exploiting the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concepts, the squadron successfully performed interdiction at sea in the Gulf of Oman resulting in the disruption of missile transfers from Iran to Houthi rebels in Yemen; successfully opened Port of Duba, Saudi Arabia for US naval operations in the Red Sea; and conducted bilateral exercises with Italy and France.