Task and Purpose reports, 

The Navy and Marine Corps deployed thousands of sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean on Friday in support of anti-drug cartel operations.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit set sail out of Naval Station Norfolk on Aug. 14. The force includes more than 4,500 sailors and Marines on three ships: The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, the USS Iwo Jima, and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships the USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale.

The Navy described it as a “regularly scheduled deployment” and did not specify where it would be heading or for what purpose.

Despite the “regularly scheduled deployment” statement, this is definitely not normal.

Can’t say the US never sends subs into the Caribbean, be we don’t normally send ships like these into the Caribbean for counter drug operations.

USS Fort Lauderdale

USS San Antonio

USS IWO Jima