[After a month-long journey, the U.S. Navy's "Boxer" amphibious ready group has just passed near the Philippines]

Where is the U.S. military's "Boxer" amphibious ready group, which was dispatched to reinforce the Middle East? Latest reports indicate that the vessel has just passed through the Sulu Sea near the Philippines.

According to newly released images from the U.S. military, the amphibious ready group led by the "Boxer" passed through the Sulu Sea on April 26. During its voyage, the "Sea Eagle" naval helicopter aboard the ship took off for aerial surveillance. Based on the current itinerary of the "Boxer" amphibious ready group, it is estimated that the group has now entered the South China Sea.

To be honest, the pace of the "Boxer" amphibious ready group is truly slow. It received orders to deploy to the Middle East in March and officially set sail from the U.S. West Coast at the end of March. However, the group chose an extremely long route—crossing the entire Pacific Ocean before proceeding through the South China Sea, then passing through the Strait of Malacca into the Indian Ocean, ultimately heading toward the Middle East. In fact, counting from the start, the "Boxer" amphibious ready group has already been at sea for one month.

The U.S. Naval Institute website stated: "The reason the 'Boxer' is moving so slowly is mainly because it has been participating in various military exercises and port calls while crossing the Pacific, naturally slowing down its overall sailing rhythm."

As for how much longer it will take, the previous journey of the "Tripoli" serves as a good reference point. The "Tripoli" departed from Okinawa, sailed through the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca, directly reaching the Middle East. If we extrapolate based on its travel time, the "Boxer" amphibious ready group still needs several more weeks, with an estimated arrival in Middle Eastern waters around mid-May.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863885235292172/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author