NORFOLK, United States - The US Navy on Wednesday dispatched three warships to the Mediterranean to join the military mission in Libya.

Two ships of the group left the military port of Norfolk, VA. Wednesday. They include helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde. They will be joined by dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Va.

Together the three ships made up the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. They are deploying as part of U.S. maritime forces supporting U.S. and international contingency planning associated with the crisis in Libya. The groups will relieve units from the USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group currently positioned in the Mediterranean Sea. The Amphibious Ready Group include amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge and amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce.

The group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard are prepared to conduct a variety of missions, according to the US Navy. The missions include forward naval presence, maritime security operations, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, as directed by Fleet and Joint Task Force commanders.

The ships carry hundreds of Marines, a team of surgeons and a helicopter sea combat squadron, according to the Navy.

The US Navy has five combat ships in the Mediterranean, including two guided-missile destroyer, but there are no US aircraft carriers close to Libya. The Navy also has three submarines outfitted with Tomahawk missiles in the Mediterranean.