The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departs from the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia, the United States, March 23, 2011. The U.S. Navy on Wednesday dispatched the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island to the Mediterranean to join the military mission in Libya. [Zhang Jun/Xinhua]