Newsmax: USS Boxer sidelined by engine failure during Iran conflict

The USS Boxer amphibious assault ship and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit were temporarily sidelined during the early weeks of the conflict with Iran after an engine-related malfunction forced the vessel to undergo repairs, according to three officials familiar with the incident speaking to Newsmax.

The officials said the ship's main engine cooling circulation pump failed while the Boxer was en route to the Middle East, requiring replacement parts and repairs.

The Boxer had departed from the U.S. West Coast ahead of schedule to reinforce American forces involved in operations against Iran. However, instead of continuing to the Arabian Sea, the amphibious assault ship and its complement of thousands of Marines and sailors remained at the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean, while repairs were carried out.

"USS Boxer was temporarily sidelined during a critical period to control a maritime strait," one official told Newsmax, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Another official expressed frustration over the setback, saying the Marines had deployed early aboard the vessel "to give our leaders more options."

"That option was taken away for a while because of yet another maintenance issue with an amphib," the official said, using the common military term for an amphibious warship.

According to the officials, once repairs were completed, the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group—comprising USS Boxer, USS Comstock, and USS Portland—was redirected to the Strait of Malacca under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. There, the ships were tasked with conducting maritime interdiction operations targeting vessels accused of providing material support to Iran.

By Sabina Mammadli