The fleet provided additional assistance for amphibious operations, including carrier air cover, naval gunfire support, supply by the Logistic Support Force (Task Force 73), and medical support by hospital ships Repose (AH 16) and Sanctuary (AH 17) positioned close offshore. These men and their equipment were divided among the ships, enabling landings on shore by helicopter, by the force's 41 organic tracked landing vehicles (LVT), or by both methods. An infantry battalion landing team, reinforced with artillery, armor, engineer, and other support units, comprised the ground combat element. The Marine SLF was composed of a medium helicopter squadron equipped with 24 UH-34s and embarked in the LPH. Other amphibious vessels often augmented this force. Initially, the ARG usually consisted of three or four ships, including an amphibious assault ship (LPH), a dock landing ship (LSD), an attack transport (APA) or an amphibious transport dock (LPD), and a tank landing ship (LST).

The powerful, versatile, and mobile formation capable of striking along the length of the South Vietnamese littoral and far inland. The fleet provided direct support to the campaign in South Vietnam with its long-established Amphibious Ready Group and Special Landing Force (ARG/SLF).

Vietnam war us navy task force