Slideshow: USS Iwo Jima deployment

NORFOLK – About 6,000 sailors and Marines will deploy this week to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea.

The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group will conduct maritime security operations.

Video: USS Iwo Jima deploys

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The flagship pulled out of Naval Station Norfolk around 11:00 a.m.

USS San Antonio was supposed to leave, but didn't because of emergency repairs.

USS Carter Hall was set to leave Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. USS Roosevelt also left from Mayport Naval Station.

On Friday, USS Ramage and USS Vella Gulf will leave Norfolk.

The Marines that will go with the group are from the 26 MEU at Camp Lejeune, NC.

A couple of thousand Marines will deploy for seven months onboard USS San Antonio, the Navy's newest amphibious ship.

The 2,200 Marines in the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will depart this week onboard three ships, the others are the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Carter Hall.

The Marines spent the last six months training for the mission. While training near Indianapolis in June, the Marines helped evacuate a hospital, shored up a levee and took pictures of the damage after severe thunderstorms and tornadoes ravaged the area.