GULF OF THAILAND (May 8\, 2008) Aerial video showing the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)and the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as well as the at anchor amphibious transport dock ship USS Juneau (LPD 10) is one moored pier side in the Gulf of Thailand. Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. expeditionary strike group and is participating in Cobra Gold 08\, a joint military exercise sponsored by the United States and Thailand designed to enhance interoperability between joint U.S. forces and the combined forces of the Thai\, Singaporean\, Japanese and Indonesian militaries. U.S. Navy video (RELEASED)