( CNN ) -- The USS George Washington is expected to leave the Philippines once two amphibious ships arrive there Wednesday , Navy officials say . The USS Ashland and the USS Germantown can get closer to the storm-ravaged areas than the massive aircraft carrier , and they have a variety of helicopters , small boats , trucks , equipment to produce potable water and other supplies needed in the relief effort . `` They are the Swiss army knife of the U.S. military , '' Marine Corps Brig . Gen. Paul Kennedy , who is in charge of the U.S. military relief efforts , told CNN last week after he requested the ships from the Pentagon . The two ships picked up 900 Marines in Okinawa to aid in the relief efforts . A third ship , the USS Freedom , is also carrying supplies from Singapore , the Navy said . The George Washington was one of the first in the U.S. fleet to bring large-scale help to Filipinos after Typhoon Haiyan left death , destruction and hundreds of thousands of survivors without food and water .
U.S. Navy says two amphibious ships are to arrive Wednesday in the Philippines . US Marines are on board to help with relief . Navy sources says the carrier USS George Washington is likely to leave the Philippines .