Function: Primary landing ships, resembling small aircraft carriers, designed to put troops on hostile shores.





Description: Modern U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships are called upon to perform as primary landing ships for assault operations of Marine expeditionary units. These ships use Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters to move Marine assault forces ashore. In a secondary role, using AV-8B Harrier aircraft and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, these ships perform sea control and limited power projection missions.







Background: Amphibious warships are uniquely designed to support assault from the sea against defended positions ashore. They must be able to sail in harm's way and provide a rapid built-up of combat power ashore in the face of opposition. The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world. Wasp class ships are the largest amphibious ships in the world. The lead ship, USS Wasp (LHD-1), was commissioned in July 1989 in Norfolk, VA. The Guam (LPH 9), the last of the Iwo Jima Class, was decommissioned August 25, 1998.





General Characteristics, Wasp Class



Builders:

Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MI





Power Plant:

Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 shaft horsepower





Date Deployed:

July 29, 1989 (USS Wasp)





Length, Overall:

844 feet (257.30 meters)





Beam:

106 feet (32.31 meters)





Displacement:

Approx. 40,500 long tons (41,150 metric tons) full load







Speed:

20+ knots (23+ miles per hour)





Crew:

Ship's Company: 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted



Marine Detachment: 1,894





Armament:

Two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers



Three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts



Eight .50 caliber machine guns





Aircraft:

Assault: 42 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters



Sea Control: 5 AV-8B Harrier attack planes; 6 ASW helicopters











Ships:

USS Wasp (LHD-1), Norfolk, VA

USS Essex (LHD-2), San Diego, CA

USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), Norfolk, VA

USS Boxer (LHD-4), San Diego, CA

USS Bataan (LHD-5), Norfolk, VA

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), San Diego, CA

USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), Norfolk, VA