Wasp-class: Difference between revisions
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'''Wasp-class''' [[amphibious assault ship]]s (LHD) are the largest tyoe of [[amphibious warfare]] vessels in the U.S. Navy. They usually are the flagship of an [[Amphibious Ready Group]] carrying a [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force#Marine Expeditionary Unit|Marine Expeditionary Unit]], or of an [[Expeditionary Strike Group]] such as [[Task Force 151]] conducting anti-piracy operations. | '''Wasp-class''' [[amphibious assault ship]]s (LHD) are the largest tyoe of [[amphibious warfare]] vessels in the U.S. Navy. They usually are the flagship of an [[Amphibious Ready Group]] carrying a [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force#Marine Expeditionary Unit|Marine Expeditionary Unit]], or of an [[Expeditionary Strike Group]] such as [[Task Force 151]] conducting anti-piracy operations. | ||
[[Image:USS Boxer (LHD-4).jpg|right|thumb|340px|''USS Boxer'' (LHD-4)]] | |||
In the ARG, the LHD stays farthest back from the shore, using [[helicopter]]s and [[MV-22 Osprey]] tilt-rotor transports to move Marines inland. It also provides [[close air support]] with [[AV-8 Harrier]] and, in the future, with [[F-35B Lightning II]] [[STOVL|short-takeoff-vertical-landing aircraft]]. | In the ARG, the LHD stays farthest back from the shore, using [[helicopter]]s and [[MV-22 Osprey]] tilt-rotor transports to move Marines inland. It also provides [[close air support]] with [[AV-8 Harrier]] and, in the future, with [[F-35B Lightning II]] [[STOVL|short-takeoff-vertical-landing aircraft]]. | ||
==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
Revision as of 14:32, 2 August 2009
Wasp-class amphibious assault ships (LHD) are the largest tyoe of amphibious warfare vessels in the U.S. Navy. They usually are the flagship of an Amphibious Ready Group carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, or of an Expeditionary Strike Group such as Task Force 151 conducting anti-piracy operations.
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In the ARG, the LHD stays farthest back from the shore, using helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transports to move Marines inland. It also provides close air support with AV-8 Harrier and, in the future, with F-35B Lightning II short-takeoff-vertical-landing aircraft.
Characteristics
- Builder: Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula, Mississippi.
- Date Deployed: July 29, 1989 (USS Wasp)
- Propulsion: (LHDs 1–7) two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower; (LHD 8) two gas turbines, two shafts; 70,000 total shaft horsepower, two 5,000 horsepower auxiliary *propulsion motors.
- Length: 844 feet (253.2 meters).
- Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters).
- Displacement: LHDs 1-4: 40,650 tons full load (41,302.3 metric tons)
- LHDs 5-7: 40,358 tons full load (41,005.6 metric tons)
- LHD 8: 41,772 tons full load (42,442.3 metric tons).
- Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour).
- Crew: Ships Company: 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted
- LHD 8: 65 officers, 994 enlisted
- Marine Detachment: 1,687 troops (plus 184 surge).
- Armament
- Two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers
- two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers
- three 20mm Phalanx close-in weapons system mounts (two on LHD 5-8)
- four .50 cal. machine guns
- four 25 mm Bushmaster II autocannon (LHD 5-8 have three).
- Aircraft
- 12 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
- 4 CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters
- 6 AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft
- 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters
- 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters
- planned capability to embark MV-22 Osprey VTOL tilt-rotors.
Ships in class
- USS Wasp (LHD-1), Norfolk, VA
- USS Essex (LHD-2), Sasebo, Japan
- 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
- PCU Makin Island (LHD 8) - under construction