A number of the Gator Navy gathered in the Persian Gulf

Amphibious Assault Ships
LHA/LHD

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

Features: 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. The Wasp-class are the largest amphibious ships in the world. The lead ship, USS Wasp (LHD 1), was commissioned in July 1989 in Norfolk, Va.

Point of Contact:
Public Affairs Office
Naval Sea Systems Command
Washington, DC 20362

General Characteristics, Wasp Class

Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.
Power Plant: Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 844 feet (253.2 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters)
Displacement: Approx. 40,500 tons (41,150 metric tons) full load
Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour)
Aircraft, depending on mission:
12 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; 6 AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft; 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters; 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters
Ships:
USS Wasp (LHD 1), Norfolk, Va.
USS Essex (LHD 2), Sasebo, Japan
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Norfolk, Va.
USS Boxer (LHD 4), San Diego, Calif.
USS Bataan (LHD 5), Norfolk, Va.
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), San Diego, Calif.
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Norfolk, Va.
Crew:
Ships Company: 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted
Marine Detachment: 1,894
Armament: Two RAM launchers; two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts (two on LHD 5-7); four .50 cal. machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns (LHD 5-7 have three 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns).
Date Deployed: July 29, 1989 (USS Wasp)

General Characteristics, Tarawa Class

Builders: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.
Power Plant: Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower
Length: 820 feet (249.9 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters)
Displacement: 39,400 tons (40,032 metric tons) full load
Speed: 24 knots (27.6 miles per hour)
Aircraft, depending on mission:
12 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; 6 AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft; 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters; 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters
Ships:
USS Tarawa (LHA 1), San Diego, Calif.
USS Saipan (LHA 2), Norfolk, Va.
USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), San Diego, Calif.
USS Nassau (LHA 4), Norfolk, Va.
USS Peleliu (LHA 5), San Diego, Calif.
Crew:
Ships Company: 82 officers, 882 enlisted
Marine Detachment 1,900 plus
Armament: Two RAM launchers; two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mount; three .50 cal. machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns
Date Deployed: May 29, 1976 (USS Tarawa)