1989    

US Wasp class

US Tarawa class

Assault Carrier

ships



  • Assault Carrier Wasp class



An updated version of the previous Tarawa class, Wasps not longer have the bow sponsons and they also are 7 meters longer in overall length to better accommodate the LCAC landing craft in their well deck.



Derivatives / Succeeded by
2014 US America (2014) class



  Specifications


1080crew
1900troops
41180full load (tn)
257.20length (m)
33.50beam (m)
9.10draught (m)
22max speed (knots)
70000power (shp)

2Naval Engine steam turbines

2Missile Launcher Mk 49 21-cell RAM
2Missile Launcher Mk 29 8-cell Sea Sparrow

3Naval Gun Mark 38 25 mm
3Close-In Weapon System CIWS Phalanx 20 mm

helicopter   Aircraft


Typical Max
US USMC Bell V-22 Osprey 010
US USMC B-V 107M H-46 Sea Knight 1242
US USMC Bell UH-1N 20
US USMC Sikorsky S-80 H-53E 40
US USMC Bell 209 AH-1 Cobra 40
US USMC Bell UH-1Y Venom 02






  Shipyards


US Ingalls Shipbuilding - 8



  List of Ships


Filter:     Hide Transfers     Hide derivatives

1989--USUS NavyLHD-1USS WaspNEBP - 1
1992--USUS NavyLHD-2USS Essex NESX - 2
1993--USUS NavyLHD-3USS KearsargeNNKP - 3
1995--USUS NavyLHD-4USS Boxer NBXR - 4
1997--USUS NavyLHD-5USS BataanNBAT - 5
19982020USUS NavyLHD-6USS Bonhomme Richard NBHR - 6
2001--USUS NavyLHD-7USS Iwo JimaNXXG - 7
2009--USUS NavyLHD-8USS Makin IslandNMXG - 8
2014--USUS NavyLHA-6America (2014) class USS AmericaNUSA - 6
2020--USUS NavyLHA-7America (2014) class USS TripoliNTRP - 7

10 units



  Events


1985-may-30Laid downLaid down US LHD-1 USS Wasp
1986-sep-10OrderedOrdered US LHD-2 USS Essex
1987-aug-04LaunchedLaunched US LHD-1 USS Wasp
1989-mar-20Laid downLaid down US LHD-2 USS Essex
1989-jul-29CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-1 USS Wasp
1990-feb-06Laid downLaid down US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge
1991-feb-23LaunchedLaunched US LHD-2 USS Essex
1991-apr-18Laid downLaid down US LHD-4 USS Boxer
1991-dec-20OrderedOrdered US LHD-5 USS Bataan
1992-mar-26LaunchedLaunched US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge
1992-oct-17CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-2 USS Essex
1992-dec-11OrderedOrdered US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard
1993-aug-13LaunchedLaunched US LHD-4 USS Boxer
1993-oct-16CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge
1994-jun-22Laid downLaid down US LHD-5 USS Bataan
1995-feb-11CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-4 USS Boxer
1995-feb-28OrderedOrdered US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima
1995-apr-18Laid downLaid down US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard
1996-mar-15LaunchedLaunched US LHD-5 USS Bataan
1997-mar-14LaunchedLaunched US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard
1997-sep-20CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-5 USS Bataan
1997-dec-12Laid downLaid down US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima
1998-aug-15CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard
1999-marAircraftAircraft US LHD-4 USS Boxer on board H-46 151927, 151933, 153952, 154039, 154040, 154831. H-53 162499
1999-sep-14Port VisitPort Visit US LHD-5 USS Bataan 14 Sep 1999 visiting NS Nofolk, VA.with 7 CH-46Es embarked (3 unidentified).
1999-oct-09DeploymentDeployment US LHD-2 USS Essex San Francisco Fleet Week 1999 Present for Fleet Week 1999. Airframes from HMLA-267, HMH-361 and HMH-364 embarked.
2001HomeportHomeport US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima Norfolk, Virginia
2001-mar-25LaunchedLaunched US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima
2001-jun-30CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima
2001-octDeploymentDeployment US LHD-5 USS Bataan Launched CH-63Es from HMM-264 carrying US Marines from Task Force 58 in their assault on Rhino.
2004-feb-14Laid downLaid down US LHD-8 USS Makin Island
2005-sep-04DeploymentDeployment US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
2006-sep-22LaunchedLaunched US LHD-8 USS Makin Island
2007-jan-26AircraftAircraft US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard MH-60S 166310 accident
2007-sep-04AircraftAircraft US LHD-5 USS Bataan First CV-22 Osprey trials by USAF 8th SOS
2007-sep-17DeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp To Iraq with 10 Osprey from VMM-263 in their first combat deployment
2009-may-26AircraftAircraft US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima NYC Fleet Week, VMM-162 MV-22B 165847
2009-aug-07AircraftAircraft US LHD-2 USS Essex Australian Black Hawk A25-112 in the Coral Sea
2009-oct-24CommissionedCommissioned US LHD-8 USS Makin Island
2010-jan-18DeploymentDeployment US LHD-5 USS Bataan Operation Panlake Diverted with its embarked V-22 and 22 MEU to Haiti for Earthquake relief effort (arrived 18 Jan) as part of US Operation Unified Response, with USS Nassau.
2010-jun-28Port VisitPort Visit US LHD-1 USS Wasp Fleet Review: 100th anniversary of Canadian Navy visited Halifax for MARLANT Fleet Review
2010-julAircraftAircraft US LHD-2 USS Essex RAN Sea King N16-125 in the Coral Sea
2010-julDeploymentDeployment US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Exercise Auriga 2010 Participated in the Amphibious component of Ex Auriga, with HMS Albion, HMS Ocean and RFA Largs Bay, until Aug 2010.
2011-marDeploymentDeployment US LHD-2 USS Essex Operation Tomodachi - Tohoku Earthquake Relief Along with USS Germantown, both with elements of 31st MEU embarked, were ordered from the Sea of Japan to the east coast of Honshu for Tsunami relief operations.
2011-aug-10 US LHD-8 USS Makin Island 11th MEU 2011-08
2012-apr-11AircraftAircraft US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima MV-22 Osprey 165844 accident
2012-apr-17DeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp NOLA Navy Week visited New Orleans to commemorate War of 1812
2013-may-02DeploymentDeployment US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Gulf of Oman
2013-jul-15DeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Talisman Saber 2013
2013-octAircraftAircraft US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Last UH-1N deployment. 159195
2014-apr-20DeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Part of PHIBRON 11, 31st MEU, SAR operations for the sunken ferry Sewol of the coast of the Republic of Korea
2014-oct-21DeploymentDeployment US LHD-8 USS Makin Island 11th MEU WESTPAC 14-2 Cougar Voyage 15
2014-nov-26DeploymentDeployment US LHD-8 USS Makin Island 11th MEU WESTPAC 14-2 hostage rescue in Yemen
2015-apr-02 US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard with VMM-262 Ospreys aboard
2015-jul-07DeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Talisman Sabre 2015 participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 15. Flagship for US Expeditionary Strike Group 7.
2016-aug-01DeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp Operation Odyssey Lightning Began precision srikes against ISIL in Sirte as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning, until relieved by USS San Antonio on 8 Nov. Returned to NAS Norfolk on 24 Dec.
2016-oct-08DeploymentDeployment US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima Hurricane Matthew relief operations embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit plus Humanitarian stores and departed Mayport for Haiti, to assist, and then relieve USS Mesa Verde.
2017-mayDeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Departed Sasebo for a 4 month deployment in 7th Fleet area of operations. Returned on 25 Sep.
2017-sep-02 US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Hurricane Harvey Ready for Hurricane Harvey relief support
2017-sep-05 US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations Departed Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, FL to Norfolk, VA to load 26th MEU elements in support of Hurricane Irma relief operations
2017-sep-07DeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations Arrived in the US Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma relief support
2017-sep-09DeploymentDeployment US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations in route to the US Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma relief support
2017-sep-20DeploymentDeployment US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations Operating around US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, following Hurricane Maria disaster.
2017-oct-03AircraftAircraft US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge President Trump on VH-60N 163266
2017-decDeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp Departed Norfolk, VA to relieve USS Bonhomme Richard as Forward deployed Amphibious Force 7th Fleet flagship at Sasebo
2018-janDeploymentDeployment US LHD-1 USS Wasp Returned to Sasebo after Indo-Pacific deployment on 26 Apr, with US 7th Fleet and hosting 31 MEU. Supported by USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105).
2018-janDeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Relieved as Forward deployed Amphibious Force 7th Fleet flagship at Sasebo by USS Wasp.
2018-may-08HomeportHomeport US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Moved to San Diego for a 2-year upgrade for integration of F-35B
2019-jan-24Port VisitPort Visit US LHD-2 USS Essex USS Essex and embarked 13th MEU visited Phuket.
2020-mar-12DeploymentDeployment US LHD-5 USS Bataan with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, part of U.S. 5th Fleet
2020-jul-12DeploymentDeployment US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard Seriously damaged by fire, following an explosion on board, alongside Pier 2 at San Diego.
2021-febDeploymentDeployment US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima departed for 6 month deployment of IJ Ampbious Ready Group, with HSC-26 and VMM-162 (reinforced) embarked. Returned Oct 2021.
2021-apr-15DeploymentDeployment US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima operating off west coast of Scottish mainland as Flagship of Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, conducting a RAS with USNS Supply.
2021-apr-15 US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard departed San Diego under tow, for Texas and possible scrapping.
2021-may-11 US LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard passed through Panama Canal, en route Texas.
2021-nov-17AircraftAircraft US LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima VMX-1 CH-53K MV-008 tests in the Atlantic Ocean
2022-jan-16AircraftAircraft US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge arrived at NS Norfolk in preparation for its Amphibious Ready Group deployment in Apr.
2022-feb-21 US LHD-2 USS Essex 11th MEU 2022-2
2022-apr-11Port VisitPort Visit US LHD-3 USS Kearsarge Arrived in Tromso harbour.
2023-oct-11DeploymentDeployment US LHD-5 USS Bataan USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (including USS Carter Hall) heading from Bahrain towards Arabian Sea, as contingency for Palestinian-Israeli crisis.









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