Wasp-class

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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.

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, MS.
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.