USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)

USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)
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Shipname	USS Iwo Jima
Builder	New York Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down	11 May 1959
Launched	19 March 1960
Commissioned	26 February 1961
Decommissioned	21 December 1993
Fate	Sold for scrapping 1995
Class	Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement	18,800 long tons (full load)
Length	592 ft (180 m)
Beam	84 ft (26 m)
Draft	24 ft (7 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbines, 44,000 shp
Speed	22+ kn
Complement	Ship's company ~850; embarked troops ~1,800
Aircraft	Marine helicopters: H-34, UH-1, CH-46, CH-53, AH-1

USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) was the lead ship of the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship built for the United States Navy in the late 1950s and commissioned in 1961. Named for the Battle of Iwo Jima, she served as a platform for United States Marine Corps vertical envelopment operations, participating in major Cold War crises, extensive Vietnam War deployments, humanitarian operations, and multinational exercises before decommissioning in 1993.

Design and construction

Iwo Jima was designed as an aviation-capable amphibious assault ship providing helicopter assault capability to project Marine forces from sea. The hull was laid down at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey following approvals influenced by lessons from the Korean War, Suez Crisis, and post‑World War II amphibious doctrine developed at Naval War College and within United States Marine Corps planning circles. The ship combined a full-length flight deck, hangar spaces, and extensive troop accommodations to carry helicopter squadrons such as HMM-163, HMM-364, and HA(L)-3 detachments during later operations. Propulsion used geared steam turbines—technology common to contemporary Essex-class aircraft carrier auxiliaries—providing speeds to keep pace with United States Sixth Fleet and United States Seventh Fleet task groups. Her design influenced subsequent classes including Wasp-class amphibious assault ship concepts and the evolution toward amphibious ready group doctrine.

Operational history

Upon commissioning in 1961 under Commander leadership aligned with Naval District New York assignments, Iwo Jima conducted shakedown training with Commander, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet units, taking part in large-scale amphibious exercises with elements of II Marine Expeditionary Force and naval aviation components including Carrier Air Wing Three detachments. Early career operations included Mediterranean deployments with the Sixth Fleet during Cold War tensions involving incidents such as the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and routine port visits to Gibraltar, Naples, and Rota. The ship routinely embarked Marine Corps air ground teams, conducted vertical envelopment trials with Bell UH-1 Iroquois and Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, and participated in multinational exercises like Operation Steel Pike and NATO amphibious maneuvers.

Vietnam War service

Iwo Jima deployed repeatedly to the Vietnam War theater beginning in 1965, operating as an afloat base for helicopter assault operations supporting Operation Starlite, Operation Hastings, and other counterinsurgency and troop movement missions. She served as primary platform for Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable), transporting battalion landing teams from 1st Marine Division and 3rd Marine Division and providing medevac and close air support coordination with AH-1 Cobra and CH-46 Sea Knight squadrons. During the Tet Offensive period Iwo Jima supported rapid reaction forces, casualty evacuation to hospital ships such as USS Repose (AH-16) and USS Sanctuary (AH-17), and carrier interoperability with USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Constellation (CV-64). Her helicopters also executed riverine insertion missions in concert with Navy riverine units and SEAL elements for special operations. The ship earned unit commendations and campaign ribbons tied to Vietnam Campaign Medal periods for continuous combat support.

Post-Vietnam operations and Cold War deployments

After Vietnam, Iwo Jima shifted to global presence operations, conducting Mediterranean Sea deployments with the Sixth Fleet, contingency response cruises to the Indian Ocean following Iranian regional instability, and readiness exercises with allies including Royal Navy, French Navy, and Italian Navy amphibious forces. She participated in NATO exercises such as Exercise Dawn Patrol and Exercise Ocean Venture, and provided platforms for Marine Expeditionary Unit forward-deployment strategy during crises like the Lebanese Civil War and tensions in the Persian Gulf. Periodic overhauls at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard modernized communications, defensive armament, and aviation support systems to accommodate evolving helicopter types and command-and-control suites interoperable with United States European Command and United States Central Command tasking.

Humanitarian and peacetime missions

Iwo Jima conducted numerous humanitarian and peacetime missions, including disaster relief following earthquakes and typhoons in Asia Pacific locales, medical evacuation and support operations for civilian populations, and noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs) such as those during regional crises where embassies required maritime extraction support. She hosted goodwill visits and joint training with partner nations—facilitating exchange with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy, and Australian Defence Force. The ship also participated in public diplomacy events, fleet weeks, and air shows, reinforcing United States Navy presence and marine expeditionary capabilities in peacetime.

Decommissioning and fate

Following the end of the Cold War and force reductions under post‑1991 restructuring, Iwo Jima was decommissioned on 21 December 1993 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. The hull was placed in reserve and later sold for scrap in 1995, concluding a service life that saw transitions from early helicopter assault doctrine to modern expeditionary warfare concepts. Many artifacts and memorabilia from the ship were preserved by veterans' associations and museum collections associated with National Museum of the United States Navy and regional naval heritage organizations.

Category:Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ships Category:Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation Category:Cold War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Navy