USS Wasp (LHD-1)

USS Wasp (LHD-1) is a United States Navy amphibious assault ship and the lead ship of her class, named after the earlier USS Wasp (CV-7), which was sunk during World War II in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The ship was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries, and was commissioned on July 29, 1989, at Naval Station Norfolk with Captain James W. Flatley III in command. The ship's design and construction were influenced by the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship and the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship, with input from the Naval Sea Systems Command and the United States Marine Corps.

● History

The history of the ship is closely tied to the development of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship program, which was initiated in the 1970s by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Congress. The ship's construction was authorized by the Congress of the United States in 1978, and the contract was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding in 1980. The ship was launched on August 4, 1987, and was christened by Neile Bush, the wife of George H.W. Bush, who was then the Vice President of the United States. The ship's early history was marked by a series of sea trials and shakedown cruises, including a visit to the Port of New York and New Jersey and a stop at the Naval Station Mayport.

● Design and construction

The design and construction of the ship were overseen by the Naval Sea Systems Command and the United States Marine Corps, with input from the Lockheed Martin and the Northrop Grumman corporations. The ship's hull was designed by the Gibbs & Cox company, and the ship's propulsion system was built by the General Electric company. The ship's aircraft elevators were designed by the MacGregor company, and the ship's radar systems were built by the Raytheon company. The ship's construction was also influenced by the United States Navy's experience with the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship and the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship, as well as the United States Marine Corps's experience with the Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) and Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) programs.

● Operational history

The ship's operational history has been marked by a series of deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf, including participation in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. The ship has also been involved in a number of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, including the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The ship has worked with a number of other ships and units, including the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), the USS Essex (LHD-2), and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

● Characteristics

The ship has a number of distinctive characteristics, including a flight deck that is over 820 feet long and a well deck that can accommodate up to four Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)s. The ship is also equipped with a number of radar systems, including the AN/SPS-48 and the AN/SPS-67, as well as a number of electronic warfare systems, including the AN/SLQ-32. The ship's propulsion system consists of two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, which provide a total of 70,000 horsepower. The ship's crew consists of over 1,000 United States Navy personnel, including officers and enlisted personnel, as well as a detachment of United States Marine Corps personnel.

● Awards and decorations

The ship has received a number of awards and decorations, including the Navy Unit Commendation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Battle Effectiveness Award. The ship has also been awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for its participation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The ship's crew has also been recognized for their service, including the receipt of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. The ship has also been visited by a number of dignitaries, including the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Category:Amphibious assault ships