Anchorage (LSD 36)
These five Dock Landing Ships (LSD) were part of the large amphibious ship construction program of the early 1960s. They resemble the earlier Thomaston-c\3.ss (LSD 28) but have a prominent knuckle forward, a more rectangular superstructure profile, greater freeboard, and a more substantial helicopter landing area aft.
The docking well is 430 ft (131.1 m) long and 50 ft (15.24 m) wide; it was designed to accommodate four LCAC air cushion landing craft or three LCU utility landing craft or nine LCM-8 mechanized landing craft or 52 AAV amphibian tractors. Another 15 tractors can be stowed on a “mezzanine” deck, which when fitted allows only three LCAC air cushion assault craft to be embarked. A removable helicopter deck is fitted over the docking well, but the ships have no hangar or helicopter maintenance capability. Total vehicle storage space is 15,800ft2 (1,468m*).
As built, these ships had eight 3-in guns in twin mounts; one amidships mount and the Mk 56 and Mk 63 gunfire control systems were removed in the late 1970s. One additional 3-in twin gun mount was deleted with installation of the two Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) in the 1980s.
DEVELOPMENT •
Anchorage was built by Litton’s Ingalls yard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, from 1967 to 1969; the other four were constructed at General Dynamics’ Quincy, Massachusetts, yard from 1967 to 1972.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
Anchorage, Portland, Pensacola, and Mount Vernon all deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of
Operation Desert Shield. Portland and Pensacola sailed with Amphibious Group 2, arriving in the theater in early September (Portland on the 3rd, Pensacola on the 6th). Anchorage and Mount Vernon were part of Amphibious Group 3, which entered the theater on January 12, 1991.
The threat of a large invasion force lying in the gulf east of Kuwait City was said to have been an important part of the deception that significantly reduced Iraqi armed forces’ ability to react to the armored left hook that began the ground war in late February. All remained in the gulf as part of a potential invasion force until after the March 1 cease-fire.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 14,000 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 553 ft 6 in (168.7m)
overall beam 85 ft (25.9 m)
draft 18 ft 5 in (5.6m)
MACHINERY 2 Foster Wheeler boilers (except Combustion Engineering in Anchorage), 2 De Laval steam turbines,
24,000 shp on 2 shafts=22 kts (20 kts
sustained) CREW 358 + 330 troops WEAPONS
6 3-in (76-mm)/50-cal Mk 33 AA in twin mounts (4 guns in ships with
Phalanx CIWS) 2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Catling-type
CIWS
HELICOPTERS removable flight deck
SENSORS
SPS-40 air-search radar SPS-10 surface-search radar local fire control only for 3-in guns SLQ-32(V) 1 passive EW system
Austin (LPD 3)
These 12 ships are enlarged versions of the earlier three-ship Raleighrdass LPDs. They resemble dock landing ships but have a relatively smaller docking well and additional space for troop berthing and vehicle parks.
The LPD 7-13 are configured as amphibious squadron flagships and have an additional bridge level. All have a docking well that is 168 feet long and 50 feet wide; landing craft stowage in the well can be either two LCACs, one LCU with three LCM-6s or four LCM-8s, or 24 AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles. Two more LCM-6 or four LCVP or LCPL landing craft can be carried on the helicopter deck. Below decks is about 12,000 ft2 (1,115 m2) of vehicle storage space and 40,000ft3 (1,133m3) ofbulk cargo space.
These ships have a fixed flight deck above the docking well with two landing spots. All except the Austin are fitted with a helicopter hangar; an extension expands to provide a length of approximately 80 feet. As many as four CH-46s or CH-53s can be embarked at a time, but this can only be done with a helicopter carrier in company to provide sustained maintenance and support. As built, these ships had eight 3-in guns in twin mounts. The number was reduced in the late 1970s, and the associated Mk 56 and Mk 63 Gun Fire Control Systems (GFCS) were removed. Most have been fitted with two Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems (CIWS).
DEVELOPMENT •
Brooklyn Navy Yard built the first three, Litton’s Ingalls yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the next two, and Lockheed Shipbuilding the last seven. Deliveries came between 1965 and 1971; LPD-16 was authorized, but not built. Plans in the 1980s for a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for this class were not funded by Congress. The .first ships of this class began decommissioning in FY1993.
The Coronado (LPD 11) of this class was modified for use as a flagship in late 1980 and reclassified AGF 11. The LPD-17
follow-on class is planned for first order in FY1996. These 12 much bigger ships will displace 25,300 tons, measure 684 feet {208.4 m) long overall and have a 105-ft (31.9 m) beam. Each will carry 700 troops, two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), and have a hangar for helicopters or the MV-22 Osprey.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
As with most of the US Navy’s amphibious ships, these units frequently assist in disaster or humanitarian relief or evacuation of dependents. Six of the class participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The Ogden embarked part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). The Dubuquewas part of a small task force (ARG Bravo) that deployed to the Desert Storm theater for 35 days between September 9 and October 13, 1990.
Shreveport and Trenton lifted elements of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), reaching the theater of operations on September 3, 1990. Denver and Juneau, as part of Amphibious Group 3, transported the 5th MEB, arriving in the theater in mid-January 1991. All except Dubuque remained in the theater until well after the cease-fire.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 16,900 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 568 ft 9 in (173.4m)
overall
beam 84ft (25.6m)
draft 23 ft (7.0 m)
well deck length 393 ft 8 in (120.0 m), width 52 ft 3 in (15.2m), flight deck
area 15,000 ft2 (1,394
m2)
MACHINERY 2 boilers (Foster Wheeler except Babcock & Wilcox in Duluth and Shreveport), 2 De Laval steam tur-
bines, 24,000 shp on 2 shafts= 20 kts, range 7,700 nm at 20 kts CREW 425 + 930 troops in 5 ships; 840 troops + 90 flag in 6 ships
WEAPONS
4 3-in (76-mm)/50-caI Mk 33 AA in twin mounts
2 20-mm Mk 15 Mod 2 Phalanx
Gatling-type CIWS in four ships HELICOPTERS flight deck with 2 landing spots and hangar
SENSORS
SPS-40C air-search radar
SPS-10F or SPS-67 surface-search radar
LN-66 navigation radar
local gunfire control only
SLQ-32(V) 1 passive EW system
Charleston (LKA 113)
These five ships carry heavy equipment and supplies to unload into landing craft and onto helicopters for opposed landings. Although they were the first US class to be built expressly for the attack transport role, they resemble conventional break-bulk freighters. But their prodigious hoisting capacity includes two 78-ton-capacity cranes and two 40-ton cranes; eight more 15-ton-capacity booms are also rigged.
These ships have a helicopter landing area aft, but no hangar or maintenance facilities. The landing area measures 6,082 ft2 (565 my). The Charlestons have approximately 33,000 ft2 (3,065 m*) of 3vehicle
storage space and almost 70,000 ft3 (1,982 m3) of bulk cargo space. Usual landing craft stowage includes four LCM-8s, five LCM-6s, two LCVPs, and two LCPs.
Two Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems (CIWS) were fitted in the Charleston and El Paso.
DEVELOPMENT •
Newport News Shipbuilding constructed all five ships, completing them from 1968 to 1970. The Charleston was decommissioned in FY1992 and the other four in FY1994.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE *
To support
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the Durham carried elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) from Okinawa to the Persian Gulf, arriving on September 7,1990. The Mobile sailed with Amphibious Group 3, which arrived in the gulf on January 12, 1991 and remained until the cease-fire.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 18,600 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 576 ft (175.6 m) overall beam 62ft (18.9m)
draft 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m)
MACHINERY 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 1 Westinghouse steam turbine, 22,000 shp on 1 shaft- 20+ kts
CREW 360 -I- 225 troops
WEAPONS
6 3-in (76-mm)/50-cal Mk 33 AA in twin mounts except 4 in Charleston, El Paso
2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type
CIWS
HELICOPTERS landing area
SENSORS
SPS-10 surface-search radar LN-66 navigation radar (except
CRP-2900 in Charleston] local gunfire control only SLQ-32(V) 1 passive EW system 2 Mk 36 SRBOC 6-barrel chaff/flare
launchers
Jwo/ima(LPH2)
These seven ships were the first of any navy to be constructed specifically to operate helicopters. Unlike the Royal Navy’s commando carriers of the 1960s and 1970s, and the later Tarawa/Wasp classes, however, these LPHs do not carry landing craft (except for the LCVP davits in the Inchon).
These ships represent an improved World War II-type escort carrier design with accommodations for a Marine battalion and supporting helicopter squadron. Up to seven CH-46 Sea Knight or four CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters can operate from their flight decks. No catapults or arresting gear are fitted. The hangar deck, which is 229 ft 8 in (70 m) long, can accommodate 19 Sea Knights or 11 Sea Stallions or various mixes of these and other aircraft. The two deck-edge elevators measure 50 X 34 ft (15.2 X 10.4m).
Below the flight deck, vehicle space amounts to 5,563 ft2 (517 m*), and 40,000 ft3 (1,133 m3) of space is available for bulk cargo. These ships have extensive medical facilities with a 300-bed sick bay.
Between 1970 and 1974, all ships had two 3-in gun mounts replaced by Sea Sparrow missile launchers (one forward of the island and one on the port quarter). Still later, all ships were refitted with two Phalanx CIWS. The Okinawa had her forward Sea Sparrow launcher replaced by a Phalanx mount. The other six ships have one Phalanx on a sponson on the starboard side, forward of the Sea Sparrow launcher, a second Phalanx fitted on a sponson on the port side, aft. All gunfire control systems have been removed and only local control is now available for the 3-in guns.
Building on the Tripoli’s experience in Operation Desert Storm, the Inchon began testing a mine countermeasures support ship conversion in 1994. Success in these trials led to a $29-miIlion conversion contract to Ingalls in December 1994. Inchon’s new designation is
MCS-1.
DEVELOPMENT • Five of the class were built in naval shipyards (one at Puget Sound, four at Philadelphia) from 1961 to 1968; two were constructed at Litton’s Ingalls yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and delivered in 1966 and 1970. Iwojima and Okinawa decommissioned in FY1993, Guadalcanal in FY1994.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
These ships operated CH-53 helicopters in mine countermeasures operations off North Vietnam in 1973, in the Suez Canal in the late 1970s, and in the Persian Gulf in support of US Navy convoy operations during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. They have also frequently participated in monitoring operations such as the Adriatic Sea patrol in 1992 and several evacuations.
The Iwojima, Okinawa, Guam, Tripoli, and New Orleanswere deployed to the Persian Gulf region as part of Operation Desert Shield. The Okinawa was the first to arrive, on September 5, bringing a part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). The Iwo Jima and the Guam lifted parts of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), arriving in the theater on September 8,1990, and remaining until March 23,1991. The Tripoli and the New Orleans were part of Amphibious Group 3, which reached the theater on January 12, 1991.
The Tripoli was named command ship of the Mine Countermeasures Group on January 17. On February 18, 1991, she struck a mine in the northern Persian Gulf, sustaining a 16 by 20-ft (4.88 by 6.1-m) hole 10 ft (3.05 m) below the wa-terline, but remained operational. She continued as flagship of the MCM force until June 18, when she was relieved by the cruiser Texas (CGN 39).
Cargo and utility helicopters flew 4,980 sorties from the Tripoli’s flight deck in support of Operation Restore Hope in
Somalia in 1993.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 18,300 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 602 ft 3 in (183.6m)
overall
beam 83 ft 8 in (25.5 m)
waterline, extreme width 104 ft (31.7m) draft 26 ft (7.9 m)
MACHINERY 2 boilers (Combustion Engineering except Babcock & Wilcox in
Guam), 1 Westinghouse steam turbine, 22,000 shp on 1 shaft=22 kts (21 kts sustained, range 16,600 nm at 11.5 kts,
10,000 nm at 20 kts
CREW 685 + 2,000 troops
WEAPONS
2 8-cell Mk 25 Sea Sparrow missile
launchers (except Okinawa) 4 3-in (76-mm)/50-cal Mk 33 AA in
twin mounts 2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type
CIWS
HELICOPTERS 25 helicopters (class has operated AV-8B Harrier VSTOLaircraft but does not regularly embark them)
SENSORS
SPS-40 air-search radar SPS-10 surface-search radar LN-66 navigation radar (except
CRP-1900B in Guam) 2 Mk 115 missile fire control systems SLQ:32(V)2 EW system (except WLR-1 in Tripoli)
Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC 1)
These 84 craft are the only US Navy air cushion landing craft in service. (The former Soviet Navy deployed several designs, many larger than the LCACs.) They are designed to transport troops and equipment from ships to over-the-shore during amphibious operations. Using the air cushion gives the LGAC the ability to carry approximately the same payload as an LCM-8-type landing craft at more than four times the speed and to travel inland over flat ground or marshes; they can clear land obstacles up to 4 ft (1.22 m) high.
The LCAC has more in common with a helicopter than with a landing craft. It is conned by a “craftmaster” using a yokelike control wheel (and earning “flight time”) from a pilothouse on the starboard side; the navigator and craft engineer sit next to the operator in side-by-side seats. A fourth seat is provided for the group commander, who rides in one of three LCACs in a detachment. All five LCAC crew members are enlisted personnel, the craftmaster being most senior.
Typical payload is 60 tons (54.4 metric tons) of cargo, an Ml Abrams main battle tank (65 tons), or five light armored vehicles, or two M198 towed 155-mm howitzers and their prime movers, plus 24 combat-ready troops. Eight Marines ride below the pilothouse and 16 more sit in a deckhouse on the port side forward. The loadmaster rides in the port deckhouse and a deck hand/assistant engineer sits above. (During Operation Desert Storm, as many as 41 Marines were embarked.)
The cargo deck is 27 ft (8.23 m) wide and has an area of 1,809 ft* (168.1 m*}; maximum cargo overload is 75 tons (68 metric tons). Along each side of the cargo deck are the crew and troop quarters (forward) and tandem engine units.
The craft are girdled with a “bag and finger” skirt that is inflated by the forward engine unit on each side. The Textron Lycoming gas turbines drive four lift fans through offset fan drive gearboxes. When the skirt is deflated, both bow and stern ramps can be used for loading and unloading.
The after engines on each side propel the craft with four-blade, reversible, 11-ft 9-in (3.58-m) diameter propellers through offset propeller drive gearboxes. Each propeller is housed in a deep-chord shroud that has five stators abaft the propellers and twin rudders. The engines also operate two bow thrus-ters that are used for propulsion and maneuvering.
DEVELOPMENT •
LCAC 1 was delivered by Bell Textron in December 1984. The first operational deployment of the LCACs took place in August 1987 in USS Germantown (LSD 42). 107 had been planned, but only 84 were authorized, the last being ordered in 1992. The LCACs are evenly divided between Assault Craft
Unit 4 (ACU-4) of the Atlantic Fleet and ACU-5 in the Pacific. Japan ordered two LCACsinlate 1993.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
In August 1990,17 LCACswere deployed to the Persian Gulf in several landing ships as part of Operation Desert Shield. Although a November 1990 landing rehearsal implied that LCACs might be limited by high waves, actual performance during Desert Storm was more gratifying. In a 24-hour period beginning on February 24, LCACs battled heavy seas and prevailing 40-knot winds to make 55 runs and carry more than 2,369 tons of vehicles and an entire MEB (7,-300 men), an average of 43 tons and 132 men per run.
In May 1991, Amphibious Group 3, led by USS Tarawa (LHA 1), provided emergency aid to Bangladesh’s cyclone victims as part of Operation Sea Angel. LCACs proved well suited for ship-to-shore transfers in the flooded and devastated river deltas.
SPECIFICATIONS •
WEIGHT 200 tons loaded
DIMENSIONS
length 87 ft 11 in (26.8m)
overall on cushion
beam 47 ft 0 in (14.3 m) on
cushion draft 0 ft
MACHINERY 4 Textron Lycoming TF-40B gas turbines (2 for propulsion, 2 for lift), 31,640 ship- 50 kts max, 40 kts with payload, range 200 nm at 40 kts with payload
CREW 5 + 24 troops
SENSORS 1 navigation radar
Newport (LSI 1179)
These 20 ships were the last large amphibious ships built for the US Navy that could beach themselves for unloading. The design has bow and stern ramps for unloading tanks and other vehicles. The bow ramp is 112 ft (34.14 m) long and is handled over the bow by twin, fixed derrick arms that are a distinctive feature of this class. Only the upper half of the bow has clamshell doors; the lower half has a raked stem to permit sustained speeds of 20 knots.
The block superstructure is amidships and is pierced by a vehicle passage connecting the main deck forward and aft. Abaft the superstructure is a broad stack on the port side and a smaller stack farther aft on the starboard side.
The ships have 17,300 ft2 (1,607 m*) of vehicle storage space. The tank deck is served by a 75-ton capacity turntable at each end; alternative loads include 41 2 ‘/a-ton trucks, 29 M48-size tanks, or 23
AAV-7s. Four LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel) are carried in amid-ship davits.
These ships carry 2,000 tons when operated as a cargo ship, 500 tons of vehicles when beaching. Vehicle fuel capacity is 141,600 US gal (535,956 liters). Vehicles have 19,000 ft2 (1,765 sq m2) of main deck parking area; the helicopter landing area measures an additional 2,605 ft2 (242 m2). Two 10-ton cranes serve the main deck aft.
Replacement of the 3-in guns by two 20-mm Phalanx Gatling-type Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) was limited to less than half the class. Plans to fit all ships with two Phalanx CIWS were abbreviated by retirement of the class beginning in FY1992.
DEVELOPMENT •
The first three ships were built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard and delivered in 1969-70. The other 17 ships were awarded as a block to National Steel and Shipbuilding in July 1966. This was the first naval ship construction block award to a US yard in the post-World War II era and presaged a pattern of large awards to single yards. The 17 ships were delivered in 1969-72.
Decommissioning these ships in the early 1990s led to new careers for many of them in other navies. Argentina (1), Brazil (1), Chile (2), Malaysia (1), Morocco (1), Spain (2), Taiwan (3), and Venezuela (2) leased ex-Newports. Australia purchased 2 more for conversion to helicopter support ships.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE • The Manitowoc, Peoria, Frederick, Schenectady, Cayuga, Saginaw, San Bernardino, Spartanburg County, La Moure County, and Harbour County were among the amphibious ships that transported US Marines to the Persian Gulf area as part of Operation Desert Shield. Several remained in the region throughout Operation Desert Storm, although they never attempted to land troops in Kuwait.
Several ships were transferred to the Naval Reserve Force (NRF) beginning in 1980 with Boulder. Eight Newports (including the name ship) were decommissioned by FY1994.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 8,450 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 561 ft 10 in (171.3 m)
over derrick arms beam 69 ft 6 in (21.2m)
draft 17 ft 6 in (5.3m)
MACHINERY 6 diesels (Alco 16-251 in first 3, General Motors 16-645-E5 in rest), 16,500 bhp on 2 shafts with controllable-pitch propellers=22 kts
CREW 253 + 400 troops
WEAPONS
4 3-in 76-mm/50-cal Mk 32 AA in twin
mounts in some ships 1 20-mm Mk 15 Mod 1 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS in some ships SENSORS SPS-10F surface-search radar
Tarawa(LHA1)
These five amphibious assault ships combine the capabilities of several types of amphibious ships in a single hull. In addition, they are larger than virtually all non-US aircraft carriers and can operate AV-8B Harrier VSTOL aircraft, transport helicopters such as the CH-53 series, and gunships such as the AH-1 Supercobra. The first of a modified design—Wasp (LHD 1)—entered service in 1989.
In addition to a spacious flight deck, the design has 30,000 ft2 (2,787 m?) of vehicle storage decks connected by ramps to the flight deck and docking well, five cargo elevators that move equipment between the holds and flight deck, and approximately 110,000 ft3 (3,115 m3) of space for bulk cargo. Extensive command and communications facilities are provided for an amphibious force commander.
The stern docking well is 268 ft (81.7 m) long and 78 ft (23.8 m) wide and can accommodate four LCU 1610 landing craft or two LCUs plus three LCM-8s or 17 LCM-6s or 45 AAV/LVTP-7 amphibian tractors. Yet the docking well can accept only one LCAC air cushion landing craft because of the arrangement of the docking well.
A 900-horsepower through-tunnel thruster is fitted in the forward part of the hull. Other special features include an 18-foot section of the mast that is hinged to permit passage under bridges and a 5,000-ft2 (464.5-m2) training and acclimatization room to permit troops to exercise in a controlled environment. Extensive medical facilities include three operating rooms and bed space for 300 patients.
These are the only US amphibious ships currently armed with 5-in guns. The first ships fitted with the Phalanx were the Saipan and Nassau. The Saipan has a Phalanx mount replacing the Sea Sparrow launchers forward of the bridge; the Nassau has the Phalanx installed on a small deckhouse forward of the bridge structure and forward Sea Sparrow launcher.
DEVELOPMENT •
Litton’s Ingalls yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, built all five ships. Nine were planned, but serious start-up problems and unanticipated inflation in the early 1970s resulted in cost overruns (the Total Package Procurement acquisition program was deemed the major culprit) and delays. Thus, funding authorized for nine ships could only pay for five. The Tarawa was completed in 1976. The others followed in 1976 to 1980.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
These ships have participated in most of the major presence, combat, and humanitarian-aid operations the US Navy has mounted.
The Nassauwzis flagship of Amphibious Group 3 that operated in the Persian Gulf and northern Arabian Sea from September 7,1990, until March 23, 1991, as part of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The Tarawa headed up Amphibious Group 2, which operated in the theater of operations from January 12 to late April 1991.
Like her sister ship’s task force, the Tarawa’s group practiced amphibious landings and supported Marine Corps air operations during the Desert Storm air war. (Both Tarawa and Nassau served as aircraft carriers for AV-8B Harrier II and helicopter gunships.)
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 39,400 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 834 ft (254.2 m) overall
beam 105 ft 8 in (32.2 m)
waterline, extreme width 131 ft 10 in
(40.2 m) draft 25 ft 11 in (7.9m)
flight deck length 820 ft (249.9 m),
width 118ftl in (36.0
m)
MACHINERY 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 2 Westinghouse steam turbines, 70,000 shp on 2 shafts=24 kts
(22 kts sustained), range 10,000 nm at 20 kts, electric power 14,600 kW CREW 940 + 1,900 troops
WEAPONS
2 8-cell Sea Sparrow missile launchers Mk 25 except 1 in Saipan
3 single 5-in (127-mm)/54-cal Mk 45 dual-purpose
1 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS
6 single 20-mm AA Mk 67 AIRCRAFT 35 Harrier VSTOL and helicopters
SENSORS
SPS-52 3D air-search radar
SPS-40 2D air-search radar
SPS-53 surface-search radar
Mk 86 gunfire control system with
SPG-60 and SPQ-9 radars
SLQ-32(V)3 active/passive EW system
Wasp (LHD 1)
These amphibious assault ships and the earlier Tarawa (LHA 1) class are the world’s largest amphibious ships, and they dwarf all other conventional and
VSTOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft carriers save the Russian Kiev- and Kuznetsov (ex-Tbilisi)-c\a.ss ships and the US Navy’s supercarriers. As threats change and budgets decline, these ships increasingly are standing in for conventional aircraft carriers in forward deployments.
The design’s primary role is to support Marine Corps amphibious operations and thus they are equipped with extensive Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) equipment. If deployed as the flagship of a surface action group, up to 20 AV-8B Harriers can be embarked as well as four to six SH-60B LAMPS III helicopters.
Differences from the Tarawa design reflect operational practice and growing acceptance of the AV-8B Harrier. The Combat Information Center (CIC) was relocated below the flight deck, permitting the island to be reduced in height by two decks. The island is also longer and narrower than that in the Tarawas. The hull retains the “clipper” bow and full-section after half, but the bow thruster has been deleted in favor of a bulbous forefoot.
The flight deck is constructed of high-strength HY-100 steel. It does not have a ski-jump ramp to assist VSTOL operations because the size of the flight deck is considered sufficiently large to enable rolling takeoffs for heavily laden VSTOL aircraft. (Despite the Wasp’s roominess, the Marine Corps has tested portable ski-jump assemblies.)
Helicopters use nine landing spots, six to port and three fore and aft of the island. The stern elevator has been moved to the starboard quarter, and the capacity of both deck elevators has been increased to 34 tons each. There are also six cargo and ammunition elevators.
The Wasp class has less vehicle storage space and bulk cargo space than the Tar-awas, but carries more aircraft. The 270-ft (82.3-m) long docking well is narrower (having been reduced to a 50-ft/15.24-m width), but the removal of a longitudinal partition yields a greater unobstructed width, enabling the Wasp to embark three air cushion landing craft (LCAC). Medical facilities are double those of the LHA 1 class, with six operating rooms and facilities for 600 bed patients.
The self-defense armament has been modified by replacing the two 5-in (127mm) guns with three Phalanx 20-mm Gatling-type Close-in Weapons Systems
(CWIS). Two eight-cell NATO Sea Sparrow short-range surface-to-air missile launchers are also fitted; plans to fit vertical-launch Sea Sparrow were canceled.
Beginning with the Essex (LHD 2), these ships have composite armor built into the deckhouse to protect from small-caliber bullets and fire damage.
The Navy considered replacing the steam turbine propulsion plant with four gas turbines to increase the ships’ speed to 25 knots and allow a longer range. Although the Navy estimated that gas tur-
bines would be cheaper to install, operate, and maintain, the reengining was canceled when it appeared that the Wasp class would be limited to five ships.
DEVELOPMENT •
The Wasp commissioned in July 1989. Although defense cutbacks were to limit procurement to five, later program revisions saw a sixth authorized in FY1993. Litton’s Ingalls yard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, builds all LHDs.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
The Wasp’s first deployment was in support of Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II in Turkey in June 1991. In a 1993deployment, her AV-8B Harriers provided cover for UN forces operating in Mogadishu, Somalia, during 1992-93′s Operation Restore Hope.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 40,530 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 844ft (257.3m)
beam 106 ft (32.3 m) waterline,
extreme width 140 ft (42.7 m) draft 26 ft 1 in (8.0m)
MACHINERY 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 2 Westinghouse steam turbines, 71,000 shp on 2 shafts=22+ kts, range 9,500 nm at 20 kts, electric power 16,500 kW
CREW 1,081 + 1,875 Marines
WEAPONS
2 8-cell Mk 29 launchers for NATO Sea Sparrow SAM
3 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS
AIRCRAFT 40 Harrier VSTOL and helicopters
SENSORS
SPS^8 3D air-search radar (SPS-52 in
Wasp)
SPS-49 2D air-search radar
SPS-64 surface-search radar 2 Mk 91 fire control systems
Mk 23 Target Acquisition System (TAS)
SLQ-32(V)3 active/passive EW system
Whidbey Island (LSD 41)
The Whidbey Island-class amphibious ships have replaced the 1950s-era Thomaston (LSD 28) class. The Whidbey Islands, are similar to the earlier Anchorage class (LSD 36). However, the Whidbey Island design has a much larger, blockier superstructure; faired, rectangular-section diesel-engine stacks; a stump lattice foremast; and bulkier cranes amidships.
The docking well is 440 ft (134.1 m) long and 50 ft (15.2 m) wide and can accommodate 4 LCACs or 21 LCM-6 landing craft. There is approximately 12,500 ft2 (1,161.7 in*) ofvehicle storage space and 5,000 ft3 (141.6 m3) of space for bulk cargo. Cargo handling is aided by one 60-ton (54,432-kg) capacity and one 20-ton (18,144-kg) capacity crane.
The modified LSD 41CV (Cargo Variant) is similar to the Whidbey Island but emphasizes internal capacity at the expense of docking well room. Thus, bulk cargo space is increased eightfold to 40,000 ft’ (1,132.7 m3), while LCAC capacity in the well is cut in half to two.
DEVELOPMENT •
Lockheed Shipbuilding at Seattle, Washington built the first three ships in the class, completing the first in February 1985. Avondale of Westwego, Louisiana, constructed all of the ships from the Gunston Hall on. The number of big-well ships in Navy planning oscillated from nine to 10 up to 12 and back to eight. LSD 41CV construction began with the Harpers Ferry in April 1991. Five CVs were funded through FY1993.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
In support of Operation Desert Shield, FortMcHenry arrived in the Gulf of Oman on September 7. Gunston Hall, which operated with Amphibious Group 2, entered the gulf four days later. Germantown, which operated with Amphibious Group 3, entered the gulf in mid-January 1991. All stood ready to launch invasion forces until after the cease-fire.
SPECIFICATIONS •
DISPLACEMENT 15,704 tons full load
(LSD 41); 16,695 tons full load (LSD
41CV)
DIMENSIONS
length 609 ft 5 in (185.8m)
overall
beam 84 ft (25.6 m)
draft 20 ft (6.1 m) (LSD 41)
MACHINERY 4 Colt-Pielstick 16PC 2.5
V400 diesels, 33,600 bhp on 2
shafts=20 kts (21.6 kts for LSD
41CV), electric power 9,200 kW
CREW 342 + 500 troops with 64-man assault craft unit (LSD 41), 400 + 400 troops (LSD 41CV)
WEAPONS 2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS
HELICOPTERS landing area
SENSORS
SPS-49 2D air-search radar SPS-67 surface-search radar SLQ-32(V)1 passive EW system
