Editing Wasp-class amphibious assault ship

{{Short description|Class of American amphibious assault ships}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:USS Wasp (LHD-1) Osprey 2.jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Wasp'' on 4 October 2007
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''Wasp'' class
| Builders = [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]]
| Operators = {{naval|United States}}
| Class before = {{sclass|Tarawa|amphibious assault ship|4}}
| Class after = {{sclass|America|amphibious assault ship|4}}
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = Roughly {{Inflation|US-GDP|1.37|2002|r=2}} billion in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}<ref name="Warships Forecast">{{cite web |title=LHD-1 Wasp Class |url=https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=798 |website=Warships Forecast |access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref>
| Built range = 
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 1989–present
| Total ships completed = 8
| Total ships active = 7
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships decommissioned = 1
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 1
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Ship type = [[Landing helicopter dock]] (LHD) [[amphibious assault ship]]
| Ship displacement = {{convert|41150|MT|LT|abbr=on|disp=flip}} full load
| Ship length = {{convert|257|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|31.8|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|8.1|m|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship hold depth = 
| Ship decks = 
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, {{convert|70000|shp|kW|abbr=on}};
*Two [[General Electric LM2500]] geared [[gas turbine]]s, two shafts (USS ''Makin Island'')
| Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn}}
| Ship range = {{convert|9500|nmi}} at {{convert|18|kn|abbr=on}}
}}
{{Infobox|child=yes
| label1 = Well deck dimensions
| data1 = {{convert|81|by|15.2|m|ft|disp=flip|adj=on}} by {{convert|8.5|m|ft|disp=flip|adj=on}} high
}}{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = yes
| Ship boats = *3 [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]] or
* 2 [[Landing Craft Utility]]<ref name="Navy fact file">{{cite web |title=Fact File: Amphibious Assault Ships – LHD/LHA(R) |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&ct=4&tid=400 |publisher=U.S. Navy |date=13 April 2016 |access-date=11 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019033201/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=400&ct=4 |archive-date=19 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> or
*12 [[Landing Craft Mechanized]]
| Ship capacity = 
| Ship troops = 1,687 troops (plus 184 surge) [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] Detachment
| Ship complement = 66 officers, 1,004 enlisted<ref name= "Navy fact file"/>
| Ship sensors = *1 [[AN/SPS-49]] 2-D Air Search Radar
*1 [[AN/SPS-48]] 3-D Air Search Radar
*1 [[AN/SPS-67]] Surface Search Radar
*1 [[Mk23 Target Acquisition System]] (TAS)
*1 [[AN/SPN-43]] Marshalling Air Traffic Control Radar
*1 [[AN/SPN-35]] Air Traffic Control Radar
*1 [[AN/URN-25]] [[Tactical air navigation system|TACAN]] system
*1 [[AN/UPX-24]] Identification Friend Foe
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *2 x [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile]] launchers
*2 x [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]] missile launchers
*3 x 20&nbsp;mm [[Phalanx CIWS]] systems (LHD 5–8 with two)
*4 x [[25 mm caliber|25 mm]] [[Mark 38 25 mm Machine Gun System|Mk 38 Machine Gun System]]s (LHD 5–8 with three)
*4 x [[.50 BMG]] [[M2 Browning machine gun|machine guns]]
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = *''Actual mix depends on the mission''
*'''Standard Complement:'''
*6 [[AV-8B Harrier II]] [[Ground-attack aircraft|attack aircraft]]
*''or''
*6 [[F-35B Lightning II]] stealth strike-fighters
*4 [[AH-1W]][[AH-1Z|/Z]] [[AH-1W|Super Cobra]][[AH-1Z|/Viper]] attack helicopter
*12 [[MV-22B Osprey]] assault support tiltrotor
*4 [[CH-53E Super Stallion]] heavy-lift helicopters
*3–4 [[UH-1Y Venom]] utility helicopters
*'''Assault:'''
*22+ [[MV-22B Osprey]] assault support tiltrotor
*'''Sea Control:'''
*20 [[AV-8B Harrier II]] [[Ground-attack aircraft|attack aircraft]]
*''or''
*20 [[F-35B Lightning II]] stealth strike-fighters
*6 [[SH-60 Seahawk#SH-60F|SH-60F]]/[[SH-60 Seahawk#HH-60H|HH-60H]] [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]] helicopters
| Ship aircraft facilities = [[Hangar deck]]
}}
|}

The '''''Wasp''-class''' is a [[ship class|class]] of [[landing helicopter dock]] (LHD) [[amphibious assault ship]]s operated by the [[United States Navy]]. Based on the {{sclass|Tarawa| amphibious assault ship|4}}, with modifications to operate more advanced aircraft and [[landing craft]], the ''Wasp''-class is capable of transporting almost the full strength of a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (MEU), and landing them in hostile territory via landing craft or helicopters as well as providing air support via [[AV-8B Harrier II]] [[Ground-attack aircraft|attack aircraft]] or [[F-35B Lightning II]] stealth strike-fighters. All ''Wasp''-class ships were built by [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]], at [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]], with the lead ship, {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|6}}, commissioned on 29 July 1989. Eight ''Wasp''-class ships were built, and {{as of|2021|04|lc=on}}, seven are in active service, as {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|6}} was seriously damaged by fire on 12 July 2020, and subsequently decommissioned in April 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-12|title=USS Bonhomme Richard fire: Sailors injured, crews battle blaze at Naval Base San Diego|url=https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/san-diego-fire-rescue-responds-to-fire-on-uss-bonhomme-richard|access-date=2020-07-12|publisher=KGTV|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2021-04-09/decommission-bonhomme-richard|title=Fire-ravaged Bonhomme Richard will be decommissioned, then towed away for scrapping|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=9 April 2021 }}</ref>

==Design==
The ''Wasp''-class is based on the preceding {{sclass|Tarawa| amphibious assault ship|0}} design.<ref name=BisChan230>Bishop & Chant, ''Aircraft Carriers'', p. 230</ref> The design was modified to allow for the operation of [[AV-8B Harrier II]] aircraft and [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]] (LCAC) hovercraft, making the ''Wasp'' class the first ships specifically designed to operate these.<ref name="military today">{{cite web |title=Wasp class Amphibious assault ship |url=http://www.military-today.com/navy/wasp_class.htm |website=Military Today |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512034203/http://www.military-today.com/navy/wasp_class.htm |archive-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

[[File:USS Saipan (LHA-2) and USS Wasp (LHD-1) at Norfolk in 1993.JPEG|thumb|left|''Wasp'', left, and ''Tarawa''-class {{USS|Saipan|LHA-2|2}}, in 1993.]]

The main physical changes between the two designs are the lower placement of the ship's [[bridge (ship)|bridge]] in the ''Wasp'' class, the relocation of the command and control facilities to inside the hull,<ref name=BisChan230/> the removal of the [[5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun|{{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|0}} Mk 45 naval guns]] and their [[sponson]]s on the forward edge of the flight deck, and a lengthening of {{convert|24|ft|m}} to carry the LCACs.{{citation needed|date=April 2011}}

Each ''Wasp''-class ship has a displacement of {{convert|41150|MT|LT|disp=flip}} at full load, is {{convert|253.2|m|ft|disp=flip}} long, has a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|31.8|m|ft|disp=flip}}, and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|8.1|m|ft|disp=flip}}.<ref name=BisChan231>Bishop & Chant, ''Aircraft Carriers'', p. 231.</ref> For propulsion, most of the ships are fitted with two steam boilers connected to geared turbines, which deliver {{convert|70000|shp|kW|lk=in}} to the two propeller shafts.<ref name=BisChan231/> This allows the LHDs to reach speeds of {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}, with a range of {{convert|9500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|18|kn}}.<ref name=BisChan231/> The last ship of the class, {{USS|Makin Island|LHD-8|6}}, was instead fitted with two [[General Electric LM2500]] geared [[gas turbine]]s.<ref name="New Hybrid Ship">{{cite news |last=Liewer |first=Steve |url=http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/15/navy-goes-green-new-hybrid-ship/ |title=Navy Goes Green With New Hybrid Ship |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |date=15 September 2009 |page=1 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929010643/http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/15/navy-goes-green-new-hybrid-ship/ |archive-date=29 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ship's company consists of 1,208&nbsp;personnel.<ref name=BisChan231/>

===Amphibious operations===
The LHDs can support amphibious landings in two forms: by landing craft and by helicopter.<ref name=BisChan231/> In the {{convert|81|by|15.2|m|ft|disp=flip|adj=on}} by {{convert|8.5|m|ft|disp=flip|adj=on}} high [[well dock|well deck]],<ref name="Warships Forecast"/> the LHDs can carry three [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]], twelve [[Landing Craft Mechanised]], or 40 [[Amphibious Assault Vehicle]]s (AAVs), with another 21&nbsp;AAVs on the vehicle deck.<ref name=BisChan231/> The [[flight deck]] has nine helicopter landing spots and can operate helicopters and tiltrotors as large as the [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion]] and [[MV-22B Osprey]].<ref name=BisChan231/> The size of the air combat element varies depending on the operation: a standard air combat element consists of six Harriers or six [[F-35|F-35B Lightning IIs]] and four [[AH-1W]][[AH-1Z|/Z]] [[AH-1W|Super Cobra]][[AH-1Z|/Viper]] attack helicopters for attack and support, twelve Ospreys and four Super Stallions for transport, and three or four [[Bell UH-1Y Venom]] utility helicopters.<ref name=FAS>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lhd-1.htm |title=LHD-1 ''Wasp'' class |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |date=9 May 2000 |access-date=8 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330224601/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lhd-1.htm |archive-date=30 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=BisChan231/> For a full assault, the air group can have a maximum of 22 Ospreys, while a ''Wasp'' operating in the [[sea control]] or "Harrier carrier" or "Lightning carrier" configuration carries 20 AV-8Bs or F-35Bs (though some ships of the class have operated as many as 24 Harriers), supported by 6 [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk]] helicopters for [[anti-submarine warfare]].<ref name=FAS/><ref name=BisChan231/> Two aircraft elevators move aircraft between the flight deck and the hangar; in order to transit the [[Panama Canal]], these elevators need to be folded in.<ref name=BisChan231/>

[[File:USS Essex Thailand.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Essex'' performing a [[stern gate]] mating with a landing craft]]
Each ship is capable of hosting 1,894 personnel of the [[United States Marine Corps]]; almost the full strength of a [[marine expeditionary unit]] (MEU).<ref name=BisChan231/> A ''Wasp''-class vessel can transport up to {{convert|2860|m2|ft2|disp=flip}} of cargo, and another {{convert|1858|m2|ft2|disp=flip}} is allocated for the MEU's vehicles, which typically include 5 [[M1 Abrams]] battle tanks, up to 25 [[Amphibious Assault Vehicle|AAVs]], 8 [[M198 howitzer]]s, 68&nbsp;trucks, and up to 12 other support vehicles.<ref name=BisChan231/> A six-track internal monorail system and six {{convert|12000|lb|kg|adj=on}} internal elevators are used to shift cargo from the cargo holds to landing craft in the well deck.<ref name="Warships Forecast"/><ref name=BisChan231/>

Each ''Wasp''-class ship has a hospital with 64 patient beds and 6 operating rooms. An additional 536 beds can be set up in an overflow casualty ward as needed.<ref name=BisChan231/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/docs/slcp-lhd-3/Secti.html |title=USS ''Kearsarge'' LHD-3 Ship's Loading Characteristics Pamphlet |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403110107/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/docs/slcp-lhd-3/Secti.html |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Armament and sensors===
[[File:Sailors stand watch aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). (50432290347).jpg|thumb|Air traffic control aboard the USS ''Wasp'']]
The armament of the first four ''Wasp'' class consists of two Mark&nbsp;29 octuple launchers for [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]] missiles, two Mark&nbsp;49 launchers for [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile]]s, three 20&nbsp;mm [[Phalanx CIWS]]s, four [[Mark 38 25 mm Machine Gun System|25 mm Mark 38 chain gun systems]], and four [[M2 Browning machine gun|.50 caliber machine guns]].<ref name=BisChan231/> The next four ships, {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|2}}, {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|2}}, {{USS|Iwo Jima|LHD-7|2}}, and {{USS|Makin Island|LHD-8|2}}, have a slightly reduced weapons outfit compared to their preceding sister ships, with one Phalanx and one Mark&nbsp;38 gun removed.<ref name=BisChan231/><!--weapons for LHD-8 from that ship's wiki article-->

Countermeasures fitted to the ships include four to six [[Mark 36 SRBOC]] chaff and decoy launchers, an [[AN/SLQ-25 Nixie|AN/SLQ-25 torpedo decoy]], [[AN/SLQ-49 Chaff Buoy Decoy System|AN/SLQ-49 chaff buoys]], a [[Sea Gnat]] missile decoy, and an [[AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite]].<ref name=BisChan231/>

The sensor suite fitted to each ship comprises an [[AN/SPS-48]] or [[AN/SPS-52]] air-search radar backed up by an [[AN/SPS-49]] air-search radar, an [[SPS-67]] surface search radar, an [[AN/URN-25]] [[Tactical air navigation system|TACAN]] system, along with several additional radars for navigation and fire control.<ref name=BisChan231/>

==Construction==
All ''Wasp''-class ships were built by [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]], at [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=40795 |title=Northrop Grumman Starts Fabrication on Eighth LHD 1 ''Wasp''-class Ship |location=Pascagoula, Mississippi |publisher=Northrop Grumman |date=27 May 2003 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403124252/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=40795 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first ship of the class, {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|6}}, was commissioned on 29 July 1989.<ref>{{cite news |last=<!-- staff writer --> |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1989/07/29/wasp-to-come-alivetoday-at-naval-yard/ |title=''Wasp'' To 'Come Alive' today at Naval Yard |location=Norfolk, Virginia |work=Daily Press |date=29 July 1989 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404060851/http://articles.dailypress.com/1989-07-29/news/8907290198_1_ship-amphibious-assault-aircraft-carrier |archive-date=4 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The fifth ship of the class, {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}}, was constructed through a process of modular assembly and prefitting out, which meant that the LHD was almost 75 percent complete when she was launched.<ref name=BisChan231/> ''Bataan'' was also the first LHD that was purpose built to house female crew members (as opposed to being modified after completion), with dedicated berths for up to 450 female sailors or Marines.<ref name=BisChan231/>

Japanese Defense Minister [[Itsunori Onodera]] in 2014 suggested that Japan purchase at least one ''Wasp''-class ship to provide robust defensive amphibious capability for Japanese outer islands in the face of Chinese threats.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140726041533/http://www.janes.com/article/40626/onodera-sets-out-plans-to-buy-amphibious-assault-ships Onodera sets out plans to buy amphibious assault ships] (archived from [http://www.janes.com/article/40626/onodera-sets-out-plans-to-buy-amphibious-assault-ships the original] on 26 July 2014)</ref>

==Ships in class==
{|class="wikitable"
! Name
! Hull number
! Laid down
! Launched
! Commissioned
! Decommissioned
! Homeport
! Status
|-
|{{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|2}}
|LHD-1
|30 May 1985
|4 August 1987
|29 July 1989
|
|[[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Essex|LHD-2|2}}
|LHD-2
|20 March 1989
|23 February 1991
|17 October 1992
|
|[[Naval Base San Diego|San Diego]], [[California]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|2}}
|LHD-3
|6 February 1990
|26 March 1992
|16 October 1993
|
|[[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Boxer|LHD-4|2}}
|LHD-4
|18 April 1991
|13 August 1993
|11 February 1995
|
|[[Naval Base San Diego|San Diego]], [[California]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|2}}
|LHD-5
|22 June 1994
|15 March 1996
|20 September 1997
|
|[[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|2}}
|LHD-6
|18 April 1995
|14 March 1997
|15 August 1998
|15 April 2021<ref>{{cite web |title=BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) |url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_LHD_6.HTML |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809074851/https://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_LHD_6.HTML |archive-date=9 August 2024 |access-date=22 April 2025 |website=Naval Vessel Register}}</ref>
|
|Sold for scrap
|-
|{{USS|Iwo Jima|LHD-7|2}}
|LHD-7
|12 December 1997
|4 February 2000
|30 June 2001
|
|[[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]]
|Active in service
|-
|{{USS|Makin Island|LHD-8|2}}
|LHD-8
|14 February 2004
|22 September 2006
|24 October 2009
|
|[[Naval Base San Diego|San Diego]], [[California]]
|Active in service
|}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">
File:US Navy 100220-N-1524B-057 The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) launches a NATO Sea Sparrow missile from the forward NATO mount.jpg|A Sea Sparrow missile being launched by USS ''Makin Island''
File:US Navy 070221-N-6482W-221 A CH-53E Super Stallion, assigned to Medium Marine Helicopter Squadron Two Six Four (HMM-264) (Reinforced), lifts palettes of Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MRE) from amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).jpg|A CH-53E Super Stallion lifting pallets off USS ''Bataan''
File:USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on fire at San Diego, California (USA), on 12 July 2020 (200712-N-MJ716-0498).jpg|USS ''Bonhomme Richard'' on fire at Naval Base San Diego, California, on 12 July 2020.
</gallery>

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last1=Bishop |first1=Chris |last2= Chant|first2= Christopher  |title=Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Naval Vessels and Their Aircraft |year=2004 |publisher=MBI |location=London |isbn=0-7603-2005-5 |oclc=56646560 |url={{google books|PY8CvlKC7kgC|plainurl=yes}}}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wasp class amphibious assault ships}}
* [http://www.seaforces.org/usnships/lhd/Wasp-class.htm Seaforces.org]

{{Wasp class amphibious assault ship}}{{Active ship classes of the United States Navy}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship}}
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the United States| Wasp class amphibious assault ship]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes]]
[[Category:Wasp-class amphibious assault ships| Wasp class amphibious assault ship]]