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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LHD-1 Wasp

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Bravo - Papa
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3)
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Somalia) - Armed Forces Service Medal
Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose):
  • Laid down, 30 May 1985, at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 4 August 1987
  • Commissioned USS Wasp (LHD-1), 29 July 1989
  • Wasp is a unit of Amphibious Group 2, US Atlantic Fleet, and is homeported at Norfolk, VA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 40,650 tons (fl.)
    Length 844'
    Beam 105'
    Speed 20 kts.+
    Complement 104 Officer, 1004 Enlisted
    Marine Force 1894 (plus 184 surge)
    Armament
    two RAM launchers
    two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers
    three 20mm Phalanx (CIWS) mounts
    four .50cal. machine guns
    Aircraft
    twelve CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters
    four CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters
    six AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft
    three UH-1N Huey helicopters
    four AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters
    planned capability to embark MV-22 Osprey VTOL tilt-rotors
    Power Plant
    two 600 psi boilers
    two geared steam turbines
    two shafts
    70,000 total shaft horsepower
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Wasp 78k Wasp (LHD-1) drydocked, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp, Pascagoula, MS. prior to launching, circa July 1987.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1989, Courtesy Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Wasp 72k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1989, Courtesy Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Wasp 61k Wasp (LHD-1) underway during sea trails in the Gulf of Mexico, May 1989.
    Courtesy Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Wasp 159k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wasp 45k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wasp 46k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Wasp 192k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1990    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Wasp 79k Wasp (LHD-1) at sea, circa 1997, while launching an air cushion landing craft (LCAC).
    US Navy photo # 970000-N-00000-001 from the Navy Newsstand.         		Bill Gonyo
    Wasp 144k Wasp (LHD-1) operating in the Mediterranean Sea, 5 May 1998.
    US Navy photo # 1-98-527-N-0000W-001 from the Navy Newsstand web site.         		Bernard A. Cardali
    Wasp 79k Wasp (LHD-1) making her way up river beneath the Verranzo Narrows Bridge, 26 May 1999. The ship was participating in New York City's Fleet Week '99'.
    U.S. Navy photo # 990526-N-7230N-001    		 Navy NewsStand
    Wasp 77k Wasp (LHD-1) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 3 August 2000. Crewmembers proudly proclaim the number of the crew who have qualified for ESWS/EAWS. "EAWS" stands for Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist and "ESWS" stands for Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. These are enlisted warfare designations attained after extensive training sessions and an examination.
    U.S. Navy photo # 000803-N-0803P-001 by PH1 Andrew P. Pruitt, photo from Navy Newsstand web site.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Wasp 116k Wasp (LHD-1) underway, location unknown, 2001.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Wasp 72k Flying over Wasp (LHD-l) in the Arabian Sea, June 2002, two CH-53E Sea Stallions prepare to refuel from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron Two Five Two (VMGR-252's KC-135 Hercules. The Sea Stallions from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron Two Six One (HMM-261) are assigned to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from North Carolina.
    US Air Force photo by Cheresa D. Clark         		Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Wasp 111k Wasp (LHD-1) receives nearly 65 thousand gallons of fuel during an underway replenishment (UNREP) with Supply (T-AOE-6), 17 July 2002. The two ships are sailing at a distance of about 150 feet apart, a feat requiring excellent seamanship. The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The MEU is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. It demonstrates the power of the Navy-Marine Corps Team.
    US Navy photo # 020717-N-6380E-001 by PHAN Teresa Ellison, photo from US Navy Newsstand web site.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Wasp 61k Wasp (LHD-1) entering Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta, 4th March 2004 while on her way to the Gulf. George Farrugia
    Wasp 83k Wasp (LHD-1) pulls into Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 18 September 2004. The Wasp-led Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG-2) was the first East Coast ESG to deploy.
    US Navy photo # 040918-N-4953E-021 by PH2 Danny Ewing Jr.    		 Navy Newsstand web site
    Wasp 87k As Wasp (LHD-1) pulls into Naval Station Norfolk, 18 September 2004, line handlers assigned to Kearsarge (LHD 3), stand at parade rest ready to secure the ship to the pier. Wasp returned to Norfolk following a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
    US Navy photo # 040918-N-6371Q-036 by PHAN Orlando Quintero.         		Navy Newsstand web site
    Wasp (LPD-1) Memorabilia
    Wasp
    1989
    Commissioning Program
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri    		 Wasp
    1989
    Ingalls
    Public Relations Handout
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri    		 Wasp
    1991
    Welcome Aboard
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri    		 Wasp
    1993
    Persian Gulf Cruise
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri    		 Wasp
    2001
    Welcome Aboard
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri
    There is no DANFS history available for Wasp (LHD-1) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Wasp (LHD-1)
    Amphibious Assault Ships - LHA/LHD/LHA(R)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 27 October 2006