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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Essex (LHD-2)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Sierra - Xray
 NESX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation
Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (7) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2)
Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose):
  • Laid down, 20 March 1989, at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 23 February 1991
  • Commissioned USS Essex (LHD-2), 17 October 1992
  • Essex is forward deployed at Sasebo, Japan
    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
    Essex 322k USS Essex (LHD-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Holst
    Essex 45k USS Essex (LHD-2) departing San Diego passing under the Coronado Bridge, date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Holst
    Essex 82k USS Essex (LHD-2) underway in San Diego Bay as she stands out to sea, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Essex 49k USS Essex (LHD-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Holst
    Essex 150k USS Essex (LHD-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Essex 33k USS Essex (LHD-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Essex 46k USS Essex (LHD 2) departing San Diego October, 1994. In the background tied up at NAS North Island are USS Constellation (CV 64) (left) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) (right) Photo by Dale Haskin
    Essex 81k USS Essex (LHD 2) underway off the coast of Southern California in June 1995, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Essex 51k an MV-22 Osprey lands on the flight deck of the USS Essex (LHD 2) off the coast of Southern California, 26 February 2000.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward Cleary
    Essex 71k USS Essex (LHD 2) sails towards Apra Harbor, Guam, for a short visit, 23 June 2000. Essex was on her way to Sasebo, Japan, to complete the Navy's largest dissimilar hull-type crew swap with USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3). The crew of USS Essex brought USS Belleau Wood back to her new homeport of San Diego while the current crew of USS Belleau Wood shifted to USS Essex which will remain at Sasebo.
    US Navy photo # 000623-N-4106R-002 by PH3 Sean Ryan.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Essex 85k USS Essex (LHD 2) date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Essex 91k USS Essex (LHD 2) during an amphibious exercise a Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) enters Essex's well deck.
    US Navy photo # 010123-N-5686B-002 by PH2 Crystal M. Brooks.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Essex 95k The Essex Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) steaming in formation in the South Pacific, 11 March 2002. USS Essex (LHD-2) is followed by USS Juneau (LPD-10), USS Germantown (LSD-42) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43).
    US Navy photo # 1-020311-N-9802B-003    		 Bernard A. Cardali USN, USS LST-308
    Essex 1863k USS Essex (LHD-2) steams into position during an Expeditionary Strike Force (ESF) exercise in the East China Sea, 16 March 2008. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) recently participated in an ESF with the Essex (LHD 2) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The ESF exercise was designed to test the ability of the Strike Groups to plan and conduct multi-task force operations across a broad spectrum of naval disciplines and to refresh skills in completing complex missions that require capabilities that are broader in scope than the individual Strike Groups can provide alone..
    US Navy photo # 80316-N-5484G-010 EAST CHINA SEA (March 16, 2008) by MC3 Joseph Pol Sebastian Gocong.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    USS Essex (LHD-2) Memorabilia
    Essex

    Commissioning Program
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri    		 Essex

    Ships Characteristics - Litton
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri    		 Essex

    1992
    Welcome Aboard
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri    		 Essex

    1992
    Welcome Aboard
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri
    There is no DANFS history available for USS Essex (LHD-2) at NavSource
    Histories/Command Operations Reports submitted by Essex (LHD 2)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    USS Essex Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Essex (LHD-2)
    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 25 April 2008