USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)
USS Belleau Wood on 11 July 2005 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Belleau Wood |
| Namesake | USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) |
| Ordered | 15 November 1969 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 5 March 1973 |
| Launched | 11 April 1977 |
| Commissioned | 23 September 1978 |
| Decommissioned | 28 October 2005 |
| Renamed | from Philippine Sea |
| Stricken | 28 October 2005 |
| Homeport | San Diego |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk as target, 13 July 2006 |
| Badge | |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 40,000 tons |
| Length | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Beam | 106 ft (32 m) |
| Draft | 26 ft (7.9 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbine |
| Speed | 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Troops | 2,000 Marines plus equipment |
| Complement | 930 officers and sailors |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 30 helicopters and Harriers |
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USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), nicknamed "Devil Dog", was a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship and the second ship named after the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood. Her keel was laid down on 5 March 1973 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was launched on 11 April 1977, and commissioned on 23 September 1978.
Belleau Wood was the third of five ships in a new class (Tarawa class) of general-purpose amphibious assault ships, which combined into one ship type the functions previously performed by four different types: the landing platform helicopter (LPH), the amphibious transport dock (LPD), the amphibious cargo ship (LKA), and the dock landing ship (LSD). She was capable of landing elements of a United States Marine Corps Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) and their supporting equipment by landing craft, helicopters, or a combination of both.