USN decomissions an LHA! Why??

I was surprised to read that. Very surprised. The ship was the USS Belleau Wood LHA-3. I wonder what the USN will do with the ship? It certainly won't be sold. So what fate awaits it. Presonally I think it is a mistake to down size the USN amphipous forces at this time.

How many navies in the world would love to have this ship?

I worked on board LHA-3 during the shooting of the movie "Antwone Fisher" in Nov. 2001. I was in the production crew of the movie.



USS Belleau Wood Decommissioned After 27 Years of Service
Story Number: NNS051020-14
Release Date: 10/20/2005 2:54:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Ryan Clement, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy said farewell as USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) was decommissioned Oct. 13, the Navy’s 230th birthday, at Naval Station San Diego.

Belleau Wood served the Navy and the nation for 27 years and is the first of five Tarawa-class general amphibious assault ships to be decommissioned.

“The Belleau Wood has been the backbone of our amphibious group for nearly three decades,” said Rear Adm. Christopher C. Ames, commander, Amphibious Group 3, who was a guest speaker at the ceremony.

Belleau Wood is the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Its predecessor, Belleau Wood (CVL 24), was a carrier and served during World War II.

The name “Belleau Wood” originally comes from an historic World War I battle in France where Marines took over the Belleau woods, stopping the last major offensive of the war by the Germans. After the battle, the Germans respectfully referred to the Marines as “Teufelshunde,” or “Devil Dogs,” because of their fierceness in battle. The Devil Dogs were the official mascot of Belleau Wood.

The ship’s main mission was Marine transport. The ship has a well deck for deploying conventional and air cushioned landing craft, and a flight deck for launching a variety of helicopters and Harrier jump jets. Belleau Wood was capable of carrying a complete Marine battalion and landing them ashore by helicopter or amphibious craft.

Belleau Wood also received numerous awards in its 27 years of service. One of the most important awards came in 1997 when the ship earned its eighth consecutive Battle ‘E’ award. This was significant because it was the first ship in U.S. Pacific Fleet to do so.

bd popeye said:

I was surprised to read that. Very surprised. The ship was the USS Belleau Wood LHA-3. I wonder what the USN will do with the ship? It certainly won't be sold. So what fate awaits it. Presonally I think it is a mistake to down size the USN amphipous forces at this time.

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Agreed...and as I said on the other thread, my guess is that they are making way for the Makin Island, the eigth Wasp class, and maintaining a force of twelve large-deck amphibs.

That's all I can figure. As with the Spruance class...I believe it a mistake to decom perfectly good, modern ships when they have years of service life left.

Jeff Head said:

Agreed...and as I said on the other thread, my guess is that they are making way for the Makin Island, the eigth Wasp class, and maintaining a force of twelve large-deck amphibs.

That's all I can figure. As with the Spruance class...I believe it a mistake to decom perfectly good, modern ships when they have years of service life left.

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I agree. This ship along with the Spruance class still has years of useful life left.

The replacement for LHA-3 is the USS Makin Island LHD-8. She won't be in service until mid-2007..It's the last of the Wasp class LHD. Actually it will be a one of a kind ship. Click this link for more info.

bd popeye said:

I agree. This ship along with the Spruance class still has years of useful life left.

The replacement for LHA-3 is the USS Makin Island LHD-8. She won't be in service until mid-2007..It's the last of the Wasp class LHD. Actually it will be a one of a kind ship. Click this link for more info.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

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Thanks popeye. That is the same link I have on the Wasp page for the Malkin on my



site. I added a "COMPARE ALL CLASSES" page to that site. If you get a chance, take a look.

surprising... I heard about a rumor that maybe Canada will acquire 2 amphibious assault ship from the US, I don't know which class, but I'll check for further info to check out if it's only a rumor or a true project.

Here's a article I founded about it.


Navy to ask for amphibious assault ships
By MURRAY BREWSTER

HALIFAX (CP) - The Canadian navy is drafting a plan to acquire two large amphibious assault ships capable of transporting thousands of troops and dozens of tanks and trucks across the seas.

The idea, which merited a passing reference in last spring's defence policy statement, is expected to go before the federal Treasury Board next year for consideration, said the director of the navy's maritime requirements.

"We're looking at being more engaged on a global scale," said Capt. Peter Ellis.

"I think it's a critical requirement, especially if we're going to conduct operations at short notice."

The acquisition of the ships, that can resemble small aircraft carriers, are in addition to the navy's $2.1-billion project to build three regular supply ships.

As yet, the navy has not come up with a price tag for the landing ships.

Ellis said the amphibious ships and supply boats serve different purposes.

The transports, complete with a detachment of attack helicopters and landing craft, give the army an ability to land on an empty or partially defended beach anywhere in the world.

Regular supply ships require a port to load and unload.

Defence analyst David Rudd said the navy needs to better explain their planned purchase.

"If want to go in this direction and spend quite a bit of money - you would think that the capability would be quite literally leaping off the pages of their defence policy statement," said Rudd, president of the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies.

Adding to Rudd's concern, the federal Conservatives supported the concept of the landing ships in the last election. But Prime Minister Paul Martin dismissed the idea during the televised debate, saying Canadians had a choice between a party that supported health care and one that wanted to buy aircraft carriers.

In April, Ottawa laid out a sweeping new plan for its Armed Forces, promising a better-equipped, more efficient and more effective military at home and abroad - all within five years.

The document, which promises to effectively double Canada's overseas capability, includes the purchase of new ships, new aircraft and new vehicles.

But even if the project passes the political hurdles, Rudd says he sees potential problems in selecting a design.

The U.S. is constructing a new class of amphibious assault ships called the San Antonio class, but may not commission all of them. Talk within the Defence industry is that two of the yet-to-be constructed ships could be sold to another country, possibly Canada.

Such a move would be another strike to Canada's struggling shipbuilding industry.

In Rudd's view it would also be a mistake given the size and complexity of the ships, which require a crew of 300 or more to sail.

Ellis said the navy has not settled on any specific design at this time.

rommel said:

surprising... I heard about a rumor that maybe Canada will acquire 2 amphibious assault ship from the US, I don't know which class, but I'll check for further info to check out if it's only a rumor or a true project. The U.S. is constructing a new class of amphibious assault ships called the San Antonio class, but may not commission all of them. Talk within the Defence industry is that two of the yet-to-be constructed ships could be sold to another country, possibly Canada. In Rudd's view it would also be a mistake given the size and complexity of the ships, which require a crew of 300 or more to sail.

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Interesting. Please let us know if you hear more of this. The Belleau Wood would be a monumental catch for any allied nation that was capable of operating her. I would not be surprised to see Canada, Australia, of even the UK talking about this vessel...because for any of those nations, she would serve equally well in either the amphib or the sea control role. She would be a larger, and (IMHO) more capable, BPE vessel the Spanish are building.

Jeff Head said:

Interesting. Please let us know if you hear more of this. The Belleau Wood would be a monumental catch for any allied nation that was capable of operating her. I would not be surprised to see Canada, Australia, of even the UK talking about this vessel...because for any of those nations, she would serve equally well in either the amphib or the sea control role. She would be a larger, and (IMHO) more capable, BPE vessel the Spanish are building.

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the spanish are building which kind of ship ??

rommel said:

the spanish are building which kind of ship ??

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a light aircraft carrier. look it up on jeff's site

rommel said:

the spanish are building which kind of ship ??

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It's called the