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US Navy - Amphibious Assault Ship LHD 7 - USS Iwo Jima |
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| 10/23 | ||
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Type,
class: Amphibious Assault Ship (multi purpose);
Wasp
class Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA STATUS: Awarded: February 28, 1995 Laid down: December 12, 1997 Launched: February 4, 2000 Christening: March 25, 2000 Commissioned: June 30, 2001 IN SERVICE Homeport: Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia Namesake: the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japan 1945 (WWII) Ships Motto: UNCOMMON VALOR Technical Data: see: INFO > Wasp class Amphibious Assault Ship - LHD |
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Deployments and Major Maintenance Periods: March 2003 - October 2003 with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and HMM-264(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf August 2005 - October 2005 with HSC-28 (Det) embarked - Gulf of Mexico - Hurricane Kathrina June 2006 - December 2006 with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and HMM-365(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, 5th Fleet AOR August 2008 - March 2009 with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and HMM-264(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Sea July 2010 - November 2010 with HMM-774, VMA-542 (Det), HSC-26 (Det) embarked - Caribbean Sea, Southern Atlantic Ocean March 2012 - December 2012 with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and VMM-261(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, 5th Fleet AOR December 2014 - July 2015 with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and VMM-365(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, 5th Fleet AOR February 2018 - August 2018 with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, 5th Fleet AOR September 2018 - December 2018 with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and VMM-365(REIN) embarked - Northern Atlantic Ocean March 2021 - October 2021 with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Mediterranean Sea, 5th Fleet AOR March 2022 - August 2023: Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) at General Dynamics NASSCO, Norfolk, Virginia |
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March 2022 - August 2023: Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) at General Dynamics NASSCO, Norfolk, Virginia  returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia after her DSRA at General Dynamics NASSCO - August 10, 2023 un-docking at General Dynamics NASSCO - December 13, 2022  in dry-dock at General Dynamics NASSCO - May 2022  docking at General Dynamics NASSCO - April 29, 2022  on her way from Naval Station Norfolk to General Dynamics NASSCO, Norfolk - March 17, 2022  arriving at her new homeport, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - December 13, 2021  departing Naval Station Mayport, Florida for her homeport shift to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - December 10, 2021  departing Naval Station Mayport, Florida for her homeport shift to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - December 10, 2021  moored at Naval Station Mayport, Florida - October 2021  returning to Naval Station Mayport, Florida - October 11, 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Arabian Gulf - August 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Arabian Gulf - August 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Duqm, Oman - July 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Red Sea - June 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Red Sea - June 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Suez Canal - June 1, 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Suez Canal - June 1, 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Strait of Gibraltar - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - May 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Naval Station Rota, Spain - April 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - April 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - March 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - March 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - March 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - March 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - Atlantic Ocean - March 2021  with VMM-162(REIN) embarked - ARGMEUEX - Atlantic Ocean - December 2020  RIM-116 rolling airframe missile (RAM) fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - October 2020  Naval Station Mayport, Florida - March 2020  commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima - Atlantic Ocean - February 2020 > continue > LHD-7 image page 2 < |
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USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7): LHD-7 is the second ship to bear the name "IWO JIMA." The first, LPH 2, was designed from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship, was launched September 17, 1960 at Bremerton, Washington and commissioned August 26, 1961. In September 1963, IWO JIMA (LPH 2) made her first deployment to the Western Pacific, one of six deployments the ship would make in the region. In April 1970 IWO JIMA (LPH 2) made history while serving as the Primary Recovery Ship for Apollo 13, the crippled lunar landing mission. In June 1976, Iwo Jima (LPH 2) commenced her fourth appointment to the Mediterranean and participated in the evacuation of civilians from Beirut, Lebanon. In August 1990, two weeks after the initial deployment of troops to the Persian Gulf for operation Desert Shield, you will Jima (LPH 2) became the first amphibious assault ship to deploy to that area, and served as a part of the coalition which ultimately drove Iraq forces from Kuwait. USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2) was decommissioned in 1993. Fabrication work for the new USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) began at Ingalls shipyard September 3, 1996, and the ships keel was laid on December 12, 1997. She was launched on February 4, 2000. USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, and Pascagoula, Mississippi on March 25, 2000. The commissioning crew moved aboard in April of 2001, and made the ship's maiden voyage (accompanied by more than 2000 World War II veterans many of them survivors of valid Iwo Jima) on June 23, 2001. She was commissioned a week later and Pensacola Florida, on June 30, 2001. Shortly thereafter, the ship and crew began an accelerated enter deployment training cycle, which tested virtually every system on board in realistic combat conditions. Together with the 26th Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable), USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) completed her maiden, eight-month deployment in October 2003. Completing essentially four deployments in one, Iwo Jima's operational capabilities were put to the test as the ship inserted Marines from 26MEU (SOC) into Northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, patrolled by the Persian Gulf in stifling summer heat, conducted operations in and around Djibouti as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the spearheaded and peace keeping mission of the coast of the war-torn nation of Liberia. The ship transited the Straits of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Bab Tel Mandeb, and the streets of Hormuz twice each on its 45,000 nautical mile maiden deployment. In August 2005 Iwo Jima (LHD 7) emerged as the center of Joint Task Force Katrina and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) led recovery and assistance efforts in the battered cities of Biloxi gulf port in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina's landfall that year. For more than a month, the ship provided crucial hospital, flight deck and a myriad of other relief capabilities to the devastated region. February 19, 2006 five ships, one submarine and nearly 3500 sailors and readings from the USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) successfully completed their ESG integrated training (ESGINT) exercise, Feb. 14, while operating in Onslow Bay, N. C. June 6, 2006 USS Iwo Jima, commanded by Capt. Michael A. Wally departed from Naval Station Norfolk for six months to conduct maritime security operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. July 4, 2006 USS IWO JIMA Expeditionary Strike Group transited the Suez Canal to relieve the USS Peleliu on her duty in the US Fifth Fleet area of operations. The ESG conducted maritime security operations (MSO) throughout the region and support further testing from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). July 18, 2006 U.S. Sailors and Marines from the LHD 7 Expeditionary Strike Group and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were directed to assist the authorized departure of American citizens from Lebanon. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon has requested military assistance to help American citizens who wish to depart Lebanon to leave in a secure and orderly manner. October 2, AV-8B Harriers, as a part of the 24th Marine expeditionary unit air combat element (ACE) that were attached to USS Iwo Jima, completed combat missions September 21 in direct support of operation enduring freedom, against Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan. To date, the Harriers have completed approximately 136 sorties to include 17 precision guided munitions in support of OEF and coalition efforts. December 6, 2006 USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after six-month deployment. June 11, 2007 the amphibious assault ship departed for sea trials after spending nearly 4 months at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair. September 27, 2007 IWO JIMA was underway in the Atlantic Ocean for sea trials. This is the first time the IWO JIMA is conducting flight deck operations with the MV-22 Osprey in more than two years. April 28, 2008 USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group pulled into Port Everglades, Florida, for Fleet Week. July 21, 2008 USS Iwo Jima ESG and BNS Greenhalgh (F 46) participated in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) July 8-18, marking the first time a Brazilian Navy service unit fully integrated into a U.S. Strike Group. Iwo Jima and Greenhalgh then participated in USS Theodore Roosevelt's (CVN 71) upcoming Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 July 21 - 31. August 26, 2008 USS Iwo Jima departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled appointment in the US Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). September 21, 2008 a group of 50 senior civilian officials in 19 staff members from the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) visited Iwo Jima off the coast of Crete, Greece. September 23, 2008 USS Iwo Jima ESG transited the Suez Canal and entered the Fifth Fleet AOR. March 27, 2009 USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after completing the seven-month underway period. May 20, 2009 the Iwo Jima arrived in New York City to participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York City 2009. July 9, 2009 USS Iwo Jima surged to the Gulf of Guyana to support the US President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana July 10-11 for operation JUPITER SENTINEL. From October to December 2009, Iwo Jima went through successful CNO availability at BAE systems shipyard. During that time, IWO JIMA scored high marks during the light off assessment November 23-25, 2009. For the remainder of 2009 IWO JIMA remained in port at Naval Station Norfolk. Since the start of 2010, Team IWO prepared for Inspection and Survey (INSURV) that took place April before leaving later that month for Fleet week Port Everglades. May 25, 2010 USS Iwo Jima departed for New York City for the 23rd annual commemoration of Fleet Week New York City. July 12, 2010, IWO JIMA deployed to participate in CONTINUING PROMISE 2010 (CP10) which encompassed joint civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to eight partner nations, and to send a strong message of commitment, partnership and cooperation to Central and South America. Her accomplishments include maintaining the highest level of readiness and professionalism by seamlessly integrating with Marines and Sailors from Company A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 and MACS-2. Onboard IWO JIMA, the CP10 medical contingent of more than 500 joint military and international medical professionals and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) worked alongside host nationals to triage more than 39,000 primary care patients, perform 320 shipboard surgeries, dispense 76,000 prescriptions, and provide more than 26,000 veterinary services. In addition, military engineering teams and volunteers completed 26 projects to include building playgrounds, fencing and refurbishing schools and hospitals. During CP10, IWO JIMA was redirected to Haiti to provide Hurricane Assistance and Disaster Relief in the wake of Hurricane Tomas early November. Upon arrival, she provided timely and accurate damage assessments by conducting eight aerial reconnaissance flights incorporating non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance processes in order to determine the extent of damage and obstruction to main lines of communication along Haiti’s southern peninsula. Once it was determined IWO JIMA mission was complete in Haiti She was released for one last logistics and replenishment port visit in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before heading to Onslow Bay, N.C. to begin the off load of the CP10 contingent commands before returning to her Norfolk Va. Homeport November 18, 2010. April 26, 2011 IWO JIMA arrived at Port Everglades Florida for Broward Navy Days. May 25, 2011 IWO JIMA arrived in New York City for the 24th annual commemoration of Fleet Week New York City. On 3 November 2010, Iwo Jima was deployed to Haiti in anticipation of providing humanitarian assistance due to an impending Tropical Storm Tomas. On 27 March 2012, Iwo Jima was deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting maritime security operations and security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. On 11 April 2012, an MV-22 from VMM-261 crashed near Agadir, Morocco, during a joint training exercise after taking off from USS Iwo Jima. Two US Marine crew chiefs were killed and the two pilots were seriously injured. Early in May 2012, Iwo Jima was operating in the Gulf of Aqaba and in the south of the Red Sea. In November 2012, Iwo Jima was dispatched to the eastern Mediterranean, during escalating warfare between Israel and Hamas, in case the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Israel was required, delaying the scheduled return of Iwo Jima to Norfolk. In August 2014, Iwo Jima shifted homeport to Mayport. In January 2015, Iwo Jima, USS Fort McHenry and USS New York were positioned off the coast of Yemen on standby to evacuate the staff of the US embassy should the need arise due to the collapse of the Yemeni government. In October 2016, Iwo Jima sailed to Haiti to relieve USS Mesa Verde, assisting victims of Hurricane Matthew. In October and November 2018, Iwo Jima participated in NATO's Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway. In December 2021, Iwo Jima shifted homeports from Naval Station Mayport to Naval Station Norfolk as a part of the Navy's plan to consolidate the East Coast-based amphibious ships to the Norfolk area. |
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The Battle of Iwo Jima: USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) is named for the epic battle of February 1945, in which three divisions of the United States Marine Corps took control of the tiny island of Iwo Jima from 22,000 determined Japanese defenders. The United States had recovered from the disastrous attack on Pearl Harbor, to the point where routine air attacks on Japanese cities could be made by heavy bombers launched from the Marianas. The successful outcome of the war seemed inevitable, but victory over the Japanese would come only at a high price. The Japanese considered Iwo Jima a part of mainland Japan, and an invader had not set foot on Japanese soil for 4,000 years. Iwo Jima was a thorn in the side of the U.S. heavy bomber crews. Air attacks on the Marianas bomber bases, and bombers enroute to and from Japan,were launched from Iwo Jima. An assault on the island was necessary to eliminate these air attacks and to provide a haven for damaged American aircraft returning from Japan. Amphibious forces of the U.S. Pacific Fleet attacked the fortress of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, with a formidable force, totaling 495 ships, including 17 aircraft carriers, 1170 planes, and 110,308 troops. Before the amphibious assault, elements of the Air Force and Army Air Corps pounded the island in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war. Incredibly, this ferocious bombardment had little effect. Hardly any of the Japanese underground fortresses were touched. The Japanese defenders devised a unique and deadly strategy to defend Iwo Jima from an American assault. Instead of building a barrier to stop the Americans at the beach, they fortified the interior of the island, creating a defense that could not be breached in a day. On Feb. 19, 1945, the first wave of Marines were launched after an hour-long bombardment by the Navy’s “big guns.” The Americans planned to capture, isolate and fortify Mt. Suribachi. The success of the entire assault depended upon the early capture of the mountain. After an hour of calm, the Japanese defenders, hiding in their network of caves and underground bunkers, unleashed a hail of gunfire. Mortars, machine guns and heavy artillery rained down from scores of machine gun nests atop Suribachi. After the first day of fighting, 566 American men were killed and 1,755 more were wounded. For the next several days, some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific were fought on the isle of Iwo Jima. It was a battle of attrition on terrain that had no front lines; where the attackers were exposed and the defenders fortified. The battle for Iwo was fought desperately until March 26th, when the island was finally secured by U.S. forces. In the struggle, nearly 7,000 Americans and more than 20,000 Japanese were killed. It was one of the most savage and costly battles in the history of the Marine Corps. As Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz observed, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” PFC Jack Lucas was 17 when he earned the Medal of Honor, the youngest awardee in our nation’s history. He leapt on two live grenades, saving countless brother Marines. A doctor aboard the hospital ship on which Lucas was treated said he was, “too damned young and too damned tough to die.” When asked, 53 years later, why he jumped on the grenades, Jack simply said, “to save my buddies.” He and his lovely wife, Ruby, are honorary crew and family members of USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7). |
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