U.S. Amphibious Assault Ships Sail Toward Iraq

Reuters | 1/17/03 | Will Dunham

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships and five other vessels carrying about 10,000 Marines and sailors departed San Diego on Friday bound for the Gulf region for use in a possible war with Iraq, the Navy said.

The amphibious assault ships USS Boxer and USS Bonhomme Richard were joined by the amphibious transport docks USS Cleveland and USS Dubuque, and the dock landing ships USS Anchorage, USS Comstock and USS Pearl Harbor.

The seven ships leaving San Diego carried about 5,000 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California and 5,000 sailors, said Cmdr. Jacquie Yost, a spokeswoman for the Navy's Third Fleet.

The journey to the region is expected to last "about a month," Yost said. "At this point in time, we don't know what the end date for the deployment is."

They are the latest U.S. ships to head to the Gulf, as the United States assembles a large naval force to complement the tens of thousands of ground troops already in place in the region as part of President Bush's build-up for a possible war with Iraq.

The USS Boxer and USS Bonhomme Richard, both about 840 feet long, are amphibious assault ships that resemble aircraft carriers and carry Marines and helicopters for land invasions. Each boasts helicopters including the CH-46 Sea Knight as well as AV-8B Harrier attack planes.

Hundreds of family members and well-wishers turned out in San Diego to say goodbye to the departing Marines and sailors.

The United States already has two aircraft carrier battle groups in the region, with others placed on alert for possible deployment. In addition, the USNS Comfort hospital ship is sailing toward the region to treat causalities in any war with Iraq.

Bush has said the United States will lead a coalition of nations to disarm Iraq by force if the Iraqis do not give up their weapons of mass destruction programs as required by U.N. resolutions.

[kattracks]

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard makes its way out of San Diego harbor as part of a flotilla of seven U.S. warships that set sail from San Diego Naval Station January 17, 2003. The ships, carrying about 10,000 Marines and sailors, are bound for the Gulf region for use in a possible war with Iraq, the Navy said. Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters

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[Dog Gone]

USS Boxer

[EggsAckley]

Amphibious ships? Can someone explain?

[ArrogantBustard]

These ships are designed to deliver a huge number of Marines to the general vicinity of some ass that needs kicking, then support them in combat operations. It's a combination armed and armoured troopship, and baby aircraft carrier. It can launch helicopters of various sorts and AV-8 Harrier VTOL jets. US Navy operates several of these ships.

[Ken522]

Is the USS Boxer named after Sen. Boxer to appease her?

[tractorman]

As long as it's right on the way, maybe they'll stop off first in North Korea.

[Hugin]

Any idea how long it will take for them to reach the gulf?

[xm177e2]

No! I hope not, at least.

[tracer]

No, but "boxer shorts" and "boxer" dog are...

[EggsAckley]

Thank you. I had visions of them stepping out of the water and hitting the road. LOL!

[Cagey]

From the Official USS Boxer page:

Boxer's Heritage:

Ships of the Wasp Class multipurpose amphibious assault ship program are named for famous U.S. Navy warships. In naming LHD 4 "BOXER," the Navy honors five previous ships with this illustrious name. The first USS BOXER was a 14-gun brig, commissioned in 1815; the second was a 10-gun schooner commissioned in 1832; the third was an English-built side-wheel steamer captured as a blockade runner during the Civil War; and the fourth was a training brigantine commissioned in 1905. The fifth BOXER was an aircraft carrier (CV/CVA/CVS 21, LPH 4), commissioned in April 1945, too late for World War II duty. However, the ship earned eight battle stars for gallant service off Korea. In 1957, the "Busy Bee" recorded its 79,000th arrested aircraft landing - then a record for active carriers in the Pacific Fleet. The ship was converted to an amphibious assault ship (LPH) in 1958, and was decommissioned in 1969.

[Robe]

"Amphibious ships? Can someone explain?"

Ships used in the support of amphibious operations, some like "Landing Ship
Docks"(LSD) have a floodable hold in which the smaller amphibious assault tanks and
hover craft are stored and lunched. Others are carrier type ships which support the
Helicopter and Harrier (vertical take off fighter jets)
The USS Bonhomme Richard was a fleet carrier in Viet Nam BTW, she was too small to
handle the newer big jets, she now is a helo assault ship.

(Hope I didn’t screw up that explanation......but if I did I know there is a devil Dog or two
out there which will make the appropriate corrections)

[Robe]

My guess would be about 2 - 3weeks, from west or the east coasts..... The A$$kicking will start before that ... let the Air Force and Navy flyboys soften 'em up a bit first

[ArrogantBustard]

Is the USS Boxer named after Sen. Boxer to appease her?

Hell no! The name "Boxer" as a US Navy Ship goes back to the War of 1812, when HMBS Boxer was captured in battle with the USS Enterprise. The current USS Boxer is the fifth American ship to bear the name; four of these ships were US Navy, whilst one was Confederate States Navy. Check her website for specs, history, etc.

If you want to know about a current US Navy ship, try www.shipname.navy.mil

[Ken522]

Thanks, Cagey.

[EggsAckley]

Thank you. I'm understanding it better now.

[ArrogantBustard]

The Bonhomme Richard of which you speak was scrapped in 1992. The current USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is new construction.

[VaBthang4]

[VaBthang4]

"Ships used in the support of amphibious operations, some like "Landing Ship Docks"(LSD) have a floodable hold in which the smaller amphibious assault tanks and hover craft are stored and lunched. Others are carrier type ships which support the Helicopter and Harrier (vertical take off fighter jets)"

Actually I think the USS Bonhomme Richard does both.

If I am not mistaken...the Richard is sister ship to the Wasp [which I served on].

[Frank_Discussion]

Ah, no. I think it is a successive naming from a previous ship named Boxer.

[Frank_Discussion]

Oops... shoulda read the WHOLE thread before responding...

[dagar]

The Bonnie-dick has a well deck where [mostly] AAVs and LCACs are deployed.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lhd-1.htm

[onedoug]

USS OGDEN LPD 5 Amphibious Ready Group bump! From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf.

[ffusco]

Basically smaller older carriers converted for helo and harrier use.

[sd-joe]

No it is not. That would be an ugly thought, wouldn't it?
See the following excerpt:

"Ships of the Wasp Class multipurpose amphibious assault ship program are named for famous U.S. Navy warships. In naming LHD 4 "BOXER," the Navy honors five previous ships with this illustrious name. The first USS BOXER was a 14-gun brig, commissioned in 1815; the second was a 10-gun schooner commissioned in 1832; the third was an English-built side-wheel steamer captured as a blockade runner during the Civil War; and the fourth was a training brigantine commissioned in 1905. The fifth BOXER was an aircraft carrier (CV/CVA/CVS 21, LPH 4), commissioned in April 1945, too late for World War II duty. However, the ship earned eight battle stars for gallant service off Korea. In 1957, the "Busy Bee" recorded its 79,000th arrested aircraft landing - then a record for active carriers in the Pacific Fleet. The ship was converted to an amphibious assault ship (LPH) in 1958, and was decommissioned in 1969."

[Robe]

Damn ,I gettin old. I remember the "Bonnie Dick" from my old Viet nam days. I just figured they converted her..... but it makes sense the have her flood down.

Thank for the info

Robe

[VaBthang4]

That's what I said. :o)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Basically smaller older carriers converted for helo and harrier use.

Wrong. These ships are new builds from the keel up. The Boxer was commissioned in February of 1995 and the Bonnie Dick was commissioned in August of 1998.