USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)

USS Belleau Wood on 11 July 2005
History
United States
NameBelleau Wood
NamesakeUSS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
Ordered15 November 1969
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down5 March 1973
Launched11 April 1977
Commissioned23 September 1978
Decommissioned28 October 2005
Renamedfrom Philippine Sea
Stricken28 October 2005
HomeportSan Diego
Identification
FateSunk as target, 13 July 2006
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTarawa-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement40,000 tons
Length820 ft (250 m)
Beam106 ft (32 m)
Draft26 ft (7.9 m)
PropulsionSteam turbine
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Troops2,000 Marines plus equipment
Complement930 officers and sailors
Armament
Aircraft carried30 helicopters and Harriers

USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), nicknamed "Devil Dog", was an 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 battalion landing team and their supporting equipment by landing craft, helicopters, or a combination of both.