USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)

USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2)
USS Iwo Jima off the United States East Coast in April 1979
History
United States
NameIwo Jima
NamesakeBattle of Iwo Jima
BuilderPuget Sound Naval Shipyard
Laid down2 April 1959
Launched17 September 1960
Commissioned26 August 1961
Decommissioned14 July 1993
Stricken24 September 1993
Identification
FateScrapped, 18 December 1995
General characteristics
Class and typeIwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement
Length592 ft (180 m)
Beam84 ft (26 m)
Draught27 ft (8.2 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 600 psi (4.1 MPa) boilers,
  • one geared steam turbine,
  • one shaft,
  • 22,000 shaft horsepower
  • (16 MW)
Speed22 knots (41 km/h)
Range11,118km (6,000nm) at 18 knots
Troops2,000
Complement667
Armament
Aircraft carried25 helicopters

USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) was the lead ship of her class and type and the first amphibious assault ship to be designed and built from the keel up as a dedicated helicopter carrier. She carried helicopters and typically embarked USMC elements of a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU)/later Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) principally the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) to conduct heliborne operations in support of an amphibious operation. There was no well deck to support landing craft movement of personnel or equipment to/from shore. Iwo Jima was the second of three ships of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of Iwo Jima, although the first to be completed and see service (the first was cancelled during construction).