Amphibious Assault Ship
LHA 4 - USS Nassau
Type, Class:		Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) - LHA; Tarawa - class planned and built as LHA 4
Builder:		Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
STATUS:		Awarded: November 6, 1970 Laid down: August 13, 1973 Launched: January 21, 1978 Commissioned: July 28, 1979 Decommissioned: March 31, 2011 Fate: in reserve - Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas
Homeport:		-
Namesake:		Named after and in honor of the Battle of Nassau, Bahamas (March 3 - 4, 1776) > see history, below;
Ship's Motto:		PRIMA AB MARE ‘first from the sea’
Technical Data: (Measures, Propulsion, Armament, Aviation, etc.)		see: INFO > Tarawa class Amphibious Assault Ship - LHA
LINK :		see also: Special Report / USS Nassau (LHA-4) - port visit in Rijeka/ Croatia - April 2001
ship images
Atlantic Ocean - November 2010 Atlantic Ocean - November 2010 Norfolk, Virginia - November 2010 Norfolk, Virginia - August 2010 Norfolk, Virginia - August 2010 Atlantic Ocean - August 2010 5th Fleet AOR - June 2010 5th Fleet AOR - June 2010 5th Fleet AOR - June 2010 5th Fleet AOR - May 2010 Off Djibouti - April 2010 5th Fleet AOR - June 2010 Suez Canal - February 2010 Mediterranean Sea - February 2010 Off Haiti - February 2010 Off Haiti - February 2010 Off Haiti - February 2010 Off Haiti - February 2010 MV-22B Osprey’s aboard USS Nassau - Caribbean Sea - January 2010 Caribbean Sea - January 2010 Caribbean Sea - January 2010 Caribbean Sea - January 2010 Caribbean Sea - January 2010 MV-22B Osprey on the flight deck - Caribbean Sea - January 2010 Norfolk, Virginia - January 2010 MV-22B Ospreys on the flight deck of USS Nassau (LHA-4) - Atlantic Ocean - December 2009 Atlantic Ocean - December 2009 Atlantic Ocean - October 2009 AV-8B Harrier II and CH-53E Super Stallion on the flight deck - Atlantic Ocean - October 2009 Atlantic Ocean - October 2009 Norfolk, Virginia - February 2009 USS Nassau (LHA-4) and Italian Navy Submarine ITS Salvatore Todaro (S-526) - New York - October 2008 New York - October 2008 New York - October 2008 Virginia Beach, Virginia - September 2008 Galveston, Texas - September 2008 Atlantic Ocean - September 2008 Norfolk, Virginia - July 2008 Atlantic Ocean - July 2008 USS Nassau (LHA-4) and USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) - Atlantic Ocean - July 2008 Atlantic Ocean - July 2008 DDG-71 USS Ross and LHA-4 USS Nassau - Atlantic Ocean - July 2008 Atlantic Ocean - July 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Persian Gulf - May 2008 Red Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 SPS Infanta Elena (P-76), USS Nassau (LHA-4) and NRP Corte Real (F-332) - Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Mediterranean Sea - April 2008 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - April 2008 Malta - March 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - February 2008 Norfolk, Virginia - February 2008 Norfolk, Virginia - February 2008 Atlantic Ocean - December 2007 Atlantic Ocean - November 2007 Atlantic Ocean - November 2007 Atlantic Ocean - November 2007 Atlantic Ocean - November 2007 Atlantic Ocean - August 2007 Atlantic Ocean - August 2007 Exercise PHOENIX EXPRESS 2007 - April 2007 Norfolk, Virginia - March 2007 Norfolk, Virginia - March 2007 Atlantic Ocean - March 2007 Atlantic Ocean - February 2007 Atlantic Ocean - February 2007 Palma, Spain - April 2006 Persian Gulf - February 2006 Persian Gulf - February 2006 USS Nassau with French Navy Frigate FS Courbet (F-712) - Persian Gulf - February 2006 Persian Gulf - December 2005 Persian Gulf - December 2005 Persian Gulf - December 2005 Norfolk, Virginia - November 2005 Norfolk, Virginia - November 2005 North Carolina - September 2005 Atlantic Ocean - August 2005 Atlantic Ocean - August 2005 Pensacola, Florida - May 2005 Caribbean Sea - May 2005 Caribbean Sea - May 2005 Atlantic Ocean - March 2005 Atlantic Ocean - February 2005 Atlantic Ocean - February 2005 Norfolk, Virginia - February 2005 Atlantic Ocean - February 2005 US Army AH-64A Apache helicopter aboard USS Nassau - Atlantic Ocean - February 2005 Norfolk, Virginia - October 2004 Atlantic Ocean - July 2004 Coast of Georgia - June 2004 Operation Enduring Freedom - March 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - March 2003 Central Command AOR - February 2003 Central Command AOR - February 2003 Norfolk, Virginia - May 2003 Norfolk, Virginia - May 2003 Central Command AOR - November 2002 Central Command AOR - November 2002 AV-8B Harriers assigned to HMM-263 (REIN) - Central Command AOR - November 2002 January 2002 Mediterranean Sea - April 1999 Mediterranean Sea - April 1999 Norfolk, Virginia - August 1996 Norfolk, Virginia - May 1994 Operation Desert Shield - May 1992 Desert Shield - April 1992 USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) and USS Nassau (LHA-4) - Operation Desert Shield - April 1992 Exercise TEAMWORK 92 - off Norway - March 1992 a Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopter lands on the flight deck during exercise TEAMWORK 92 - March 1992 Exercise TEAMWORK 92 - March 1992 Exercise TEAMWORK 92 - March 1992 Exercise TEAMWORK 92 - March 1992 Atlantic Ocean, off North Carolina - April 1991 Atlantic Ocean, off North Carolina - April 1991 DESERT SHIELD - February 1991 DESERT SHIELD - February 1991 DESERT SHIELD - February 1991 DESERT SHIELD - January 1991 DESERT SHIELD - December 1990 DESERT SHIELD - December 1990 DESERT SHIELD - October 1990 DESERT SHIELD - September 1990 DESERT SHIELD - September 1990 Norfolk, Virginia - November 1989 Norfolk, Virginia - November 1989 Exercise TEAMWORK 88 - September 1988 Exercise TEAMWORK 88 - September 1988 June 1987 June 1987 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 Exercise NORTHERN WEDDING 86 - off Norway - August 1986 August 1986 Norfolk, Virginia - August 1986 Norfolk, Virginia - January 1986 Norfolk, Virginia - January 1986 Norfolk, Virginia - January 1986 Exercise SOLID SHIELD 85 - April 1985 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 Training exercise AHUAS TARA II - July 1984 A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-25 missile launcher during a live fire exercise - May 1984 A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-25 missile launcher during a live fire exercise - May 1984 A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-25 missile launcher during a live fire exercise - May 1984 A RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-25 missile launcher during a live fire exercise - May 1984 November 1983 November 1983 Norfolk, Virginia - October 1983 OV-10A Bronco aboard USS Nassau - January 1983 January 1983 January 1983 January 1983 OV-10A Bronco taking off from the flight deck - January 1983 January 1983 AV-8A Harrier assigned to VMA-231 - October 1982 Norfolk, Virginia - May 1982 AV-8A Harrier taking off from the flight deck of USS Nassau (LHA-4) - April 1982 April 1982 April 1982 April 1982 April 1982 Combat Information Center (CIC) aboard USS Nassau (LHA-4) - April 1982 Combat Information Center (CIC) - April 1982 Combat Information Center (CIC) - April 1982 Combat Information Center (CIC) - April 1982 April 1982 1982 USS Nassau (LHA-4) fires one of her Mk-45 guns April 1982 a RIM-7 Sea Spoarrow was fired from a Mk-25 launcher - circa 1982 AV-8A Harriers aboard USS Nassau (LHA-4)
Nassau, New Providence Island, Commonwealth of the Bahamas (25°03'36" N / 77°20'42" W)
Namesake & History:
The Battle of Nassau (March 3 - 4, 1776): The Battle of Nassau (March 2 - March 3, 1776) was a naval action and amphibious assault by American forces against British-occupied Nassau, Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War. It is considered the first cruise and one of the first engagements of the United States Navy, and the first action of the newly - created Continental Marines, the progenitor of the United States Marine Corps. It is sometimes known as the Raid of Nassau. Battle: Under the command of Fleet Captain or Commodore Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island, a task force of four ships, including Hornet, Alfred, and Wasp, rallied near Great Abaco Island, north of the Island of New Providence, on March 1, 1776. The force captured two sloops owned by Loyalists and pressed their owners to serve as pilots. On March 2, the force approached Nassau, sending ashore a raiding party of 230 Continental Marines and 50 sailors under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholas, the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines. The force captured nearby Fort Montague but were repulsed in their assault on Fort Nassau. On March 3, a landing was again attempted, and this time the Marines captured Nassau without a fight, seizing a sizable store of 103 cannon, mortars and munitions. Much of the precious gunpowder stores that were the target of the raid had been evacuated after the failed raid on March 2. It marked the first instance in American military history that forces responded to the equivalent modern command of "Land the landing force." On March 17, the fleet sailed for Block Island Channel off Newport, Rhode Island, with Montfort Browne, Lieutenant Governor of the Bahamas, as a prisoner. Browne was later exchanged for American general William Alexander.
USS Nassau (LHA 4): The modern day USS NASSAU was commissioned in 1979 as the fourth of the Navy's TARAWA-class general-purpose amphibious assault ships. For more than 25 years NASSAU has been an example of excellence and dedication. In the era framed by Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM and September 11, 2001, NASSAU continually proved adept at responding rapidly to each and every call and order. In support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, NASSAU deployed to the Middle East for over eight months on only eight days notice. Upon leaving the United States, NASSAU became the Flagship for Commander, Amphibious Task Force and the 4th MEB's Commanding General. NASSAU was honored during this deployment when President George H. W. Bush selected NASSAU as the site for a special Thanksgiving Day meal with Sailors and Marines thousands of miles from home. The President was joined by his wife, Barbara Bush, General Norman Schwarzkopf and several influential members of Congress. NASSAU participated in several more operations throughout the 1990s, including Operations SUPPORT DEMOCRACY, DENY FLIGHT, ALLIED FORCE and NOBLE ANVIL. These operations in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as NASSAU's participation in numerous Navy and joint exercises took NASSAU to numerous locales in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Adriatic regions, including Haiti, Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Albania, Zaire and Kosovo. NASSAU's capability as a general-purpose ship has allowed her to flex to the needs of virtually any mission assigned. In addition to her primary role as a Marine transport, NASSAU has served as a flagship, logistics hub for incoming and outgoing mail, cargo and other supplies, combat search and rescue, and the tactical recovery and rescue of downed aircraft and personnel. NASSAU completed an eight-month midlife complex overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Va., in 2000. While there, NASSAU was named the 1999 Battle "E" winner. At the shipyard, NASSAU's engineering plant was completely revamped and received new state-of-the-art electronic systems. The morning of September 11, 2001, found NASSAU at Metro Machine in Norfolk, Va., undergoing a brief yard period. In the wake of the tragedy, NASSAU's then Commanding Officer Capt. Russell Tjepkema, a Brooklyn, N.Y. native, reunited with a high school friend with connections to the New York Fire Department, which had suffered great personnel losses as a result of the terrorist attacks. To honor FDNY, Capt. Tjepkema requested a FDNY flag from a New York firehouse for NASSAU to fly while on station during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Not only did NASSAU receive the flag, but a firefighter's helmet showing the scars of 20 years of service and the patch of a fallen fireman were also included. The FDNY gift has a permanent home on board the ship. Post 9/11, NASSAU returned to the Mediterranean Sea in 2001 for Exercises ATLAS HINGE and CAPO TEULADO. In 2002, NASSAU participated in a series of exercises and work ups before deploying in late August. The first bombing raids on Baghdad began on March 20, 2003, and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM was underway. Though due to return to the U.S., NASSAU remained on station and provided support to ongoing U.S. operations. NASSAU returned to Norfolk on May 29, completing its longest deployment to date, 277 days, and earning the right to fly the Homeward Bound Pennant on the journey home. NASSAU returned to Norfolk Naval Shipyard post deployment for an extensive overhaul. The ship was dry-docked to facilitate installation of a new fuel compensating system and to complete hull preservation in addition to regular routine maintenance.
patches
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