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The primary
war-fighting mission of the LHA-1 Tarawa class is to land and sustain United
States Marines on any shore during hostilities. The ships serve as the
centerpiece of a multi-ship Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). Some 3,000
Sailors and Marines contribute to a forward-deployed ARG composed of
approximately 5,000 personnel.
The ships are designed to maintain what the Marine Corps calls "tactical
integrity" - getting a balanced force to the same place at the same
time. One LHA can carry a complete Marine battalion, along with the supplies
and equipment needed in an assault, and land them ashore by either helicopter
or amphibious craft. This two pronged capability, with emphasis on airborne
landing of troops and equipment, enables the Navy and Marine Corps to fulfill
their present-day mission. Whether the landing force is involved in an armed
conflict, acting as a deterrent force in an unfavorable political situation
or serving in a humanitarian mission, the class offers tactical versatility.
The Tarawa class is designed to operate independently or as a unit of a
force, as a flagship or individual ship unit in both air and/or surface
assaults, these ships are key elements of the amphibious assault forces for
the Navy. They incorporate the best design features and capabilities of
several amphibious assault ships currently in service: the Amphibious Assault
Ship (LPH), Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD), Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA), and
Dock Landing Ship (LSD).
A capital ship, the Tarawa class can simultaneously fulfill six war-fighting
requirements: flagship for embarked amphibious squadron, flag or general
officer staff; aircraft carrier, with a 35-aircraft complement including
AV-8B fighter/attack V/STOL Harrier jets, AH-1 helicopter gunships, CH-53E
Super Sea Stallion "heavy lift" and CH-46D/E Sea Knight
helicopters; amphibious assault launching platform, employing a variety of
surface assault craft including the Navy's newest 40+ knot LCAC, 135-foot
Landing Craft Utility (LCU), and other amphibious assault vehicles; hospital
ship, equivalent to the nation's finest local hospitals with 17 ICU beds, 4
operating rooms, 300 beds, a 1,00-unit blood bank, full dental facilities,
and orthopedics, trauma, general surgery, and x-ray capabilities; command and
control (C4I) ship, with the Navy's most sophisticated SHF and EHF satellite
communications capability; and assault provisions carrier able to sustain
embarked forces with fuel, ammunition and other supplies.
The LHA's full length flight deck can handle ten helicopters simultaneously,
as well as the AV-8 HARRIER jump-jet aircraft and OV-10 BRONCO fixed-wing
turboprop reconnaissance aircraft. There is also a large well deck in the
stem of the ship for a number of amphibious assault craft, both displacement
hull and air cushion. Although the LHA usually doesn't carry Landing Craft,
Air Cushioned (LCAC) boats onboard, they frequently operate with them and
control them.
The ships have an extensive command, communication and control suite. These
electronic systems give the amphibious task force commander nearly unlimited
versatility in directing the assault mission. The heart of the LHA's
electronic system is a tactical amphibious warfare computer which not only
keeps track of the landing force's positions after leaving the ship, but
tracks enemy targets ashore. With current information on troop positions in
relation to enemy targets, the tactical data system can also direct the
targeting of the guns and missiles from the ship as well as the support
ships. Additionally, the system maintains air and surface traffic control
during the landing not only for her own helicopters and assault craft, but
for the combat air control and task force support ships as well.
Nearly three football fields in length and 20 stories high, these ships are
capable of embarking 3,000 Sailors and Marines when deployed. The ship's two-acre
flight deck, 18,519 square-foot hangar deck, and 250-foot well deck enable an
embarked landing force to accomplish its mission around the globe. Two-marine
boilers provide steam to the turbines which drive the twin screw ship,
providing 70,000 total shaft horsepower. The ships have a range of 10,000
miles at a speed of 20 knots.
The ships have an extensive mechanical system for vertical and horizontal
movement of containerized and palletized supplies from deep cargo holds to
assault craft or helicopters. A system of five centerline elevators, conveyor
lines and a monorail system move cargo and supplies. Two large elevators, one
aft and one portside, move aircraft and equipment from the hangar deck to the
flight deck. Wheeled vehicles, trucks, jeeps and tanks can be driven or
pulled from any deck level storage position via inclined ramps to either
awaiting craft in the well deck or helicopters on the flight deck.
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interesting facts:
TARAWA stands 20
stories high, measures 820 feet in length and 106 feet in width, displaces
40,000 tons of seawater when fully loaded and has a flight deck that measures
more than two acres square.
TARAWA has 1,400 compartments - about the same number as a large hotel.
TARAWA has nine elevators and two horizontal conveyors - more than most
department stores.
TARAWA has 2 boilers - the largest ever manufactured for the United States
Navy. They can generate a total of 400 tons of steam per hour and develop
140,000 horsepower - equivalent to the horsepower of more than 700 average
automobiles.
TARAWA has electrical power subsystem creating 14,000 kilowatts to provide
electrical power for the ship - adequate electrical power to light 11,500
homes for 50,000 people.
TARAWA has 1,500 tons of air conditioning equipment - sufficient to
environmentally control a 32-story office building or 500 average homes.
TARAWA can ballast 12,000 tons of seawater for trimming the ship to receive
and discharge landing craft from the well deck.
TARAWA was constructed with more than 20,000 tons of steel, 3,000 tons of
aluminum, 400 miles of cable and 80 miles of pipe.
TARAWA has a 300 bed hospital, 4 medical operating rooms and 3 dental
operating rooms.
TARAWA has a 900-horsepower bow thruster for lateral movement at low speeds
that can move the bow with 20,000 pounds of force - equivalent to half the
pulling power of a diesel/electrical locomotive.
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