Amphibious Assault Ship
LHD 2 - USS Essex
Type, Class:		Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi Purpose) - LHD; Wasp - class planned and built as LHD 2
Builder:		Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
STATUS:		Awarded: September 10, 1986 Laid down: March 20, 1989 Launched: March 16, 1991 Commissioned: October 17, 1992 ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Pacific Fleet)
Homeport:		forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan
Namesake:		Traditionally; named in honor of the previous 4 ships which were named Essex; > see history, below;
Ship's Motto:		TAKE NOTICE
Technical Data: (Measures, Propulsion, Armament, Aviation, etc.)		see: INFO > Wasp class Amphibious Assault Ship - LHD
ship images
Indian Ocean - November 2011 Indian Ocean - November 2011 Okinawa, Japan - November 2011 AV-8B (VMA-214 ‘Black Sheep’) - South China Sea - October 2011 AV-8B’s (VMA-214 ‘Black Sheep’) - South China Sea - October 2011 Philippine Sea - October 2011 Philippine Sea - October 2011 Philippine Sea - October 2011 LCU-1627 - Philippine Sea - October 2011 AH-1W Super Cobra (HMM-265/REIN) - Philippine Sea - October 2011 Philippine Sea - October 2011 CH-46E Sea Knights (HMM-265/REIN) - Philippine Sea - October 2011 CH-46E Sea Knights (HMM-265/REIN) - Philippine Sea - October 2011 AV-8B Harriers - Philippine Sea - October 2011 Philippine Sea - September 2011 AH-1W Super Cobra - Philippine Sea - September 2011 Philippine Sea - September 2011 AV-8B Harrier II (VMA-214 Black Sheep) - Pacific Ocean - September 2011 Pacific Ocean - September 2011 CH-53E Sea Stallion (HMM-265) - Philippine Sea - June 2011 Sasebo, Japan - June 2011 MH-60S (HSC-25) - Sasebo, Japan - June 2011 White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan - April 2011 White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 Pacific Ocean - April 2011 CH-53E Sea Stallion (HMM-262) - Pacific Ocean - March 2011 Pacific Ocean - March 2011 Pacific Ocean - March 2011 Pacific Ocean - March 2011 Pacific Ocean - March 2011 Pacific Ocean - March 2011 China Sea - March 2011 Sepangar, Malaysia - March 2011 Gulf of Thailand - March 2011 Gulf of Thailand - February 2011 Exercise COBRA GOLD 2011 - Gulf of Thailand - February 2011 Exercise COBRA GOLD 2011 - Gulf of Thailand - February 2011 Gulf of Thailand - February 2011 Okinawa, Japan - January 2011 Okinawa, Japan - January 2011 East China Sea - January 2011 Philippine Sea - December 2010 JMSDF SH-60 helicopter lands aboard USS Essex - Philippine Sea - December 2010 Japanese Marine Self Defense Force LCAC - East China Sea - December 2010 Hong Kong - November 2010 Pacific Ocean - October 2010 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-29 missile launcher - East China Sea - September 2010 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was launched from a Mk-29 missile launcher - Philippine Sea - September 2010 Philippine Sea - September 2010 well deck view - Philippine Sea - September 2010 AV-8B Harrier II (VMA-542) - Philippine Sea - September 2010 AV-8B Harrier II (VMA-542) - Philippine Sea - September 2010 Okinawa, Japan - September 2010 Sea of Japan - September 2010 Sea of Japan - September 2010 Sea of Japan - March 2010 Subic Bay, Philippines - March 2010 South China Sea - March 2010 Gulf of Thailand - February 2010 Gulf of Thailand - February 2010 Gulf of Thailand - February 2010 Gulf of Thailand - February 2010 Gulf of Thailand - February 2010 Sasebo, Japan - January 2010 Sasebo, Japan - January 2010 Pacific Ocean - November 2009 Pacific Ocean - November 2009 Pacific Ocean - November 2009 Pacific Ocean - November 2009 Philippine Sea - November 2009 Philippine Sea - November 2009 Philippine Sea - November 2009 Philippine Sea - November 2009 Sasebo, Japan - October 2009 Sasebo, Japan - August 2009 Sasebo, Japan - August 2009 Philippine Sea - August 2009 Coral Sea - July 2009 Coral Sea - July 2009 Coral Sea - July 2009 Australian Navy light amphibian resupply cargo vessels (LARC) - Coral Sea - July 2009 Coral Sea - July 2009 East China Sea - May 2009 Subic Bay, Philippines - April 2009 Subic Bay, Philippines - April 2009 South China Sea - April 2009 Gulf of Thailand - February 2009 Gulf of Thailand - February 2009 Gulf of Thailand - February 2009 Gulf of Thailand - February 2009 MH-60S (HSC-25) - Sasebo, Japan - January 2009 Hong Kong - November 2008 Pacific Ocean - November 2008 South China Sea - October 2008 Pacific Ocean - October 2008 Okinawa, Japan - September 2008 Sasebo, Japan - September 2008 Sea of Japan - September 2008 Tokyo, Japan - August 2008 Tokyo, Japan - August 2008 Okinawa, Japan - June 2008 Sattahip, Thailand - June 2008 Andaman Sea - June 2008 Andaman Sea - June 2008 Andaman Sea - June 2008 Andaman Sea - June 2008 Andaman Sea - June 2008 Singapore Strait - June 2008 Andaman Sea - May 2008 Andaman Sea - May 2008 Andaman Sea - May 2008 Andaman Sea - May 2008 USS Juneau (LPD 10) and USS Essex (LHD 2) - Andaman Sea - May 2008 Andaman Sea - May 2008 Gulf of Thailand - May 2008 Gulf of Thailand - May 2008 Gulf of Thailand - May 2008 Gulf of Thailand - May 2008 East China Sea - March 2008 South China Sea - February 2008 Subic Bay, Philippines - February 2008 Pacific Ocean - February 2008 Sasebo, Japan - January 2008 Sasebo, Japan - January 2008 Sasebo, Japan - January 2008 Sihanoukville, Cambodia - November 2007 Gulf of Thailand - November 2007 Po’Hang, Korea - November 2007 Po’Hang, Korea - November 2007 Po’Hang, Korea - November 2007 Pacific Ocean - October 2007 Okinawa, Japan - October 2007 Subic Bay, Philippines - October 2007 Sasebo, Japan - July 2007 Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia - June 2007 Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia - June 2007 Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia - June 2007 Coral Sea - June 2007 Brisbane, Australia - June 2007 Exercise Talisman Sabre - June 2007 Exercise Talisman Sabre - June 2007 South China Sea - April 2007 Busan, Republic of Korea - April 2007 Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Exercise FOAL EAGLE 07 - Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Exercise FOAL EAGLE 07 - Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Sea of Japan - March 2007 Pacific Ocean - March 2007 Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Pohang, Republic of Korea - March 2007 Pacific Ocean - March 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 Sasebo, Japan - February 2007 Sasebo, Japan - February 2007 Sasebo, Japan - February 2007 Sasebo, Japan - December 2006 Pacific Ocean - November 2006 Pacific Ocean - November 2006 Pacific Ocean - November 2006 Philippine Sea - October 2006 South China Sea - October 2006 Pacific Ocean - October 2006 Yokosuka, Japan - September 2006 Pohang, Republic of Korea - April 2006 Yellow Sea - March 2006 Philippine Sea - February 2006 Leyte Gulf, Philippines - February 2006 Subic Bay, Philippines - February 2006 off the coast of the Philippines - February 2006 Sibuyan Sea - February 2006 Subic Bay, Philippines - February 2006 San Bernadino Straits, Philippines - February 2006 Philippine Sea - February 2006 Apra Harbor, Guam - February 2006 Sasebo, Japan - July 2005 MH-53E Sea Dragon (HM-15) - off Sumatra, Indonesia - January 2005 Persian Gulf - September 2004 Arabian Gulf - September 2004 Sasebo, Japan - June 2004 off the coast of the Republic of Korea - March 2004 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow SAM was launched from a Mk-29 missile launcher aboard USS Essex - February 2004 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow SAM was launched from a Mk-29 missile launcher aboard USS Essex - February 2004 Luzon, Philippines - September 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 White Beach Port Facility, Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 Okinawa, Japan - February 2003 September 2002 March 2002 Okinawa, Japan - October 2000 San Diego, California - October 1996 FF-1076 USS Fanning and LHD-2 USS Essex - San Diego, California - July 1993 commissioning ceremony - NAS North Island, California - October 17, 1992 commissioning ceremony - NAS North Island, California - October 17, 1992 commissioning ceremony - NAS North Island, California - October 17, 1992 Pascagoula, Mississippi - January 1991 (Ingalls photo - via DVIC) Pascagoula, Mississippi - January 1991 (Ingalls photo) Pascagoula, Mississippi - January 1991 (Ingalls photo) Pascagoula, Mississippi - January 1991 (Ingalls photo) keel laying ceremony - Pascagoula, Mississippi - March 1989 (Ingalls photo)
Namesake & History:
On October 25, 1798, a meeting of the sponsors of the first Essex was held to determine the type of vessel to be built. From the Salem Gazette of October 26, 1798, came the following announcement which read in part: “At a meeting in this town on Tuesday last, of those gentlemen who have subscribed to build a ship for the service of the United States, it was voted unanimously to build a frigate of 32 guns, and to loan the same to the government…” A month later, the frigate's builder, Enoch Briggs, advertised for shipbuilding materials in a ringing appeal: “Take Notice! Ye sons of freedom! Step forth and give your assistance in building the frigate to oppose French insolence and piracy! Let every man in possession of a white oak tree feel ambitious to be foremost in hurrying down the timber to Salem …where noble structure is to be fabricated and maintain your rights upon the seas and make the name of America respected among the nations of the world! Your longest and largest trees are wanted…four trees are wanted for the keel, which altogether measure 146 feet in length, and hew 16 inches square. Please call on the subscriber, who…will pay the ready cash.” The frigate was launched on September 30, 1799, before a crowd of 12,000 people. The expected war with France did not materialize, but in the War of 1812, the first Essex compiled a battle record unequaled by any other man-of-war, and by the close of 1813, Essex was the only vessel of worth to be operating (all others having been captured, damaged, or sunk). America was young. While struggling to establish economic and political stability under the new constitution, the United States faced continued threats from French naval forces against a new and thriving maritime industry. To protect these interests, Congress passed several acts to establish a token naval force; and on June 30, 1798, the act which enabled Essex to be built came into being. This act allowed the President to accept vessels of war from private citizens on the credit of thUnited States . In response to this action, 23 citizens of Salem , in the county of Essex , Massachusetts , opened a “Patriotic Subscription” on July 17, 1798, to build a vessel of war for the United States of America. That a legend was born... The second Essex, an ironclad steamer, was built in 1856 for use as a ferry. Originally NEW ERA, it was renamed Essex following purchase by the War Department on September 20, 1861. She participated in action against the Confederate forces on the cumberland and Tennessee rivers. She was decommissioned on July 20,1865. The third Essex, a wooden-screw steamer, was built by the United States at East Boston , Massachusetts , and was commissioned on October 3, 1876. Essex saw action with the North and South Atlantic Squadrons and on the Pacific and Asian stations. It returned to New York via the Suez canal and was placed out of commission in May 1889. (Later, this vessel became shipwrecked in Lake Superior.) The fourth Essex , was an aircraft carrier (CV 9) and came into duty as the lead ship in a class of World War II aircraft carriers. Commissioned in December 1942, she reported to the Pacific Fleet following shakedown cruises and embarked on a series of victories that would take her to Tokyo Bay . As the flagship of Task Force 14, CV 9 struck Wake Island in October 1943, launched an attack on the Gilbert Islands, and participated in her first amphibious assault (against Tarawa) in November, then moved on to the Marshall Islands, Truk and the Marianas, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam in early 1944. In the closing days of the war, Essex took part in the final telling raids against the Japanese home islands. She was decommissioned in 1947, then modernized and recommissioned in 1951, with a new flight deck and streamlined superstructure. As flagship for Carrier Division 1, she was the first carrier to launch twin-engine F2H “Banshee” jet fighters in support of troops in Korea . She was reclassified (CVA 9) on October 1, 1952. Following her Korean action, she was again modernized, this time with an angled flight deck, and saw duty in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in the late 1950s. She was decommissioned July 30, 1969.
USS Essex (LHD 2): USS Essex (LHD-2) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned on 17 October 1992, after being built at what is now the Northrop Grumman Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Dick Cheney, then the Secretary of Defense in the first Bush Administration, spoke at the commissioning ceremony; the Essex was moored at North Island NAS, next to the Kitty Hawk (CV-63). Essex conducted an arduous and highly successful training program, during the spring of 1993, and on August 18th, she was undergoing upgrades, during Post Shakedown Availability, in Long Beach harbor until November 23rd while her crew was at 4 section duty. Her maiden deployment was in October 1994. With the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked, Essex showcased her abilities on numerous occasions. The highlight of the deployment came in January of 1995, when she left the Persian Gulf to prepare for the complex task of covering the withdrawal of UN multinational force from Somalia in Operation United Shield. Under fire from advancing Somalis, every member of the force was successfully extracted. Essex returned to San Diego on 25 April 1995. After a short maintenance period, Essex embarked on a vigorous workup cycle, culminating in her participation in RIMPAC ’96, a biennial, seven-nation naval exercise. On 10 October 1996, she embarked on her second Western Pacific deployment, with the 11th MEU (SOC) and Amphibious Squadron FIVE. During the deployment, Essex participated in multinational exercises with Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, as well as Exercise Tandem Thrust ’97, an American-Australian combined exercise with over 28,000 troops, 250 aircraft and 40 ships participating. Upon her return in April 1997, Essex again went into a short maintenance period, followed by a shortened workup cycle. She then departed for her third Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf deployment on 22 June 1998 with the 15th MEU (SOC) and Amphibious Squadron FIVE. Essex participated in Exercises Sea Soldier and Red Reef, and participated in Military SALT and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations with the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. Additionally, Essex supported Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the UN-mandated no-fly zone over southern Iraq. On 26 July 2000, after successful completion of the largest crew swap in U.S. Navy history, Essex replaced Belleau Wood (LHA-3) and inherited the distinctive role as the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed Amphibious Assault Ship in Sasebo, Japan. In the role, Essex participated in humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations in East Timor in October and November 2001; Foal Eagle in Korea in 2002; and the Philippines mudslide recovery in February 2006. In 2004, Essex carried the 31st MEU to Kuwait. Along with Harpers Ferry and Juneau. Essex stayed in the Persian Gulf while the 31st MEU and the combat element 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, went into Iraq for the Battle of Fallujah. During that time, Essex went to aid in the Humanitarian missions in Banda Aceh, Indonesia after the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2005. She then returned to the Persian Gulf to embark the 31st MEU and the combat element despite being in need of maintenance. After picking up the MEU and the Combat Element, the three ships returned to Okinawa, Japan. The ship had been at sea a total of 8 months. 2010 - During October 21 - 23, the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group provided humanitarian assistance/disaster relief to the Philippines after the Super Typhoon Juan (international name Megi) caused extensive destruction to municipalities along the eastern coast of the Province of Isabela. Despite the effort of the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st MEU, and elements of the 3rd MEB and Marine Air Group 36, no Humanitarian Service Medal and/or Philippine Presidential Unit Citation were awarded. 2011 - On the request for assistance from the Japanese government, the Navy directed the Essex to be deployed off the northeastern coast of Honshu after the massive 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The ship was involved in relief activities in the Sea of Japan off Akita Prefecture. Helicopters from the ship helped deliver relief supplies to quake and tsunami survivors along the northeast coast of Tohoku. The ship departed Sasebo in September 2011 for a patrol of the western Pacific. Accompanying the ship were the USS Germantown (LSD-42) and USS Denver (LPD-9). Since her commissioning, Essex has received numerous awards, including all of the warfare excellence awards, seven Battle “E” awards (most recently in 2006), the Golden Anchor Award for retention, the Ney Award for food service excellence, the Thompson Award for public affairs excellence, the Ogden Award for firefighting excellence, and the Chief of Naval Operations and Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific Safety Award.
patches
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