Amphibious Assault Ship
LHD 6 - USS Bonhomme Richard
Type, Class:		Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi Purpose) - LHD; Wasp - class planned and built as LHD 6
Builder:		Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
STATUS:		Awarded: December 11, 1992 Laid down: April 18, 1995 Launched: March 14, 1997 Commissioned: August 15, 1998 ACTIVE / in service (Pacific Fleet)
Homeport:		San Diego, California (scheduled for forward deployment to Yokosuka, Japan in spring 2012)
Namesake:		named in honor of John Paul Jones’ famous frigate “Bonhomme Richard” > see history, below;
Ship's Motto:		I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT
Technical Data: (Measures, Propulsion, Armament, Aviation, etc.)		see: INFO > Wasp class Amphibious Assault Ship - LHD
ship images
San Diego - November 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 San Francisco, California - October 2011 Pacific Ocean - October 2011 Pacific Ocean - October 2011 Pacific Ocean - October 2011 Seattle, Washington - August 2011 Seattle, Washington - August 2011 Seattle, Washington - August 2011 Seattle, Washington - August 2011 Everett, Washington - August 2011 Pacific Ocean - July 2011 Pacific Ocean - July 2011 San Diego, California - July 2011 San Diego, California - July 2011 San Diego, California - April 2011 San Diego, California - April 2011 San Diego, California - January 2011 San Diego, California - December 2010 San Diego, California - December 2010 San Diego, California - December 2010 San Diego, California - December 2010 Bonhomme Richard (l) and Makin Island (LHD-8) (r) - San Diego, California - November 2010 San Diego, California - October 2010 San Diego, California - September 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pacific Ocean - July 2010 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow live fire exercise - RIMPAC 2010 - Pacific Ocean - July 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010 with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) (left) - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010 Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Pacific Ocean - June 2010 USS Freedom (LCS-1) with USS Bonhomme Richard - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 USS Freedom (LCS-1) with USS Bonhomme Richard - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 Exercise DAWN BLITZ - Pacific Ocean - June 2010 San Diego, California - April 2010 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - April 2010 Gulf of Aden - December 2009 Savu Sea - October 2009 Pacific Ocean - September 2009 San Diego, California - September 2009 Pacific Ocean - August 2009 Pacific Ocean - August 2009 Pacific Ocean - July 2009 Pacific Ocean - July 2009 Pacific Ocean - July 2009 Pacific Ocean - July 2009 San Francisco, California - October 2008 off Hawaii - July 2008 off Hawaii - July 2008 off Hawaii - July 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2008 San Diego, California - November 2007 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - November 2007 with USS Denver (LPD-9) - Arabian Sea - May 2007 with USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) . Arabian Sea - May 2007 between USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) - Arabian Sea - May 2007 Gulf of Oman - May 2007 Gulf of Oman - May 2007 Pacific Ocean - May 2007 Pacific Ocean - May 2007 Santa Rita, Guam - April 2007 San Diego, California - April 2007 Pacific Ocean - February 2007 San Francisco, California - October 2006 San Diego - October 2006 San Francisco - October 2006 Pacific Ocean - September 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pacific Ocean - July 2006 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2006 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2006 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2006 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2006 Pacific Ocean - May 2006 off California - April 2006 off California - April 2006 Seattle, Washington - August 2005 Seattle, Washington - August 2005 Seattle, Washington - August 2005 Seattle, Washington - August 2005 Pacific Ocean - July 2005 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - May 2005 Persian Gulf - January 2005 Indian Ocean - January 2005 Indian Ocean - January 2005 Indian Ocean - January 2005 Pacific Ocean - December 2004 Pearl Harbor - December 2004 Pearl Harbor - December 2004 San Diego - December 2004 Pacific Ocean - April 2004 Pacific Ocean - April 2004 San Diego - July 2003 San Diego - July 2003 San Diego - July 2003 San Diego - July 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - January 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - January 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - January 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - January 2003 Operation Enduring Freedom - January 2003 San Diego - January 2003 San Diego - January 2003 San Diego - January 2003 San Diego - January 2003 San Diego - October 1998 Pascagoula, Mississippi - March 1997
Namesake & History:
The Frigate Bonhomme Richard In 1765 a 900-ton merchant vessel, DUC DE DURAS, was built in France for the East India Company for trading between France and the Orient. In nearly ten years, that ship would play a historic role in America's fight for independence. As the Revolutionary War raged on in the Colonies, the newly founded Continental Congress began gathering a small navy and immediately realized huge privateer successes at cutting down the English war efforts in North America. Those successes prompted the Continental Congress to send Benjamin Franklin as an Ambassador in 1777 to advise the French Court and garner more European support for the American war effort. The King of France obliged in 1779 by donating the DUC DE DURAS to the American cause. On February 4, 1779, the Continental Congress placed this fleet under the command of the 33 year old, Captain John Paul Jones. Swiftly, Jones refitted the DUC DE DURAS increasing her firepower to 20 guns a side, and renamed her BONHOMME RICHARD. Jones sought an honorable ship's name that would be equally important to America and France. Captain John Paul Jones chose the Pen Name of Benjamin Franklin, the Ambassador to France, and author of "Poor Richard's Almanack." This early 18th century journal urged common men to seek out roles in the public sphere and shape their own destinies. Clearly, his journal helped forge the will that resulted in the American Revolution. The Battle against HMS Serapis On June 19, 1779, Jones sailed BONHOMME RICHARD from L' Orient, France accompanied by ALLIANCE, PALLAS, VEGEANCE, and CERF. Their mission: to escort troop transports and merchant vessels under convoy to Bordeaux, France and cruise against the British in the Bay of Biscay. Forced to return to port for repairs, Jones' squadron sailed again August 14, 1779. Going northwest around the British Isles into the North Sea and down the eastern seaboard of Great Britain, the squadron swiftly took 16 merchant vessels as prizes. On the evening of September 23, 1779, they encountered the Baltic Fleet of 41 near the English shore of Flamborough Head. Sailing for England, the Fleet was under convoy of the newly built frigate HMS SERAPIS (50 guns) and the small sloop COUNTESS OF SCARBOROUGH (20 GUNS). Before the British fleet could respond, BONHOMME RICHARD lashed out at SERAPIS igniting a bitter struggle that would last the entire night. Early in the battle, the guns of Jones' main battery exploded, temporarily disabling his ship. Under gunned, Jones' relied on decisive naval strategies and the might of his crew to out-fight the more powerful SERAPIS. To offset the SERAPIS' speed, Jones lashed his flagship alongside and continued the fight long after his subordinates regarded the situation as hopeless. Burning, sinking, and scattered with the dead and wounded, BONHOMME RICHARD lit up the darkness with a constant barrage. Jones struggled to keep his vessel afloat and, in one instance, an overwhelming number of prisoners in hold threatened to rush the deck to save from drowning. Jones defied all odds and continued the fight against Captain Pearson's SERAPIS. In the final hour, BONHOMME RICHARD'S mast was hit above the top-sail. Along with her Colors, a large section of the mast came crashing to the deck near Jones, feet. In response to the downfallen colors, SERAPIS called out, "Have you struck your Colors?" Resoundingly, John Paul Jones exclaimed, "Struck Sir? I have not yet begun to fight!" And fight they did. With newfound will, his crew delivered decisive blows from all sides and aloft. Jones' sent 40 Marines and Sailors into the rigging with grenades and muskets. Decimated, SERAPIS could not avoid defeat and at 2230 she struck her Colors. Victorious, John Paul Jones commandeered SERAPIS and sailed her to Holland for repairs. Sadly, BONHOMME RICHARD sank at 1100 on September 24, 1779, never to rise from her watery grave. This epic battle was the American Navy's first-ever defeat of an English ship in English waters! Rallying colonial hope for freedom, Jones' victory established him to many as "The Father of the American Navy."
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6): Commissioning: USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) departed its building yard, Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 8 August 1998, sailing into Pensacola Harbor at Naval Air Station Pensacola for commissioning activities and culminating with the main ceremony, which was held on Saturday, 15 August 1998. U.S. Representative John P. Murtha, of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District delivered the principal commissioning address. The Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton, placed the new ship in commission. Congressman Murtha's wife, Mrs. Joyce Murtha, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, served as Ship's Sponsor for LHD-6, and christened the ship at Ingalls in May 1997. During LHD-6's commissioning, Mrs. Murtha gave the traditional order to "Man our ship and bring her to life!" Other commissioning participants of note included Mississippi's Fifth District Representative, Congressman Gene Taylor; Admiral Donald L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Patricia Tracey, USN, Chief of Naval Education & Training; and Jerry St. Pe', Senior Vice President of Litton Industries and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Deployments: USS Bonhomme Richard off Oahu the day of her arrival for RIMPAC 2008. Operation Southern Watch (24 January 2000 to 24 July 2000)- First (WESTPAC) deployment of US naval ships in the 2000s. Operation Enduring Freedom (1 December 2001 to 18 June 2002) Operation Iraqi Freedom (17 January 2003 to 26 July 2003) Bonhomme Richard played two significant roles in Operation Iraqi Freedom. First, it offloaded more than 1,000 Marines and gear from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines into Kuwait. Then after delivering her attack and transport helicopters, troops, and vehicles she took up position just miles off the coast of Kuwait and became one of two Harrier Carriers along with USS Bataan (LHD-5) in the Persian Gulf—launching AV-8B Harrier strike aircraft into Iraq. Pilots from Marine Attack Squadrons 211 and 311, embarked aboard Bonhomme Richard, expended more than 175,000 pounds (79,000 kg) of ordnance, providing close air support to the Marines on the ground and during predetermined strikes in Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom the Bonhomme Richard launched more than 800 sorties, including 547 combat launches. Operation Iraqi Freedom (6 December 2004 to TBD) Detached to Sri Lanka to provide support for relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunamis. On 4 January 2005: Helping airlift relief supplies to the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Operation Unified Assistance (5 January 2005 to February 2005) On a port visit in Guam on 28 December, Bonhomme Richard and her expeditionary strike group were ordered to the Indian Ocean to help in relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Her helicopters flew supplies and medical personnel into various areas of Indonesia, as well as evacuating the wounded. RIMPAC 2006, July 2006. Maneuvers in the Kaulakahi Channel (between Kauai and Niihau Islands, Hawaii), near PMRF. (23 May 2007 to November 2007) Joined with two carrier groups (USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz) off the coast of Iran to carry out previously unannounced air and sea exercises. RIMPAC 2008, July 2008. Maneuvers in the Kaulakahi Channel (between Kauai and Niihau Islands, Hawaii), near PMRF. WESTPAC September 2009 to April 2010. Deployed to the Fifth and Seventh Fleet areas of operations. RIMPAC 2010, July 2010. Maneuvers in the Kaulakahi Channel (between Kauai and Niihau Islands, Hawaii) near PMRF Unit awards: 2006 Battle Efficiency Award 2005 Command, Control, Communications and Information Warfare Excellence Award Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award 2004 Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award 2003 Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award 2002 Battle Efficiency Award Maritime Warfare Excellence Award Engineering Excellence Award Command, Control, Communications and Information Warfare Excellence Award Green 'H' Force Wellness Award Ney Award Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Intelligence Excellence Award 2001 Battle Efficiency Award Navy Unit Commendation (September 11, 2001 to 3 March 2002) CNO Safety Award Maritime Warfare Excellence Award Engineering Excellence Award Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award Allen G. Ogden Award Ney Award 2000 Battle Efficiency Award CNO Safety Award Maritime Warfare Excellence Award Engineering Excellence Award Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award Allen G. Ogden Award Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (22 March 2000 to 8 June 2000) 1999 CNO Safety Award Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award Allen G. Ogden Award 1998 Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award source: wikipedia
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