NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) departed Norfolk Naval Station April 9 for the European Command Area of Responsibility to support the redeployment of U.S. Marine Corps assets in theater.
Wasp, commanded by Capt. Daniel H. Fillion, is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship homeported in Norfolk.
The Wasp-class of amphibious warship has as its primary mission, the support of a Marine Landing Force and is specifically designed to accommodate Landing Craft, Air Cushion for fast troop movement over the beach and AV-8B Harrier II vertical/short takeoff and landing jets which provide close-in air support for the assault force. LHD 1, which is 844 feet long with a beam of 106 feet, also accommodates the full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, conventional landing craft, and amphibious vehicles.
The Wasp is crewed by 1,075 Sailors and can accommodate 1,600 embarked Marines.
