![]() ![]() The ships are 843 feet in length and can carry up to three dozen aircraft on the flight deck in a mix of fixed-wing and rotorcraft platforms. These ships have been in commission since 1989 and are capable of transporting a full 2,000-strong Marine Expeditionary Unit, with fighter jets, helicopters and combat vehicles. Wasp-Class Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD-1) The classes of amphibious ships include the following: Erik Kurilla, who heads Central Command, said the additional forces “provide unique capabilities, which alongside our partner nations in the region, further safeguard the free flow of international commerce and uphold the rules based international order, and deter Iranian destabilizing activities in the region.The Navy's amphibious ships, sometimes called miniature carriers, are used to deploy Marines and sailors forward around the world for training, combat and humanitarian missions. The fighter aircraft are intended to give air cover for the commercial ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran. Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz early this month, opening fire on one of them. There also have been A-10 attack aircraft there for several weeks in response to the Iranian activity. The deployment comes on the heels of decisions in recent weeks to send the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer, and a number of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the region. It was unclear Thursday if all three ships would continue into the Gulf region. ![]() The group left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier this month. Along with the Bataan, the group includes two other warships, the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Carter Hall. ![]()
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