Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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HELO I-LANG ER VEHICILE STORAGE WELL DECK WORKCENTERS f OFFICE 1 1 nm rim Nl a ANI H 1 DNTIU ll . CARGO SHOPS Al 1 1 DMI, mA'u1'1c DNS PROPULSION HOSPITAL LENGTH: 844 FEET 3 MO B . 106 FEET 2 EIGHT-CELL SEA SPARROW . 2 NATO SEASPARROW DISPLA . 40,5111 TONS MEDICAL 8 FIFYY-CAL MACHINE GUNS SPEED: ZHKNUPS CAPABILITIIE 6 OPERATING ROOMS PROPUISION: 2 STEAM IIJILERS AMPHIBIOUS LII I': soo-BED WARD 70,0111 S1-fp 1UII4VA.LEN'T OF 42 CH-43 AOOOMODATIONS 1 174 CREWIZYYO TROOPS SEA ooN'rRoL SI-lIPt CINCLUDING 6 AV-Slkl LANDING CRAFIE 3 LCACS Z1 AV-8'Bsl4-6 SH 605 l1JlSllll'N1l5SlUN Our Mission and Capabilities... USS, Kean-urge CLHD 37 is the third Ship ol' the Wasp multipurpose amphibious assault Ship. Her mission is to load, transport., and land troops and their equipment in Support of amphibious operations anywhere in the world. Oixerationally, Kearsarge Serves as the com- mand Ship of an Amphibious Ready Group and is capable of Supporting a complement of ZX!! Marines and the az-Fault craft required to hit the beach both from air and Sea. Kearmuge is also home to 1000 Sailors, who live and work closely with the embarked troops Kearsarge serves as a launch pltform for up to three LCACS Clanding craft, air cushionx numerous trucks and land transport vehicles: und a combination of helicopters CCH-46, Cl-I-53, and oth:-mi. These provide the ship with the ability to conduct Search-and-rescue mia-iiona close air Support evacuation of personnel, and movement of thousands of Marines to the beach. The Ship also boasts a fully integrated communications and intelligence Suite, medical and dental facilities wich can Support up to G00 patients in addition to the crew, ref ueling-atfafn Stations for the hp zmd all her embarkexl craft, and numerous crew amenities Such as a gym, Satellite television, a.nd even our own radio shows! Armarnent is primarily defensive, including NATO Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, Rolling Air Frarne anti-air missiles, and Closeln Weapons System KCIWSJ air defenz-11 guna The Ship is powered by two 600-poundtpsil hoilersg Steam turbines provide electricity as well as turning two propulsion Shafts. Kean-:urge achieves upward of 21 knots Lhmugh the water. Since World War II, warfighting rloctrine elnpha.-rizxes the critical importance of flexibility and projection of power ashore. AS clemonstaterl by Kearsargds employment in virtually every major uphcnval in her operating area during all three of her tleploymenta this Ship is truly at the heart of the next millenium?-1 Navy.

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HISTORY USS E CCVXCVAICVS 337 C1945-19705 The aircraft carrier Keuirsarge, the third ship to bear the name, was authorized by Cbngress in 1942 and conqlnissioned in May 1945. In February 1950, she headed to Puget Sound, Washington where she was briefly decorninissioned in order to fit her to carry modern jet aircraft. Following her recorninissioning in 1952, she joined Task Force 77 off the east coast of Korea with Captain Louis B. French, United States Navy, in command. During the Korean War, Kearsarge launched over 6000 sorties. The ship was awarded two battle stars for her valiant efforts. In 1958, Kearsarge was fitted out as an antisubmarine warfa.re support carrier CCVSJ. On August 1, 1962, she left Naval Station Long Beach, California, to position herself on station in the Pacific Ocean as a recovery platform for Mercury astronaut Walter Schirra. Kearsarge also recovered astronaut Gordon Cooper on May 18, 1963, following his completion of 22 orbits of Earth in the capsule 'Faith Seven . On June 19, 1964, Kearsarge commenced her ninth Far East deployment. She was dispatched to the South China Sea following North Vietnamese patrol boat attack on US. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Kearsarge provided antisubmarine protection for all ships attached to Seventh Fleet, as well as latmching planes to destroy North Vietnamese oil supply depots. The succew of these endeavors severely crippled the North Vietnamese Cbmmunist offensive and earned five battle and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the ship. Following her outstanding in the Vietnam War, Kearsarge was decomrnissioned in 1970. USS E QLI-ID 31 C1993 - Launched on March 26, 1992, LI-ID-3 was christened GE on May 16, 1992, at Ingalls Shipbuilding by lVIrs. Alrna Powell, wife of General Colin L. Powell, USA, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. USS KEARSARGE was cornrnissioned October 16, 1993 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. ' GE departed for her maiden deployment on March 2, 1995, Where she served as the primary platform for the rescue of Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady after he was shot down over KEARSARGE began her second deployment on April 15, 1997, relieving USS NASSAU CLHA4D off the coast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Cformerly Zaireb in support of Operation Guardian Retrieval on May 2, 1997. GE was later directed to Freetown, Sierra Leone to conduct a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation in support of Operation Noble Obelisk. On May 31, KEARSARGE evacuated more than 2,500 Aniericans and foregn nationals from more than 40 countries. The evacuees were transported to Conakry, Guinea. On April 17, 1999, Kearsarge embarked on her third deploynient. Perforrning a turnover with the NASSAU ARG while underway, ' 'E made best speed to the Adriatic where she performed various operations off the coast of Kosovo, including Opertation NOBLE ANVILXALLIED FORCE and establishment of Camp Hope in Fier, On JUne 7, Operation JOINT GUARDIAN began The 26th MEUCSOCJ was offloaded June 10th Litokhoron Beach, Greece, for movement to Skopje, Nlacedonia. The U.S. were the first peacekeeping gorce to enter Kosovo. After completing operations in Kosovo and while visiting Palma de Mallorca, Spain, KEARSARGE was ordered to transit across the Meditteranean Sea to Turkey after a devastating earthquake killed 12,000 people. On April 25, 2001, KEARSARGE departed Naval Station Norfolk for her fourth deployment to the Mediterranean. The ship served as a platform for the United State Organiyation CUSOD Gala, marking the 60th anniversary of the organization, participated in exercises and supported the President of the United States dLu'ing the G 8 summit in Cknoa, Italy. KEARSARGE has been awarded the Golden Anchor for Retention Excellence, Navy Unit Cbininendation, Meritorious Unit Ckimmenc lation, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal for Kosovo Operations, Battle Efficiency E , the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Ronald Rftmgan Distinguised Service Award and the Cbrninander Naval Force Atlantic Safety Award. HLWIY DRY I 9

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