USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)

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USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), nicknamed "Big Dawg", is the third United States Navy Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship. She is the second ship named after the battle of Belleau Wood in World War I.

Related Topics:
United States Navy - ''Tarawa''-class - Amphibious assault ship - Battle of Belleau Wood - World War I

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Her keel was laid down on 5 March 1973 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was launched on 11 April 1977, and commissioned on 23 September 1978, Captain T.C. Steele in command.

Related Topics:
5 March - 1973 - Pascagoula, Mississippi - Ingalls Shipbuilding - 11 April - 1977 - 23 September - 1978

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Belleau Wood is the third of five ships in a new class of general-purpose amphibious assault ships and combines in one ship type the functions previously performed by four different types: the amphibious assault ship (LPH), the amphibious transport dock (LPD), the amphibious cargo ship (LKA), and the dock landing ship (LSD). She is capable of landing elements of a United States Marine Corps battalion landing team and their supporting equipment by landing craft, by helicopters, or by a combination of both.

Related Topics:
Amphibious transport dock - Amphibious cargo ship - Dock landing ship - United States Marine Corps - Landing craft - Helicopter

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