SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	AMPHIBOUS ASSAULT (LHD)
CLASS	WASP
OFFICIAL NAME	USS ESSEX
PENNANT NUMBER	2
NICKNAME	THE IRON GATOR
MOTTO	TAKE NOTICE
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	09/10/1986
KEEL LAYING DATE	03/20/1989
LAUNCH DATE	02/23/1991
DELIVERY DATE	07/10/1992
COMMISSION DATE	10/17/1992
PLANNING YARD	NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD, NORFOLK, VA
NAVSEA PMS	470
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	ACTIVE DUTY
HOMEPORT	SASEBO, JAPAN
MAILING ADDRESS	FPO, AP, 96643-1661
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	21533
TYPE COMMANDER	SURFPAC
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	EXPSTRKGRU 7
SQUADRON COMMAND	PHIBRON 11

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS

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LHD 2 | USS ESSEX

Namesake:

Legacy Name

While struggling to establish economic and political stability under her new constitution, the United States faced continued threats from French Naval Forces against a new and thriving maritime industry. To protect these interests, Congress passed several acts to establish a token naval force and on 30 June 1798, the act which enabled ESSEX to be built came into being. This act allowed the President to accept vessels of war from private citizens on the credit of the United States.

In response to this action, 23 citizens of Salem, Massachusetts, opened a "Patriotic Subscription" on 17 July 1798 to build a vessel of war for the United Stars of America. And so it came to pass that a legend was born. On 25 October 1798, a meeting of the sponsors of the first ESSEX was held to determine the type of vessel to be built. From the Salem Gazette of 26 October 1798 came the following announcement which read in part: "At a meeting in this town on Tuesday last, of those gentlemen who have subscribed to build a ship for the service of the United States, it was voted unanimously to build a frigate of 32 guns, and to loan the same to the government ...."

A month later, the frigate's builder, Enoch Briggs, advertised for shipbuilding materials in a ringing appeal: "Take notice! Ye sons of freedom! Step forth and give your assistance in building the frigate to oppose French insolence and piracy! Let every man in possession of a white oak tree feel ambitious to be foremost in hurrying down the timber to Salem ... Where noble structure is to be fabricated to maintain your rights upon the seas and make the name of America respected among the nations of the world! Your largest and longest trees are wanted ... Four trees are wanted for the keel, which altogether will measure 146 feet in length, and hew 16 inches square. Please call on the subscriber, who ... Will pay the ready cash." The frigate was launched on 30 September 1799, before a crowd of 12,000 people.

The expected war with France did not materialize, but in the War of 1812, the first ESSEX compiled a record of battle unequaled by any other man-of-war and by the close of 1813, ESSEX was the only vessel of worth to be operating; all others having been captured, damaged or sunk.

The second ESSEX, an ironclad steamer, was built in 1856 for use as a ferry. Originally NEW ERA, she was renamed ESSEX following purchase by the War Department on 20 September 1861. She was assigned duty with the Western Flotilla, an organization maintained, operated and controlled by the Army, but commanded by a naval officer. She participated in action against Confederate Forces on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, culminating in the capture of Fort Henry, Tennessee, a battle in which she was seriously damaged. After extensive repairs, she returned to duty and saw action at Vicksburg and Baton Rouge before being decommissioned on 20 July 1865.

The third ESSEX, a wooden-screw steamer, was built by the United States at East Boston, Massachusetts, and was commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 3 October 1876. Regarded as one of the finest ships of the Fleet, ESSEX saw action with the North and South Atlantic Squadrons and on the Pacific and Asiatic Stations. She returned to New York via the Suez Canal and was placed out of commission in May 1889. She was then designated as a training ship. ESSEX spent the next 14 years at Annapolis and then was lent to the Naval Militia of Ohio and eventually was assigned to the Naval Reserve of the State of Minnesota before being stricken from the record in 1930.

Most recently, an aircraft carrier (CV-9) carried the name ESSEX into Fleet duty as the lead ship in a class of World War II aircraft carriers. Commissioned in December 1942, she reported to the Pacific Fleet following shakedown cruises, and embarked on a series of victories that would take her to Tokyo Bay. As flagship of Task Force 14, CV-9 struck Wake Island in October 1943, launched an attack on the Gilbert Islands and participated in her first amphibious assault, against Tarawa in November, then moved on to the Marshall Islands, Truk and the Marianas, Saipan, Tinian and Guam in early 1944. After her first overhaul, she returned to the Pacific, continuing her frontline action. In late 1944, for the first time in her far-ranging operations, ESSEX received injury. A kamikaze hit the port edge of her flight deck landing among planes gassed for takeoff, causing extensive damage, killing 15 and wounding 44. USS Essex (CV-9).

In the closing days of the war, ESSEX took part in the final telling raids against the Japanese home islands. She was decommissioned in 1947, then modernized and recommissioned in 1951, with a new flight deck and streamlined superstructure. As flag ship for Carrier Division 1, she was the first carrier to launch twin-engine "Banshee" jet fighters in support of U.N. Troops in Korea. She was reclassified (CVA-9) on 1 October 1952. Following her Korean action, she was again modernized, this time with an angled flight deck, and saw duty in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in the late 1950s.

In 1960, ESSEX was converted to an ASW support carrier, reclassified (CVS-9) and participated in various NATO exercises. On 22 October 1968 ESSEX recovered the Apollo 7 astronauts in the Atlantic and was decommissioned 30 July 1969. Over her 27 year career, ESSEX was credited with sinking 92 and damaging 217 ships and destroying 1,564 aircraft. The Navy's top ace of World war II, Medal of Honor winner Commander David McCampbell, flew from the deck of the ESSEX, shooting down 34 enemy planes. She received the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for World War II service (equaled by none in her class and only Enterprise earned more) and the Navy Unit Commendation and four battle stars for action in Korea.

USS ESSEX (LHD-2) is the second ship in the all new WASP (LHD-1) class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships and was commissioned on October 17, 1992 in San Diego, CA. The mission of the ESSEX is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea, as the centerpiece of the Navy's amphibious strategy...From the Sea.

ESSEX is designed to carry a full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, Harrier II (AV-8B) Jump Jets, Air Cushion Landing Craft (LCAC), and many other landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

ESSEX is 844 feet long, with two steam propulsion plants to drive the 44,000 ton ship to speeds in excess of 24 knots. The ship's living spaces can support 3,200 crew members and embarked troops.

USS ESSEX (LHD-2) is the 5th ship to bear the name dating back to the frigate which was launched in Salem, Mass. on September 30, 1799.

Mission:

USS Essex (LHD 2) is the second ship to be commissioned in the WASP-class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships. The principle mission of Essex is to conduct prompt, sustained operations at sea, primarily as the centerpiece and flagship of the Amphibious Ready Group. LHDs provide the means to transport, deploy, command and support all elements of a Marine landing force of over 2,000 troops during an assault by air and amphibious craft.

Designed to be versatile, Essex has the option of simultaneously using helicopters, Harrier jets, and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC), as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles in various combinations. LHDs missions, while operating with an aircraft carrier battle group. The ship's extensive medical facilities consist of six medical operating rooms, four dental operating rooms, medical laboratories and hospital facilities capable of caring for 600 patients.

In carrying out its primary mission, the 844-foot long, 44,000-ton Essex will transport and land ashore troops, tanks, trucks, artillery, and other supplies necessary to support an assault.

Historical Notes:

After commissioning the ESSEX departed San Diego on her maiden deployment on October 25, 1994 during which, was a major participant in the withdrawal of the Multinational force from Somalia in Operation United Shield.

On its second deployment the ship and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Operation Southern Watch/ Exercise; Eager Mace off the coast of Kuwait and Exercise; Tandem Thrust off the coast of Australia.

In July 2000, ESSEX took part in the Navy's largest crew swap to date when she arrived in Sasebo, Japan to relieve the USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) which was forward deployed to Sasebo since the fall of 1992. The swap was part of a planned rotation of forward deployed naval forces in Japan, and was the third crew-swap exchange. The ships’ crews simply switched ships, minimizing the impact of moving families from homeport to homeport. Sailors in Sasebo assigned to USS BELLEAU WOOD, moved on to ESSEX, while Sailors from San Diego assigned to ESSEX moved aboard BELLEAU WOOD. BELLEAU WOOD and the San Diego-based crew then returned to San Diego in mid-August to begin overhaul and maintenance cycles.

ESSEX departed San Diego in July 2000 to replace USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) successfully completing the largest hull swap in U. S. Navy history. ESSEX then inherited the distinctive role as the Navy’s only forward-deployed multi-purpose amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan. In that role ESSEX provided Humanitarian Assistance and disaster relief operations to East Timor in October 2001.

After completing Exercises Foal Eagle and Cobra Gold ESSEX departed in August 2004 for her fourth deployment with the 31st MEU (SOC). ESSEX served as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three (ESG 3) flagship. While on deployment to the Arabian Gulf in January 2005, ESSEX received additional tasking to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in Indonesia for the victims of the Tsunami.

ESSEX was again deployed for Humanitarian Assistance in February 2006 helping the survivors of the Leyte mudslide in the Philippines. In March 2006 ESSEX arrived at Iwo Jima to participate in the 61st Anniversary of the historic World War II Battle. ESSEX was called upon in November 2006 to provide security, medical and communication support to the President of the United States during his visit to the Western Pacific.

Continuing to lead U.S. Navy’s strategic engagement initiative, in 2007 ESSEX successfully conducted combined operations with the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, and Australia. ESSEX capped off her 2007 deployment schedule with a historic visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia. ESSEX’ visit to Cambodia marked the first time an amphibious assault ship has ever visited the country.

In 2008 ESSEX once again conducted annual training exercises with the partner nations of the Republic of the Philippines, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Korea. Early in 2008 ESSEX was called upon to be in position to render aid to Burma in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. ESSEX remained on station for over three weeks, prepared to render aid but were rebuffed by the ruling government.

Early 2009, ESSEX completed a successful exercise Cobra Gold, which had been cut short the previous year. ESSEX followed this with exercise Balikatan with the Republic of the Philippines. ESSEX then got underway in support of exercise Talisman Saber 2009 and conducted various welldeck and flight deck evolutions in support of this joint bi-lateral exercise between the U.S. and Australian military forces. Since her commissioning, ESSEX has received seven Battle Efficiency awards and numerous other awards, including all of the warfare excellence awards, numerous Golden Anchor awards for retention, and two Ney awards for food service excellence.

Ship's Crest:

Supporters: The amphibious insignia over the Pacific Ocean symbolizes amphibious operations from the oceans of the world.

The Shield: The gold line joining the blue of the Navy and the scarlet of the Marine Corps shows the unity of the two services. The gold border shows the unity required of amphibious operations. The 2 stands for LHD 2.

The Crest: The bald eagle with a shield on its breast is representative of the eagle used in the coat of arms of the fourth ship to bear the name USS ESSEX. The Marine officer’s sword grasped in the eagle’s talons is showing that the embarked Marine units are USS ESSEX’s main battery. The red banner stands for sacrifice and valor required to win the thirteen battle stars in World War II and the four in the Korean War. The Black color for the motto is meant to stand out for all to read and heed. The white border on the banner and the white stars symbolize the purity of cause for which the ship serves and the stars were won.

Motto: The motto refers to the notice that went out to people of Essex County, Massachusetts, to raise funds for the building of the first ESSEX.