Re: World-Wide Aircraft Carriers
Jeff..Did you know that the USN has decomissioned the USS Belleau Wood LHA-3. I was surprised..Here's an article from USN news stand..I also started a thread on this subject.
USS Belleau Wood Decommissioned After 27 Years of Service
Story Number: NNS051020-14
Release Date: 10/20/2005 2:54:00 PM
By Journalist Seaman Ryan Clement, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy said farewell as USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) was decommissioned Oct. 13, the Navy’s 230th birthday, at Naval Station San Diego.
Belleau Wood served the Navy and the nation for 27 years and is the first of five Tarawa-class general amphibious assault ships to be decommissioned.
“The Belleau Wood has been the backbone of our amphibious group for nearly three decades,†said Rear Adm. Christopher C. Ames, commander, Amphibious Group 3, who was a guest speaker at the ceremony.
Belleau Wood is the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Its predecessor, Belleau Wood (CVL 24), was a carrier and served during World War II.
The name “Belleau Wood†originally comes from an historic World War I battle in France where Marines took over the Belleau woods, stopping the last major offensive of the war by the Germans. After the battle, the Germans respectfully referred to the Marines as “Teufelshunde,†or “Devil Dogs,†because of their fierceness in battle. The Devil Dogs were the official mascot of Belleau Wood.
The ship’s main mission was Marine transport. The ship has a well deck for deploying conventional and air cushioned landing craft, and a flight deck for launching a variety of helicopters and Harrier jump jets. Belleau Wood was capable of carrying a complete Marine battalion and landing them ashore by helicopter or amphibious craft.
Belleau Wood also received numerous awards in its 27 years of service. One of the most important awards came in 1997 when the ship earned its eighth consecutive Battle ‘E’ award. This was significant because it was the first ship in U.S. Pacific Fleet to do so.
