USS Nassau (LHA-4) - Operational History

Operational History

Nassau was deployed to Beirut with the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit in February 1984, less than four months after the Beirut barracks bombing.

In support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the Nassau deployed to the Middle East for over eight months on only eight days' notice. On leaving the United States, the Nassau became the flagship for Commander, Amphibious Task Force and the 4th MEB's Commanding General. In the last week of the war, she was employed as a "Harrier Carrier", tasked with operating primarily as a STOVL attack carrier for Marine AV-8B Harrier II fighters.

Nassau participated in several more operations throughout the 1990s, including Operations Support Democracy, Deny Flight, Allied Force and Noble Anvil. These operations were in support of US foreign policy objectives; she also participated in numerous Navy and joint exercises that took her to numerous locations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Adriatic regions, including Haiti, Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Albania, Zaire and Kosovo.

Nassau received her first "Battle Effectiveness "E" award" November 1983 then again was the recipient of the 2007 Battle Effectiveness "E" award which is presented annually to ships that demonstrate the highest state of combat readiness in their group and their ability to execute their wartime tasks.

She deployed in February 2008 as the flagship of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group in support of Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts in the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

In addition to her primary role as a Marine transport, Nassau has served as a flagship; a logistics hub for incoming and outgoing mail, cargo and other supplies; combat search and rescue and the tactical recovery and rescue of downed aircraft and personnel.

In August 2008, she had returned from deployment and was undergoing maintenance. At 4:30 PM Central Time on Thursday, 18 September 2008, KHOU News 11 in Houston, Texas announced that Nassau was coming to the aid of Galveston Island, following the landfall of Hurricane Ike. Nassau anchored 7 miles (11 km) offshore and troops deployed to the island with heavy machinery to aid with the clean-up of the devastation caused by the hurricane.

In January 2010, Nassau left her Virginia port carrying the 24th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) on a routine deployment of approximately eight months. The 24th MEU, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consists of a ground combat element, a battalion landing team, an aviation combat element, a logistics combat element and a command element. The Nassau, accompanied by the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Ashland, comprises the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which supports maritime security operations and more in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas. The 5th Fleet covers the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean; the 6th Fleet encompasses the Mediterranean Sea.

Nassau was diverted to Haiti on 21 January 2010, to assist with the international humanitarian aid effort following the earthquake.

Nassau was decommissioned in Norfolk, Virginia (USA) on 31 March 2011.

She is currently residing in Beaumont, TX, with the MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet ships.