USS Wasp (LHD-1) - Current and Other Operations

Current and Other Operations

In September 2007, the USS Wasp sailed to Nicaragua to offer help to the victims of Hurricane Felix.

USS Wasp was the first ship to deploy the V-22 Osprey, doing so in October 2007, by carrying VMM-263's ten MV-22B Ospreys to Iraq to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Wasp also served as the platform for the program's first Sea Trials in December 1990, involving the third and fourth Osprey prototypes.

On 4 October 2009, the USS Wasp deployed from its base at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia on a three month voyage down the Atlantic coast, to the Caribbean as part of the Southern Partnership Station, amphibious with Destroyer Squadron 40 and an embarked security cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The 1,100 Sailors and 365 embarked Marines conducted operations and exercises in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. The operation, called the Southern Partnership Station is part of "Partnership of the Americas" maritime strategy, which focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges, specifically with matters involving the recent executive orders that United States President Barack Obama addressed on 22 January 2009 of the closing down of Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. The camp which holds hundreds of prisoners suspected of international terrorism is scheduled to close within a year.

In mid-October 2009, The USS Wasp set anchor at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba where the United States Marines that were on board, were assigned to training status for approx 3 months while the USS Wasp went underway.

Since Cuba, the USS Wasp has not docked in Jamaica, contrary to rumors, but has practiced further operations and exercises throughout the Caribbean. USS Wasp returned to Norfolk Naval Station on 22 December 2009.

On 29 June 2010, USS Wasp was one of the 18 international vessels taking part in the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Canadian Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian and international warships were reviewed by Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

In 2011 the Wasp was modified for F-35B testing, including replacing a Sea Sparrow launcher with monitoring equipment. She returned to sea on 7 July 2011.

On 3 October 2011 the Wasp had its first F-35B land vertically on her decks during trials. On 5 October 2011 the Wasp successfully launched its first F-35B.

On 30 January 2012 the Wasp set sail for operation Bold Alligator, the largest amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces in the last decade and since it is based on real-world situations, the exercise will run in real time. The exercise took place 30 Jan. to 12 Feb. 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina.

In July 2012 Wasp visited Boston for Fleet Week 2012 and Fourth of July festivities.

On 30 October 2012, the Wasp was sent towards the Hurricane Sandy impact area in case the USN was needed to support the disaster relief efforts.