Tarawa class amphibious assault ship

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Class overview

Name:	Tarawa
Preceded by:	N/A
Succeeded by:	Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
General characteristics
Class and type:	Amphibious assault ship
Displacement:	39,400 tons (40,032 t) full load
Length:	820 ft (250 m)
Beam:	106 ft (32 m)
Propulsion:	Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower (52 MW)
Speed:	24 knots (44 km/h)
Complement:	82 officers, 882 enlisted 1,900 Marines
Armament:	Two RAM launchers; two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mounts; four 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 Bushmaster cannons. The class was originally equipped with 2 5"/54 (127 mm) Mk. 45 lightweight guns
Aircraft carried:	CH-53 Sea Stallions CH-46 Sea Knights AV-8B Harrier IIs
Notes:	Ships in class include: USS Tarawa (LHA-1) USS Saipan (LHA-2) USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) USS Nassau (LHA-4) USS Peleliu (LHA-5)

The Tarawa-class is one of the class of amphibious assault ships currently in the service of the United States Navy. The ships were constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding, at Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The Tarawa class formed the basis for the later Wasp class. They can be best told apart from bow sponsons. The Tarawa type has bow sponsons, originally for 5-inch (127 mm) guns, while the Wasp does not. The first ship of the class, the USS Tarawa (LHA-1), was launched on May 29, 1976.

All ships of the Tarawa class are named after famous battles from the American Revolutionary War, World War I and World War II. Four more ships of the class were in the long range plans, but were cancelled prior to being ordered or named.