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USS Wasp to Become First Ship to Deploy with an Embarked F-35B Squadron

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
USS Wasp to Become First Ship to Deploy with an Embarked F-35B Squadron
 
You’ve probably heard that F-35B Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft will someday be coming to an amphibious ship near you, but did you know that some ships have already made the improvements to accept F-35’s? In August USS Essex (LHD 2) welcomed the F-35B on board during sea trials and flight deck certifications off the coast of Southern California.
     
USS Wasp F 35B 1PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 19, 2017) An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned to the "Avengers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 awaits take off aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is underway conducting sea trials and flight deck certifications off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Irwin Sampaga/Released)
     
While USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) wished fair winds and following… tailwinds to the last AV-8B Harrier from the “Tomcats” of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, as VMA-311 concluded their last tour with the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Strike Group as the ESG transitions to F-35B.

And earlier this week USS Wasp (LHD 1) departed Naval Station Norfolk for Sasebo, Japan, where it will assume the duties of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and become the forward-deployed flagship of U.S. 7th Fleets amphibious force. Wasp will later become the first ship to do a regular deployment with an embarked F-35B squadron.
     
USS Wasp F-35B Operations
     
The F-35B is the world’s first supersonic short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) fighter and is set to become the new standard across the amphibious fleet eventually replacing the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. STOVL aircraft are fixed-wing aircraft that are able to take off from a short runway and land vertically like a helicopter. They can also take off vertically if they don’t have a heavy payload.

The STOVL capability of F-35B provides forward-deployed combatant commanders with more flexible basing options. In particular, when this aircraft deploys from LHDs, or America class LHAs, squadrons will be able to reach targets inaccessible from shore-based runways. Which is to say that if the target is too far away by flight alone commanders have the option to move a U.S. Navy Surface Force ship closer via sea and then launch aircraft to the target from there.
     
USS Wasp F 35B 2CORAL SEA (Aug. 22, 2017) An AV-8B Harrier, assigned to the “Tomcats” of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). VMA-311 concludes its “farewell tour” with the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Strike Group (MEU) as the ESG transitions to F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters in the winter of 2017. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the BHR ESG, is operating in the Indo-Asia Pacific region to enhance partnerships and be a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cameron McCulloch/Released)
     
“[Wasp’s homeport shift] ensures that our most technologically-advanced air warfare platforms are forward deployed,” said Wasp Commanding Officer Capt. Andrew Smith. “Our capabilities, paired with the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, increases our Navy’s precision strike capabilities within the 7th Fleet region. Wasp will help America’s commitment to the maritime security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

Together forward-deployed amphibious ships like Wasp and embarked Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) like that of their 31st MEU, will form U.S. Pacific Command‘s premier crisis response force. Together, the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team has the capability to conduct stability operations or deliver disaster relief at a moment’s notice.