USS Bataan (LHD-5)
{{short description|Wasp-class amphibious assault ship}}
{{Other ships|USS Bataan}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= File:USS Bataan (LHD-5);10080504.jpg |Ship caption=USS Bataan underway in 1999 }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=United States |Ship flag= {{USN flag|2007}} |Ship name= Bataan |Ship namesake= USS Bataan (CVL-29) |Ship ordered=20 December 1991 |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=Ingalls Shipbuilding |Ship original cost= |Ship laid down= 22 June 1994 |Ship launched= 15 March 1996 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened=18 May 1996 |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= 20 September 1997 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=Norfolk |Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|368958000}}
|Ship motto= Courage, Commitment, Honor |Ship nickname= |Ship honors= |Ship fate= |Ship status={{Ship in active service}} |Ship notes= |Ship badge=150px }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship type=Wasp-class amphibious assault ship |Ship displacement={{convert|41150|MT|LT|abbr=on|order=flip}} full load |Ship length={{convert|257|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} |Ship beam={{convert|31.8|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} |Ship draft={{convert|8.1|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, {{convert|70,000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}; |Ship speed={{convert|22|kn}} |Ship range={{convert|9500|nmi}} at {{convert|18|kn|abbr=on}} }} {{Infobox|child=yes | label1 = Well deck dimensions | data1 = {{convert|81|by|15.2|m|ft|order=flip|adj=on}} by {{convert|8.5|m|ft|order=flip|adj=on}} high }}{{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header=yes |Ship boats=*3 Landing Craft Air Cushion or
|Ship capacity= |Ship troops=1,687 troops (plus 184 surge) Marine Detachment |Ship complement=1,208 |Ship sensors=*1 AN/SPS-49 2-D Air Search Radar
|Ship EW= |Ship armament=*Two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers
|Ship armor= |Ship aircraft=*Actual mix depends on the mission
|Ship aircraft facilities= }} |
USS Bataan (LHD-5) is a {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship}} in the United States Navy. The ship is named after the Battle of Bataan, fought in the Philippines during World War II. The ship enables the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps team to seamlessly transition from the sea to a land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Ready Group. She is capable of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as evacuation and humanitarian assistance.
Commissioning
Ship's sponsor, Linda Sloan Mundy, wife of former Marine Corps Commandant Gen Carl E. Mundy, Jr., christened the new ship "in the name of the United States and in honor of the heroic defenders of Bataan" at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/295256/bataan-comes-age|title=Bataan Comes of Age|website=DVIDS}} More than 100 members of veterans groups associated with both the Battle of Bataan and the infamous "Bataan Death March" that followed, as well as the Battle of Corregidor, and the aircraft carrier {{USS|Bataan|CVL-29|3}}, were at the christening ceremony. She was launched on 15 March 1996, and commissioned on 20 September 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/08/0805.htm|title=Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose) Photo Index LHD-5 Bataan|website=navsource.org}} Her homeport is Norfolk, Virginia.
Capabilities
Bataan enables the Navy and Marine Corps team to seamlessly transition from the sea to a land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).{{Cite web|url=https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Expeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2/Organization/Ships/Amphibious-Assault-Ships/USS-Bataan-LHD-5/History/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209190701/https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Expeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2/Organization/Ships/Amphibious-Assault-Ships/USS-Bataan-LHD-5/History/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2023|title=History|website=www.c2f.usff.navy.mil}} The ship is capable of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as evacuation and humanitarian assistance.
History
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=2001–2003: Operation Enduring Freedom=
The USS Bataan ARG were the first ships to respond after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The ship was home on leave during the attack, and was scheduled to be deployed on 19 September 2001. The crew was called back early from leave and the ship headed for New York Harbor, as she is capable of acting as a 600-bed hospital ship with surgical suites on board. Once it was determined there were few survivors from the attack, Bataan returned to Norfolk, Virginia. The ship's crew prepared and onloaded the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with gear both pierside in Norfolk, and off the coast of North Carolina from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune. The Bataan ARG delivered more than 2,500 Marines and their equipment to Pakistan, with the aim to enter Afghanistan, thus opening Operation Enduring Freedom. The Bataan ARG stayed on station off the coast of Pakistan and completed the longest sustained amphibious assault in U.S. history, with sailors not touching ground for over four months as they marched nearly 700 nautical miles into Afghanistan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/lhd/LHD-5-USS-Bataan.htm|title=LHD-5 USS Bataan Wasp class Amphibious Assault Ship US Navy|website=www.seaforces.org}}
=2003–2007: Iraq War=
Bataan was one of many vessels in the Middle East region at the beginning of the Iraq War on or about 20 March 2003. After delivering her attack and transport helicopters, troops, and vehicles she was employed as a "Harrier Carrier" with primary duties supporting two Marine AV-8B Harrier II squadrons along with {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|6}}.{{Cite web|last=Ansarov |first=Sonya |title=Harrier Carrier: Strike Force for Freedom |date=24 March 2003 |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=6475 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810122802/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=6475 |archive-date=10 August 2009 }} She launched air strikes and close air support missions. She has made two deployments to the region since the invasion. For her third deployment, she joined the Fifth Fleet in the Gulf region, transiting the Suez Canal into the Red Sea on 30 January 2007.
=2005: Hurricane Katrina=
Bataan provided relief to the victims of category-4 Hurricane Katrina. She was positioned near New Orleans prior to Katrina making landfall on 29 August 2005, and began relief operations the following day. The ship's helicopters were among the first to provide damage assessment. They went on to transport over 1,600 displaced persons to safety. Bataan delivered more than {{convert|100,000|lb|kg}} of cargo and {{convert|8,000|USgal|liter|abbr=off|sp=us}} of fresh water to the area. The ship served as a base for two fly-away medical teams, consisting of 84 medical professionals, who provided emergency medical care in New Orleans.
=2005: Evaluation of V-22 Osprey=
Bataan served as a naval testbed for the evaluation of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in September 2005. This work included OPEVAL II operational and live fire tests, and was accomplished with eight Ospreys. In 2009, Bataan became the first Navy ship to host an operational squadron of V-22 rotorcraft when she embarked ten Ospreys of the VMM-263.{{cite web |url=http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairmo/articles/20090422.aspx |website=Strategypage.com |date=22 April 2009 |title=Air Transportation: MV-22s Go To Sea |access-date=22 October 2015}}
=2008: Hurricane Gustav=
In September 2008, Bataan participated in the HURREX exercise where the U.S. Second Fleet directed tests designed to evaluate the ship's ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief needs during the 2008 hurricane season. She was ordered to be prepared to deploy in the event that the Navy was directed to provide assistance to civilian authorities after Hurricane Gustav came ashore.{{cite press release |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39442 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903070340/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39442 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2008 |title=Navy Flexes to Support Hurricane Gustav Recovery Efforts |number=NNS080901-03 |publisher=United States Navy |author=U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=22 October 2015}}
=2008: Use as a prison ship=
In June 2008, the UK-based human rights organization Reprieve issued a report that listed Bataan as one of up to 17 ships they believed were used to imprison terrorism suspects.{{Cite web|title=USS Bataan |publisher=Reprieve |url=http://www.reprieve.org.uk/ussbataan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810065723/http://www.reprieve.org.uk/ussbataan |archive-date=10 August 2009 }} On 2 June 2008, The Guardian reported that "The US had admitted that Bataan and {{USS|Peleliu|LHA-5|2}} were used as prison ships between December 2001 and January 2002".{{Citation| last1 = Campbell| first1 = Duncan | last2 = Norton-Taylor| first2 = Richard | title = Prison ships, torture claims, and missing detainees| newspaper = The Guardian| date = 2 June 2008| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/02/terrorism.terrorism| access-date =22 October 2015}}
=2010: Haiti earthquake=
On 13 January 2010, Bataan was ordered to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts following the 7.0 magnitude 2010 Haiti earthquake.{{cite web |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_vinson_haiti_011310w/ |last=Bacon |first=Lance M. |title=Carl Vinson, 6 Other Ships Headed to Haiti |work=Navy Times |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=22 October 2015 |archive-date=6 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906065026/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_vinson_haiti_011310w/ |url-status=dead }}{{subscription required}} She was deployed to Grand-Goâve, and returned home 1 April 2010.{{cite web |website=BYM News |url=http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=65179 |title=Haiti. USS Bataan sailors rebuild, bring relief to Grande Goave |date=29 January 2010 |access-date=22 October 2015}}
=2011: Libya and Italy =
File:US Navy 111215-N-KA046-227 A firefighting team enters a smoke-filled room.jpg, (15 December 2011). A firefighting team enters a smoke-filled room to extinguish a mock fire during a general quarters drill aboard Bataan]]
On 23 March 2011, Bataan was deployed to Italy to assist in enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya.
=2014: Air campaign in Iraq=
During the 2014 air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, AV-8B Harriers from Bataan participated in reconnaissance missions and at least one air strike, including the first use of Marine Corps ordnance against an ISIS-controlled target.{{cite web |url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140910/NEWS08/309100057/Marine-Harrier-strikes-Islamic-State-near-Haditha-Dam?sf30936339=1 |title=Marine Harrier strikes Islamic State near Haditha Dam |last=Stewart |first=Joshua |website=Marine Times |date=10 September 2014 |access-date=22 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107040050/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140910/NEWS08/309100057/Marine-Harrier-strikes-Islamic-State-near-Haditha-Dam?sf30936339=1 |archive-date=7 January 2016}}
=2016: Mark VI patrol boat operations=
File:A mark VI patrol boat docks with the USS bataan.jpg docking with Bataan]]
In May 2016, Bataan conducted well deck operations with the Mark VI patrol boat, demonstrating the capability to launch and dock the 85 ft patrol boat with an amphibious assault ship. This was the first time the Mark VI operated out of an LHD, and the second time it operated out of a well deck overall.{{cite web |last1=Minami |first1=Raymond |title=Bataan Trains with New Mark VI Patrol Boats |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94780 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520125358/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94780 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 May 2016 |language=en}}
=2020: Iran's increasing threat and tensions=
The Bataan served as an operations center for activities in the Persian Gulf after the assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The ship was tasked to be on standby for potential retaliation from Iran and Iranian-backed paramilitary forces such as Hezbollah or Houthis.{{cite news |last1=Gibbons-Neff |first1=Thomas |title=How U.S. Troops Are Preparing for the Worst in the Middle East |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/world/middleeast/troops-iran-iraq.html |access-date=21 November 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=6 January 2020}}
=2022=
On 19 January 2022, Bataan completed a 16-month maintenance at Norfolk.{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/05/23/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-may-23-2022|title=USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 23, 2022|publisher=usni.org|date=23 May 2022|access-date=2 June 2022}}
=2023: The Red Sea Crisis=
On 10 July 2023, Bataan ARG, comprising Bataan, {{USS|Carter Hall|LSD-50}}, and {{USS|Mesa Verde|LPD-19}}, departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment.{{Cite web |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=10 July 2023 |title=Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit Leave on Deployment |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/07/10/bataan-amphibious-ready-group-26-marine-expeditionary-unit-leave-on-deployment |access-date=22 August 2024 |website=USNI News}} On 11 October 2023, while operating in the Persian Gulf Bataan, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), along with Carter Hall, were ordered to leave exercises off Kuwait to potentially sail to the Mediterranean due to the ongoing Gaza war.{{Cite web |last=Loewenson |first=Irene |date=2023-10-11 |title=Marine unit leaves Kuwait exercise early because of 'emerging events' |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/10/11/marine-unit-leaves-kuwait-exercise-early-because-of-emerging-events/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Marine Corps Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wehner |first=Greg |date=2023-10-11 |title=Marines on the move in Middle East 'as a result of emerging events' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/marines-move-middle-east-result-emerging-events |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} The Bataan and Carter Hall operated in the Red Sea from October to December 2023 before transiting the Suez Canal north to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.{{Cite web |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=28 October 2023 |title=USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Now in the Mediterranean Sea, Bataan ARG in the Red Sea |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/10/28/uss-dwight-d-eisenhower-now-in-the-mediterranean-sea-bataan-arg-in-the-red-sea |access-date=22 August 2024 |website=USNI News}}{{Cite web |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=28 December 2023 |title=USS Bataan, USS Carter Back in the Eastern Mediterranean After 5 Months in Middle East |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/12/28/uss-bataan-uss-carter-back-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-after-5-months-in-middle-east |access-date=22 August 2024 |website=USNI News}}
=2024=
In January 2024 during the Red Sea crisis one of the Harriers was modified for air defense; its pilot Captain Ehrhart is reported to have shot down seven Houthi suicide attack drones.{{Cite news |date=12 February 2024 |title=The fighter pilots hunting Houthi drones over the Red Sea |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68227200 |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In May 2024 Bataan, was part of Fleet Week at Port Miami in Florida {{Cite web |last=Miami |first=Fleet Week |title=Fleet Week Miami / May 5–12 |url=https://fleetweekmiami.org/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Fleet Week Miami / May 5–12 |language=en-US}} and also Fleet Week at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York.{{Cite web |title=Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic > Operations and Management > Fleet Week New York |url=https://cnrma.cnic.navy.mil/Operations-and-Management/Fleet-Week-New-York/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=cnrma.cnic.navy.mil}}
Awards
- Combat Action Ribbon (2023–2024){{Cite news |date=2024-02-12 |title=The fighter pilots hunting Houthi drones over the Red Sea |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68227200 |access-date=2024-11-25 |language=en-GB}}
- Navy Unit Commendation – (Oct 2023 - May 2024[https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/3849306/navcent-units-awarded-navy-unit-commendation/ navy.mil])
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with three service stars (2001, 2003, 2004, 2023)
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal with service star - (14-25 Jan 2010) 2010 Haiti earthquake
- Navy Sea Service Ribbon (2023–2024)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons and category|USS Bataan (LHD-5)|USS Bataan (LHD-5)}}
- [http://www.bataan.navy.mil USS Bataan Homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810112825/http://www.bataan.navy.mil/ |date=10 August 2015 }}
- [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/amphibious_assault_ships/bataan_lhd_5/uss_bataan_lhd_5.htm Maritimequest USS Bataan LHD-5 Photo Gallery]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060824214119/http://pogo.org/m/dp/dp-V22-dote-092005.pdf OPEVAL II testing report in pdf form]
- [http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/walker/profile.html The case of the Taliban American] CNN
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060207010357/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true Navy ship nearby underused] Chicago Tribune 4 September 2005 - Link Does Not Work
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050321154042/http://www.flagshipnews.com/archives_2003/apr032003_10.shtml Harrier carrier: Strike force for freedom]
- [http://www.uscarriers.net/lhd5history.htm USS Bataan history at U.S. Carriers]
- {{hlist|USS Bataan (LHD-5) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105045750/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/b/lhd-5/2001.pdf 2001]
- [http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/b/lhd-5/2000.pdf 2002]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105045729/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/b/lhd-5/2003.pdf 2003]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105045740/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/b/lhd-5/2004.pdf 2004]
}}
{{Wasp class amphibious assault ship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bataan (LHD-5)}}
Category:Wasp-class amphibious assault ships
Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the United States