Amphibious assault on Oahu

[BigTruck]

Here's some shot's of our amphibious assault on Oahu (Bellows AFB)  Took them in '05, Operation RIMPAC.  I know they're old but I'm just now getting all the right software and stuff to start posting photos so bear with me as i get caught up  ::)

All taken from the USS Pele Leu (LHA-5) a ship designed for a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)  It's like a mini aircraft carrier, the flight deck is for helicopters and harriers.

Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) leaving the ship.





Bellows Beach, Oahu



The LCAC!!!  (Landing Craft Air Cushion)  This thing is HUGE!!!  To give you an idea of the size, the truck on the left is a large fork lift and the truck on the right is an MTVR (7 ton truck...huge)  It's like they they take a chunk of street and put it on a hovercraft lol.  And it is a blast to ride, it sounds like a turbo-prop and every wave is a roller coaster!

[Romulus111VADT]

My son was stationed on the USS Wasp (LHD-1) out of Norfolk for about 9 years or so. He's now on the USS Vella Gulf CG-72.

The Wasp is an amphibious assault ship and carries 3 LCAC's normally. The Wasp is a huge ship at 844 feet (253.2 meters) long and her beam is 106 feet (31.8 meters) at waterline, 200 feet w/flight deck elevators extended. The Wasp-class are the largest amphibious ships in the world.

Picture of the USS Wasp LHD-1 from - http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lhd-1.htm






Landing Craft Well Deck on the Wasp Class Amphibs

[Roughrider]

Nice shots, I like the rainbow.

[Ben R]

Lovely photos there, ahh, that will be me soon as im planning on joining the navy Royal Navy that is

Ben

[BigTruck]

Thanks for the shots Romulus, the Pele Leu looks just like that, except change the 1 to a 5 on the tower  ;)  I don't know how your son, or anyone in the Navy does it, I only go on ship for short periods of time compared to them and I feel too cramped and contained, I can't stand it.  I love being on a boat and all but at the end of the day I like some personal space, which Navy ships do NOT offer haha.

Thanks for the comments guys, Ben, good luck in the Royal Navy, a rowdy bunch indeed  8-)