Ex-USS Tarawa (LHA-1)

 military, ship, United States Navy

The lead ship in her Class of Amphibious Assault Ships, USS Tarawa was laid down at Ingalls Shipbuilding in November 1971 and commissioned into US Navy service in May 1976 as a member of the US Pacific Fleet.

Spending her entire career with the US Pacific Fleet, Tarawa and her crews made numerous deployments the world over in support of United States and United Nations operations, including operations off Beirut, Lebanon and several combat deployments to the Persian Gulf for both Gulf Wars and several humanitarian deployments. Remaining in frontline service well into the new millennium, the Tarawa was eventually replaced in the Pacific Fleet by the subsequent Wasp Class and planned America Class of Amphibious Assault Ships and was formally decommissioned in March 2009, ending her career at 33 years.

Subsequently transferred to her current home at the NISMF North Loch, Pearl Harbor in late 2009, the former Tarawa is held in Category B Reserve and can be reactivated as needed in the event of military emergency.

www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LHA1.htm
www.navsource.org/archives/10/07/0701.htm