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</div></div> </div> <div id="title"><h1>Military</h1></div> <div id="main">  <div id="right"> <div id="navright"><table> <tr><td> </td></tr></table></div> <div id="adright"> <div class="pubs-container">   <div align="center" data-freestar-ad="__300x250" id="globalsecurity_right_rail_1"> <script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript"> freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "globalsecurity_right_rail_1", slotId: "globalsecurity_right_rail_1" }); </script> </div>  <br><br> </div> <br><style type="text/css"> @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { #ask3, #ask4 {display: none;} } </style> <div id="ask3"> <div class="pubs-container">  <div align="center" data-freestar-ad="__300x600" id="globalsecurity_right_rail_2"> <script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript"> freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "globalsecurity_right_rail_2", slotId: "globalsecurity_right_rail_2" }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ask4"> <div class="pubs-container"> </div> </div></div></div> <div id="content"> <style type="text/css"> @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { #cntnt1 {display: none;} } </style> <div id="cntnt1"> <div class="pubs-container"> </div> </div>   <br> <h1>LHD-1 Wasp - Forward Deployed Naval Force</h1> <p><img align=left src="images/lhd-1.gif"> <p>Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived to Sasebo, Japan on 14 January 2018, completing a 28,400-mile journey from Norfolk, Va. that began in late August. Wasp, which has undergone significant upgrades to be able to land and launch the U.S. Marine Corp's F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, will replace USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in 7th Fleet. The force structure change has been long-planned as part of a Department of Defense effort to position the most advanced and capable assets forward in support of partners and allies.</p><p> The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a final port call en route to her new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, 28 December 2017. Following its return from the Wasp's first deployment in more than a decade, the ship entered a six-month maintenance availability, and proceeded to a compressed work-up schedule in preparation for the upcoming transit to Japan. The visit in Hawaii provided the crew a tangible progression for a homeport shift that has been nearly two years in the making. </p><p> Wasp departed Norfolk, Virginia, Aug. 30, but was diverted to the Caribbean in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria, Sept. 4. The crew spent the next two months providing humanitarian assistance to the U.S. Virgin Islands and the island nation of Dominca, and worked extensively to assist with repairing the devastated infrastructure of Puerto Rico.</p><p> Wasp, carrying a large number of F-35B fighter jets, has been spotted in the South China Sea, Business Insider reported on 02 April 2019. According to the outlet, the warship is carrying at least 10 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, as opposed to the standard six planes. The hip is scheduled to participate in the Balikatan naval exercises between the Philippines and the United States, which will involve some 4,000 Philippine and 3,500 US troops, as well as a small group of Australian servicemen.</p><p> "US and Philippine forces will conduct amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, and counterterrorism response", the US Navy said in a statement. The USS Wasp and fighter aircraft are participating in the Balikatan exercises for the first time and are meant to boost the drills, which are being conducted near disputed territories in the South China Sea.</p><p> </p><p> <br> <style type="text/css"> @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { #ga-ad {display: none;} } </style> <p></p><br><br> <div align=center> <table border="1"> <tr><td> <div align=center> <font size="+1" color="#8C3100"><b>NEWS</b></font><font size="+1" color="#0000C6"><b>LETTER</b></font> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#FF0000"> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF" size="+1"><b>Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list</b></font> </td></tr> <tr><td> <form name='f1' action='https://inl02.netline.com/rssnews0001/' method='post' target='_blank'> <input type='hidden' name='_submit' value='0001'> <input type='hidden' name='brand' id='brand' value='globalsecurity'> <input type='hidden' name='opt_001' value='Y'> <label for="MERGE0"><strong>Enter Your Email Address</strong></label> <br> <input type='text' id='email' name='email'> <input type='submit' value='Sign Up Now!' id='my_button'> </form> </td></tr> </table> </div> <br> <div class="pubs-container"> <p></p> <br clear=right> <div align="center"> <table> <tr><td> <table> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> </td><td> <table> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </table> </td></tr> </table> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="clear"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="adbot"> <div class="pubs-container">    </div> <button type="button" data-ot-ccpa-opt-out="button" style="display:none;" class="ot-ccpa-optout__button ot-ccpa-optout__button--light"><img src="https://cookie-cdn.cookiepro.com/ccpa-optout-solution/v1/assets/icon-do-not-sell.svg"style="width:30px;height:30px;" alt="" role="presentation"><span class="ot-ccpa-optout__button__title">Do Not Sell My Personal Information</span></button></div> <div id="navbot"><a href="/org/advertise.htm" title="Advertise with GlobalSecurity.org">Advertise with Us</a> <span class="navsep">|</span> <a href="/org/index.html" title="About GlobalSecurity.org">About Us</a> <span class="navsep">|</span>  <a href="/sitemap.htm" title="GlobalSecurity.org Site Map">Site Map</a> <span class="navsep">|</span> <a href="/privacy.htm" title="GlobalSecurity.org Privacy Policy">Privacy</a></div> <div id="footer"><a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/copyright.htm" title="Copyright">Copyright</a> © 2000-2025 GlobalSecurity.org All rights reserved.<br> Site maintained by: <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/org/staff/pike.htm" title="John Pike">John Pike</a><br>  <button id="pmLink">Privacy Manager</button>  <script type="text/javascript"> window._qevents = window._qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? 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