USS Bataan

USS Bataan (LHD 5) was commissioned September 20, 1997. Bataan is the fifth ship in the Wasp class of United States Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ships. The mission of Bataan is to enable the Navy and Marine Corps team to accomplish a seamless transition “… from the sea” to the land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). A multi-mission ARG is capable of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian assistance missions.

LHDs embark, transport, deploy, command and fully support all elements of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of 2,000 Marines, inserting forces ashore via helicopters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles. The Wasp class ships are the first ships specifically designed to utilize landing craft air-cushion vehicles (LCACs) for assault. LHDs can accommodate the full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, conventional landing craft and amphi