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After ably supporting the Marine landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in August 1942, on 15 September she was supporting a reinforcement convoy in the Coral Sea when she was hit by torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters Certificate in Program Management from George Washington University.
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Wasparrived off the coast of Lebanon onSeptember 6 and became the command platform for the maritime component commander of JTF Lebanon. had never seen so many British fighters in the sky at one time.
No stranger to sieges (most notably when the Knights of Malta withstood a siege by the Ottoman Turks in 1565), the island in World War II was undergoing an aerial siege by the Italian Regia Aeronautica and the German Luftwaffe. One of his able assistants in the Fighter Operations Room was Christina Ratcliffe, a dancer who was stranded in Malta when Italy declared war. slideshowMediaId: 2467344,
The propulsion system develops 70,000 shaft horsepower (52MW), powering the ship to speeds in excess of 22 knots (41km/h; 25mph).
11 Oct 1942 : USS Helena assumed position west of Savo Island, Solomon Islands in darkness, awaiting an incoming Japanese task force. The island was being bombed to rubble and dust by aircraft based in nearby Sicily. and that "This 5th generation stealth jet is extremely versatile and will greatly enhance and expand our operational capabilities." After Force W transited the Strait of Gibraltar, the Eagle joined up with her 17 Spitfires and signaled to the Wasp, The ageing lady looks with envious eyes at her smart younger cousin and sends her greetings and best wishes. The Wasp replied in kind: Thank you. On the 14th, accompanied by the destroyers USS Lang (DD-399) and Madison (DD-425), the Wasp joined the Royal Navys Force W, led by Commodore Charles S. Daniel in the old but fast (and thoroughly modernized) battle cruiser HMS Renown. gih = $(this).data('height');
Colby Howard,Wasps commanding officer, added: "Deployment of the versatile F-35B enhances the full range of Expeditionary Strike Group capabilities with one of the world's most technologically-advanced air warfare platforms. The rest of the war not always kind to the ships of Operation Bowery. Blue alludes to the sea, the theater of Naval Operations. That was not quite the case, but Malta had reached, according to fighter pilot Laddie Lucas, Our Darkest Hour., Characteristically, Churchill would not relent. ", An official website of the United States government, All Hands Magazine is produced by the Defense Media Activity for U.S. Navy Office of Information, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Again using their back-channel of direct communication, on 31 March Churchill explained the situation to FDR and asked, Would you be willing to allow your carrier Wasp to do one of these trips provided details are satisfactorily agreed between the Naval Staffs[? In the years following Churchills remarkable tribute to the Wasp, she received little attention, though Life magazine covered her fiery sinking in 1942. (See Pieces of the Past, April 2018, p. numSlides: 0,
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Following his commissioning, he completed Surface Warfare Officer training in preparation for his first assignment onboard USS CARTER HALL (LSD 50).
. His most recent assignment was Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 were he served as chief staff officer. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Original Autogramm Commanding Officer Gordon Hartley USS Wasp Gemini 7 at the best online prices at eBay! Image Details
Ken Ward, commanding officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), speaks to Capt. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell landed on the ship that April for a discussion of military tactics taking place in and around Mogadishu. The Nimitz Carrier Strike . Referring to himself, as usual, as the Former Naval Person, Churchill asked FDR on 14 March to send U.S. warships.
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In February 2022, he assumed the role of Command Senior Enlisted Leader of EWTGLANT and currently holds the position. $(ibox).find(".info").css('height', 'auto');
Her other awards include the Superior Civilian Service Medal in 2014 and Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Financial Management Award 2021. With the exception of deployments noted below, from 2004 to 2012, Wasp was not deployed as often or as long as other LHDs, as she was assigned to Joint Strike Fighter F-35B Lightning II testing and kept close to the U.S. as much as possible.[3][4]. On Jan. 13, 2011Waspmoved to BAE Systems Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, for scheduled Phased Maintenance Availability (PMA). const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-2467344';
Frederick Galea, Women of Malta: True Wartime Stories of Christina Ratcliffe and Tamara Marks (Malta: Wise Owl Publication, 2006). 220917-N-CJ603-1150 NORFOLK (Sept. 17, 2022) - Retired Captain Keith Larson, the first executive officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), poses with the original bell from Wasp (CV 7), Sept. 17, 2022. [7] In 2011, Wasp was modified for F-35B testing, including replacing a Sea Sparrow launcher with monitoring equipment. Six cargo elevators, each 4 by 8 meters (13 by 26ft), are used to transport material and supplies from the 3,000-cubic-meter (110,000cuft) cargo holds throughout the ship to staging areas on the flight deck, hangar bay and vehicle storage area. He went on to question whether the results [of using a carrier] warranted the risk to the carrier due to Submarines and land[-]based aircraft in relatively confined waters. He went on, The way this job is being done now is certainly the hard way when you consider the cost of all the ships used in the operation to get a measly 47 planes there. By then, the die had been cast in favor of another trip by the Wasp. USS WASP (LHD 1) and Naval Hospital Groton, CT. Photo By: U.S. Navy Photo
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Bush (CVN 77), along with the staff of carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, meets his daughter for the first time after the ship's return to Naval Station Norfolk following an eight-month deployment, April 23, 2023. # (October 2022), 67. June 20, 1991 The Wasp departed homeport for its maiden six-month Mediterranean deployment. I . The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) had the honor of hosting HMS Queen Elizabeth during the ships stay.
The Welshman was torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat off North Africa early in 1943, and the Charybdis was sunk by German torpedo boats off the Channel Islands later in 1943.
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After his departure from ASHLAND, Captain Cooper was assigned as the commanding officer of Patrol Coastal Crew JULIET and commanded USS SQUALL (PC 7) and USS FIREBOLT (PC 10). 67), of the Wasps missions to fly off Spitfires to save a besieged Malta in 1942. if (!g_isDynamic)
After takeoff, his underwing auxiliary fuel tank had malfunctioned, i.e., failed to draw, and after dropping it into the sea he chose to land aboard the Wasp rather than ditch or bale out.
His afloat tours included USS Wasp (LHD 1) as OI Division Officer, USS . The ship's primary mission is to support U.S. Marines in combat, and to also provide disaster reliefand medical support to those in need. ), All but one of the Spitfires reached Malta. On 22 February 2002 theWaspARG --Wasp,Trenton(LPD 14), andOak Hill(LSD 51) -- with the embarked 22nd MEU/SOC deployed from Hampton Roads in support of OperationEnduring Freedom. Next it was the Welshmans turn to play her part.
Leadership - c2f.usff.navy.mil On 7 July 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney visited Wasp. She later made stops in Toulon, France, and Rota, Spain, en route to her home port in Norfolk, Virginia. Ship's data plaque, photographed in September 1940. From May to August 1993 Wasp conducted counter-drug operations in the .
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. Many felt that if they had to go to war, there was nobody they would rather serve under.
Master Chief Chris Fitzgerald is a native of Jacksonville, NC. The change of command ceremony is an honored tradition held in front of the crew and displays a willing transfer of power between commanding officers. Onboard recreational facilities include a Library Multi-Media Resource Center with Internet access, a weight room, and satellite television capabilities. Executive Officer, USS Wasp (LHD) 1; Command Master Chief James Timmerman Command Master Chief, USS Wasp (LHD 1) USFF.mil | Navy.com | Navy FOIA | DoD Accessibility/Section 508 | No Fear Act | Open Government | Plain Writing Act During the siege, Malta possessed a resolute and loyal populace, a resourceful and courageous garrison composed of every service branch, and numerous antiaircraft guns manned by the Royal Artillery and the Royal Malta Artillery. In 1994 he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and was commissioned an ensign in 1998 after graduating from Norfolk State University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. if (!isMobile) {
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Recently, though, she has received more notoriety. He gave a speech honoring the efforts of the USSNassau Expeditionary Strike Group in Operation Iraqi Freedom. pup = $($(popupThis).attr('href'));
Captain Smith is a graduate of the Naval War College in 2002 and the National War College in 2013. USS Wasp (LHD-1) Commissioned 6 July 1989 . Captain Reeves had anticipated another operation, and on 28 April he penned a memorandum to Admiral Giffen proposing that fighters be fitted with extra tanks and flown to Malta via Gibraltar. pup = $($(this).attr('href'));
This change was made to provide increased lethality and survivability to a traditional three-ship amphibious ready group with the integration into amphibious operations. Malta gunner Stan Fraser recorded that, in previous air raids.
USS Wasp plank owners tour ship they brought to life In early 1942, he became worried that the Japanese would occupy the Vichy French island of Madagascar and cut off the British supply route around the Cape of Good Hope to North Africa.
Commanding Officer, USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3), Gold Crew USS George H.W. Bush Returns from Historic Deployment $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height('auto');
On his first try, Smith received a wave-off from LSO David McCampbell, who dived into a net.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya, List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships, "Fact File: Amphibious Assault Ships - LHD/LHA(R)", "Wasp skirts major deployments for 8 years Navy denies problems, cites amphib's role in aviation tests", "Marine F-35B conducts first operational testing at sea", "Navy News Service - Eye on the Fleet: Amphibious Assault Ships Photo Gallery", "The Queen reviews flotilla of international ships - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca", "F-35B Completes Successful Initial Shipboard Vertical Landing Aboard USS WASP", "This aging amphib will soon take on ISIS. }
Wasp weighed more than 27,000tons when moved onto the Ingalls floating dry-dock on 30 July 1987 for launch on 4 August 1987, becoming the largest man-made object rolled across land. Waspwas initially employed in the Atlantic campaign supporting the occupation of Iceland in 1941, the British Home Fleet in April 1942, and transporting British fighter aircraft twice to Malta. Commanding Officers: Captain Clifton Albert Frederick ("Ziggy") Sprague: USNA 1918 : 24 November 1943 - 22 July 1944: VADM: Captain Oscar Arthur ("Tex") Weller: USNA 1920 : 22 July 1944 - 7 June 1945: . giw = $(this).data('width');
During his tour, he severed as the gunnery/force protection officer, completing at UNITAS deployment and a West African Training Cruise. ] Roosevelt, no doubt advised by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Ernest King, asked whether the British carrier HMS Furious could do the job, but First Sea Lord Dudley Pound convinced Admiral King that only the Wasp was up to the task. onComplete: function () {
Waspdeparted Sasebo on March 3, 2018 for a routine patrol in the Indo-Pacific. Shore assignments include force supply officer, Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commanding officer, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Center, San Diego, Calif.; operations branch head, spares program and policy, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Upon completion of his first assignment, he was selected to remain onboard CARTER HALL as the ship's navigator. U.S. Navy Sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the South China Sea on April 22, 2023. $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow-y", "hidden");
Peter C. Smith, Eagles War: The War Diary of an Aircraft Carrier (Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing, 1995). 2009 No record of report being received. The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk completing a homeport shift after spending nearly two years forward deployed to Commander Fleet Activities . if (isMobile)
I was on the Decommissioning Crew. She was launched on 4 April 1939, and was commissioned on 25 April 1940 at the Army Quartermaster Base, South Boston, Massachusetts, with Captain John W. Reeves Jr. in command. Wasp, 22 April 1942, 15 May 1942, National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD. On 7 December, she was anchored off Bermuda when word of the attack on Pearl Harbor arrived. On 17 February 2004 theWaspExpeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2--Wasp,Shreveport(LPD-12),Whidbey Island(LSD-41), guided missile cruisersLeyte Gulf(CG-55) and USSYorktown(CG 48), guided missile destroyer USSMcFaul(DDG 74), and attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) -- deployed in support of OperationEnduring Freedom, OperationIraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism. He began his career by enlisting in 1988 and serving aboard USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Her previous assignments include executive director, Naval Sea Logistics Center; director, Central Design Agent, Naval Sea Systems Command Ships Maintenance and Logistics Information Systems; and product manager (PM), Navys Distance Support Program.
6, 19351942 (New York and London: Chelsea House, 1974). Commanding Officer, USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3), Gold Crew 10 May 2021. In 2002, Wasp survivor Hal Sessions was traveling on a cruise ship with his family when, at tea, they met a Cyril Silvester and his wife. It brings a range of new capabilities to the MEU that make us a more lethal and effective Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)." On Sept. 5, 2007Waspdiverted from her participation in the PANAMAX 2007 Exercise and off-loaded multinational personnel from the exercise in Panama and deployed to the waters off Nicaragua in order to provide disaster relief/humanitarian assistance to hurricane survivors. She was recalled to Norfolk for duty in the Pacific following the loss of the USS Lexington (CV-2) at the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May. Personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Silver Star in lieu of a 7th award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of a 2nd award), and various unit and campaign awards. CA, USS WASP (LHD 1) and Naval Hospital . Soracco is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Executive Developmental Program and Pennsylvania State University Smeal College of Business Executive Program Supply Chain Leadership. Many men on board the Wasp came topside to watch. Commanding Officer, USS WASP (LHD 1) IN REPLY TO: 5700 Ser EXEC/ 046 APR 1 8 2005 Director of Naval History (N09BH), 805 Kidder Breese Street, SE, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060 COMMAND HISTORY, USS WASP (LHD 1), 2004 (OPNAV 5750-1) (a) OPNAVINST 5750.12H (1) Command Composition and Organization . $.colorbox.resize();
Via their back-channel, on 24 April he told Roosevelt, I am deeply anxious about Malta. To carry out her primary mission, Wasp has an assault support system that synchronizes the simultaneous horizontal and vertical flow of troops, cargo and vehicles throughout the ship.
USS Wasp (LHD-1) is a United States Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, and the lead ship of her class. Also embarked inWaspwas Commander Task Group (TG) 40.0 along with officers from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. CV 7 went down during World War II in the Guadalcanal, and the bell is the . He taught at a military preparatory school for one year before attending Naval Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and was commissioned an Ensign in June 2000. Aboona has served as the commanding officer for Naval Medical Logistics Command and NMRTC, Bethesda. return;
As a result, Wasp was scuttled by USS Lansdowne that night, and she sunk at 2100 by the bow. Resuming passage to Sasebo, the ship arrived on Jan. 14, 2018. var pup;
Wasp Holds Wreath Laying Ceremony in Coral Sea It is a rare accomplishment to be select as commanding officer and to be selected twice is as a commanding officer is a truly rare accomplishment. USS Wasp (CV-7) scene on the carrier's port bridge wing, during operations off Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942. Waspreceived two battle stars for her World War II service. He has served in a variety of aviation logistics positions, including sea tours aboard the frigate USS Jesse L. Brown (FF 1089); cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69); the guided missile frigate USS Lewis B. Puller (FFG 23); destroyer USS Kinkaid (DD 965); aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); and served as supply officer, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
USS Wasp holds Change of Command Ceremony | Norfolk Navy Flagship She is Acquisition Professional Development Program Level III Logistics certified. In September 2007, Wasp sailed to Nicaragua to offer assistance to the victims of Hurricane Felix. He began plotting an attack on the islands naval base at Diego Suarez, but he needed U.S. warships to free up British warships for the operation.
The remaining 60 Spitfires made it safely to Malta. The operation was to be very similar to Calendar, but with a few important differences; Malta and the Spitfires would be much better prepared, the repaired Eagle would accompany the Wasp and contribute 17 more Spitfires, and the fast minelayer HMS Welshman, with her roomy mine deck, would sail independently to Malta with vital cargo instead of mines. Wilcox was the first U.S. admiral (of only two) ever lost at sea, and Rear Admiral Robert Ike Giffen in the Wichita took command of the task force. In support of future operations, he was assigned as the program manager . var wborder = 120;
The F-35Bs, capable of conducting precision strikes inland, supporting Marine units ashore, or providing air defense for the ESG, were assigned to the Okinawa-based 31st MEU. TheWaspARG steamed nearly 95,000 miles during their deployment. height: 100%;
At one point on 10 May, she looked up from her duties at Woody and saw him beaming. In command of the Wasp was Captain John W. Black Jack Reeves Jr., a 1911 U.S. 2007 No record of report being received. Two aircraft elevators service the hangar bay and flight deck. popupSelector: popSelector,
Marco Mattioli, Erre Esse: Il Fia RS.14 in Azione: 19411945, Aerei nella Storia no. . Command Master Chief, USS Wasp (LHD 1) 11 January 2021 Command Master Chief James Timmerman is a native of Michigan and enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 1997. As the Luftwaffe pummeled the strategically vital Mediterranean stronghold, Britain desperately needed more Spitfires in the air. After listening to Sessions talk of loading and flying off the Spitfires to Malta, Silvester said, with tears in his eyes, Yes, I was on Malta when they arrived, and I cant tell you how much we appreciated them.. }
She is the senior civilian charged with supplying the fleet with the parts needed to maintain critical weapon systems, contracting for repair or purchase of items, and managing the transportation and distribution of material. Flag Officer Biographies . if (doResize)
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On September 7,Waspbegan aerial delivery of relief supplies, efforts later continued from guided missile frigate USSSamuel B. Roberts(FFG 58).
Wasp (CV-7) - Navy width: 100%;
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In 2015 he completed JPME Phase II at the Joint Forces Staff College. He performed additional sea tours as Supply Officer onboard USS WYOMING (SSBN 742) BLUE in Kings Bay, GA from 2003-2005 and as Principal Assistant Logistics (PAL) and Services (PAS) onboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) from 2010-2012, deployed to CENTCOM AOR in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM & NEW DAWN. .
Once again, Force W was not seriously bothered by U-boats or enemy aircraft.
At 0530 on 20 April, the Wasp commenced flying off aircraft. // console.log(iw + " " + ih + " --- " + (iw + wextra) + " " + (ih + hextra))
Light Cruiser Helena (St. Louis-class) (CL-50) | World War II Database USS America (LHA 6) - Navy On the way, two of them attacked an Italian Fiat RS.14 seaplane, but the seaplanes gunner hit one, which then collided with the other. Non-subscribers can read five free Naval History articles per month. Repeated musters on board the Washington failed to reveal the missing mans identity, but the admirals staff soon figured out that it was Admiral Wilcox himself. As Churchill had quipped in his speech, Who said a wasp couldnt sting twice? (Note: Wasps actually can.). Rear Adm. Epps is a 1990 graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he commissioned through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
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Construction on the eighthWasp(CV-7) began on 1 April 1936 at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. (Quincy, Massachusetts). Along the way, the ships of the ARG participated in OperationSea Eaglein the Gulf of Aden and numerous multi-national exercises, in addition to making a variety of port visits including Souda Bay, Crete; Kingdom of Bahrain; and Rota, Spain, before returning to their respective homeports on 30 August. I was the Hotsuit Rescueman on the Crash and Salvage Rescue Team on the roof. He had been commanding a group of 20-mm guns, and a torpedos explosion blew him up onto the ships island, breaking his skull and his back. Over his career he has accumulated over 3,400 flight hours, primarily in the P-3C Orion. Epps served on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and commanded the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center in Pearl Harbor. The Navy . // stop scrollbar from flashing
In the background, the islands antiaircraft guns, boosted by a recently arrived and much needed supply of ammo, put up a huge barrage of flak. The Supermarine Spitfire already had achieved eternal fame for its part in the Battle of Britain, and by April 1942, the Spitfire V was the only British fighter that could match the 109F.
The First Sea Lord informed Churchill, We are quite likely to lose this ship, but in view of the urgency of getting A.A. [antiaircraft] ammunition through to Malta there appears no alternative., Before departing Scapa, the Wasp was joined by a famous passenger, U.S. Medina served at Afloat Training Group Atlanticas team leader and assistant officer in charge in the Ordnance Handling Safety and Assistant Team (OHSAT), Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 as requirements officer and science and technology officer, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 as assistance chief of staff (ACOS)operations and deputy ACOS operations, Surface Warfare Officer School Command (SWOSCOLCOM) as academic director for Fleet Training and at Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) as operational test director for the Air Missile Defense Radar. Please Read:Accessibility / Section 508|Privacy Policy|External Links Disclaimer|Privacy Impact Statement|System of Record Notice|Site Map, For questions about the site content or functionality, please, Provisions, Instructions, and Contract Documents, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG) Norfolk, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The ship's corpsmen also provide routine medical/dental care to the crew and embarked personnel. USS Helena rescued nearly 400 survivors of sunken USS Wasp in the Solomon Islands. Download Image
NH 47103, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. He reported aboard Wasp as the executive officer Dec. 5, 2017. onClosed: function () {
On 2 July 1942, Prime Minister Winston Churchill took a moment, in the midst of an important speech before the House of Commons on the state of the war effort, to call out the contribution of one American warship, the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7).
1971 - 1972.
USS Wasp (LHD 1) - Navy
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The Spitfires and Hurricanes were directed by the RAF Fighter Controller Woody Woodhouse, one of the real heroes of the siege. dgov2slideshowPopupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize);
Alden Argante relieved Lt. Cmdr. He reported as the 3rd Command Master Chief of Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) in Philadelphia, PA on January 4th, 2023. Wasp and her sister ships are the first specifically designed to accommodate new Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) for fast troop movement over the beach, and Harrier II (AV-8B) Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) jets which provide close air support for the assault force. and a cake. Through her leadership, NAVSUP WSS maintains an understanding of the complexity of the Navy's end to end supply chain for weapon systems sustainment that generates over $8 billion in yearly sales.