USS Okinawa (LPH-3)

History of the battleship Okinawa (LPH-3)

The history of the LPH ship "Landing Platform Helicopter" begins in the Pacific theater during World War II, when small escort carriers were produced to augment first-line aircraft carriers. These escort carriers can also provide support and air cover to troop ships and landing craft during amphibious landing activities in the region. Sometimes they provide additional landing decks for front-line carriers and provide backup pilots and aircraft to cover combat losses.

After World War II, many escort carriers were scrapped to allow military budgets to keep front-line carriers in service. During the Korean War, the "helicopter" began to gain a foothold in the U.S. Navy's inventory. Aircraft carriers use helicopters to search and rescue downed pilots at sea and on land. During the Battle of Chosion Reservoir in November 1950, the 6th Marine Observation Squadron (VMO-6) used HO35-1 helicopters to rescue 154 wounded Marines from the battlefield.

This was the first time a planned "vertical operation" had been used in warfare, underscoring the value of this military helicopter tactic.

Battleship Okinawa (LPH-3) at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 15th anniversary of the Okinawa landing and commissioned on April 14, 1962, with Captain William E. Lemos at the helm. Okinawa is the second ship of the Iwo Jima-class LPH. The original title landing platform was then replaced with "Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)". The LPH is designed and built for amphibious assault, using a vertical encirclement approach. The ship is designed to carry 25 helicopters according to mission parameters, and the number of helicopters is increasing with the introduction of new and improved models.

The main mission of the ship is to transport a naval battalion and its full set of weapons and support equipment to the theater of operations by helicopter. Beach obstacles, flooded fields and harsh terrain can now be negotiated vertically without delaying ground troops for dayssome delays requiring specialized engineers to help traverse an area or clear it entirely.

The U.S. Navy, a big proponent of "multi-mission" capabilities, now has the perfect platform to combine fleet missions with those that used to require the use of its own ships. Since combat always involves casualties, the LPH also acts as a Medical Watch Ship (MDS) with medical personnel.

As the largest and best equipped ship in its class, the LPH-3 becomes the (ATFCS) Amphibious Task Force Control Ship for the mission commander to manage the entire operation.

The Iwo Jima-class engine consisted of two boilers and a geared turbine, spinning a single shaft at 22,000 shaft horsepower. Its armament includes a twin-barreled 3-inch cannon, a 20mm Vulcan/Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and several .50-caliber heavy machine guns.

The crew consists of 50 officers and approximately 650 soldiers to support the operation.

The U.S. Marine Corps Assault Battalion formed the ship's "Big Dog" detachment. To keep this well-oiled fighting machine running, a full-service headquarters and appropriate support units are deployed on board, just as they are on land. The commander is a colonel or lieutenant colonel with the second rank of major. A sergeant major plus staff make up the rest of the headquarters company.

There were also two artillery companies supporting the commandos. In total, between 1,200 and 2,000 Marines can make up the USMC component on board, although this varies by mission.

USS Okinawa's participation in the Vietnam War including Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase II (18-19 April 1967, 18-31 May 1967), Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase III (1 September 1967) 1st November), Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase VI (8th December 1968 to 26th January 1969, 12th to 22nd February 1969), Tet/69 Counteroffensive (23rd February 1969) to 30 March, 14 to 27 April 1969), Sanctuary Counteroffensive (25 to 28 June 1970), Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase 7 (15 to 18 July 1970, 23-27 July 1970, 9-12 August 1970, 10-10 September 1970, 12-15 September 1970, 4-9 October 1970, 5 November 1970-June, 23-27 May 1971) and the Vietnam Armistice Agreement (27 April-30 May). 1972, June 9-July 2, 1972, July 9-August 25, 1972, September 29-October 1, 1972, October 5-20, 1972 21-22 November 2019).

On April 4, 1968, Okinawa took a break from combat operations in Vietnam to begin special training with NASA personnel to restore the Apollo VI unmanned spacecraft. The mission was designed to be the last test before the crewed Apollo mission. The spacecraft consists of three stages - Saturn V booster, Command and Service Module (CSM) and Lund Module (LM). Problems arose during the flight re-entering Okinawa from the station 380 miles north of Kauai, Hawaii.

The LM was recovered by US Navy SEALs and lifted to the deck in Okinawa by an MH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter using special harnesses.

History shows that at least one Iwo Jima-class battleship has been involved in every major conflict since the Vietnam War. The LPH proved to be a malleable ship, and the Navy saw the need for long-range amphibious assault ships with greater helicopter capacity and began phasing out the current generation of LPHs. As a result, Okinawa was decommissioned and removed from the Naval Ship Register on December 17, 1992. The ship was immediately sunk as a floating target during the COMSUBPAC Shipwreck Exercise (SINKEX) at 2,020 fathoms off the coast of Southern California on June 6, 2002.

She was hit by a Mk 48 torpedo from SSN-707 Portsmouth. Incidentally, June 6 is also the anniversary of the Normandy landings in northern France to open the Western Front.

The aircraft carrier Okinawa received various military awards during her heroic service to the United States of America. These include 2 Combat Action Medals, 5 Naval Unit Commendations, 3 Naval Merit Unit Commendations, a Naval Combat "E" Medal, and Naval Expedition Medals (1 Cuban, 2 Iran/Indian Ocean).

In addition, she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1 Cuba, 1 Dominican Republic, 1 Operation Eagle Pull, 1 Operation Frequent Wind, 2 Persian Gulf), Vietnam Service Medal (7), Southwest Asia Service Medal, Humanitarian Viet Nam Service Medal (1 eagle pull, 1 frequent wind), Philippine Presidential Unit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Brave Cross Unit Medal (5), Republic of Vietnam Movement Ribbon and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

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