USS Boxer (LHD-4) Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship

History

USS Boxer (LHD-4) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. Ingalls Shipbuilding built the vessel at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Boxer was launched on 13 August 1993 and commissioned on 11 February 1995, with San Diego as its home port.

The ship combines a large flight deck with a well deck to support amphibious operations by aircraft and landing craft. Its embarked force can include Marine Corps troops, helicopters, tiltrotors, and fixed-wing aircraft, with the exact aviation mix changing according to the mission.

In August 2026, the U.S. Navy awarded BAE Systems Maritime Solutions a $149.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance, modernization, and repair during Boxer's fiscal 2027 selected restricted availability. Contract options could raise the cumulative value to $180 million, and work in San Diego is scheduled for completion by October 2028, according to Defence Blog and Naval Today.

Construction and entry into service

The Navy awarded the ship on 3 October 1988. Ingalls Shipbuilding laid the keel on 18 April 1991 and launched Boxer on 13 August 1993. After commissioning in February 1995, the ship moved to San Diego by way of the Panama Canal. During the transit, parts of the bridge wing and other smaller components were damaged, after which the ship underwent repairs and system checks.

Boxer made its first Western Pacific deployment from March to September 1997 and took part in RIMPAC the following year. A second Western Pacific deployment began in December 1998.

Modernization and maintenance

BAE Systems received an earlier modernization and maintenance contract for Boxer in 2020. That work included changes intended to support F-35B Lightning II operations as well as hull, tank, and mechanical work. Maintenance problems continued after the overhaul, and by July 2023 the ship had not returned to regular sea operations.

Boxer departed San Diego in early April 2024 after months of delay, but returned about 10 days later after a failure involving the starboard rudder and roller-bearing system. Divers carried out the repair pierside because suitable large dry docks in San Diego were occupied. The repair took roughly two months, and the ship resumed deployment in July 2024.

The Navy's August 2026 contract covers labor, supervision, equipment, production, testing, facilities, and quality assurance for a Chief of Naval Operations availability. Fiscal 2026 other procurement funding accounts for $144.7 million of the award, while $5 million comes from fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds. Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity, and three offers were submitted under full and open competition.

Design

Boxer is a Wasp-class landing helicopter dock designed to move Marines from ship to shore by aircraft and landing craft while also serving as a command platform for amphibious operations. The ship has a full-length flight deck for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviation and a stern well deck for landing craft.

Hull and propulsion

The ship is 257 m (843 ft) long, has a beam of 31.8 m (104 ft), and draws about 8.1 m (27 ft). Full-load displacement is about 41,150 t (40,500 long tons). Two boilers supply two geared steam turbines driving two shafts, with total rated power of 52,000 kW (70,000 shp). Maximum speed is about 22 knots, and published range is 9,500 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Amphibious and aviation facilities

The well deck measures about 81 by 15.2 m (266 by 50 ft) and is about 8.5 m (28 ft) high. Published landing-craft loads include three Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles, two Landing Craft Utility vessels, or twelve Landing Craft Mechanized craft, depending on mission configuration.

The aviation component is mission-dependent. A standard listed mix includes six AV-8B Harrier II aircraft or six F-35B Lightning II fighters, four AH-1W/Z attack helicopters, twelve MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors, four CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, and three to four UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. An assault configuration can carry more than 22 MV-22B aircraft, while a sea-control configuration can emphasize AV-8B or F-35B aircraft with antisubmarine helicopters.

Sensors and armament

Published sensor equipment includes AN/SPS-49 two-dimensional and AN/SPS-48 three-dimensional air-search radars, AN/SPS-67 surface-search radar, the Mk 23 Target Acquisition System, AN/SPN-43 and AN/SPN-35 air-traffic-control radars, AN/URN-25 TACAN, and AN/UPX-24 identification-friend-or-foe equipment.

Defensive armament is listed as two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers, three 20 mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems, four 25 mm Mk 38 guns, and four .50-caliber machine guns.

Operational history

Boxer has deployed repeatedly to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea. In 2001 it supported Operation Southern Watch. In 2003 the ship deployed six months ahead of schedule in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and returned to the United States in July. A further surge deployment followed in 2004 to deliver equipment and supplies for rebuilding efforts in Iraq.

From April to June 2008, Boxer conducted a humanitarian mission in Central and South America. In 2009 it served as flagship of Combined Task Force 151 during antipiracy operations off Somalia. During the Maersk Alabama hostage crisis, Captain Richard Phillips was brought aboard Boxer for medical examination and rest after his rescue.

Boxer deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2011. In 2016 the ship operated off Yemen and later supported Operation Inherent Resolve, with embarked AV-8B Harrier II aircraft conducting strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.

In July 2019, the United States stated that Boxer had disabled an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after it approached the ship. Iranian officials disputed the claim. In March 2020, Boxer also became the first U.S. warship reported to have a sailor test presumptively positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The ship's April 2024 deployment was interrupted by the rudder-system failure, but Boxer returned to deployment in July and completed that deployment in November 2024. In March 2026, Boxer's amphibious ready group departed San Diego ahead of schedule for operations toward the Middle East with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.

Operators

• United States Navy: USS Boxer (LHD-4) remains in active service and is homeported at San Diego.

Specifications (USS Boxer LHD-4)

General characteristics

• Type: Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
• Displacement: about 41,150 t (40,500 long tons) full load
• Length: 257 m (843 ft)
• Beam: 31.8 m (104 ft)
• Draft: 8.1 m (27 ft)
• Complement: 1,208 ship's company
• Embarked troops: 1,687 Marines, with accommodation for 184 additional personnel in surge conditions
• Propulsion: two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts
• Power: 52,000 kW (70,000 shp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 22 knots
• Range: 9,500 nautical miles at 18 knots

Landing craft and aircraft

• Well deck: about 81 m long by 15.2 m wide by 8.5 m high (266 by 50 by 28 ft)
• Landing craft: up to three LCAC, two LCU, or twelve LCM craft in listed configurations
• Aircraft: mission-dependent mix of AV-8B or F-35B fixed-wing aircraft, MV-22B tiltrotors, and Marine Corps helicopters

Armament

• Missile defense: two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers and two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers
• Close-in defense: three 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
• Guns: four 25 mm Mk 38 guns and four .50-caliber machine guns