LHD-1 USS Wasp
LHD-2 USS Essex
LHD-3 USS Kearsarge
LHD-4 USS Boxer
LHD-5 USS Bataan
LHD-6 USS Bonhomme Richard
LHD-7 USS Iwo Jima
LHD-8 Makin Ilsand

The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world, and the Wasp-class ships are built to be multi-functional, and adding to the experience gained from the predecessor Tarawa class, the Wasps can serve in either the amphibious assault, or sea control mode, adding significantly to America's ability to project power and defend freedom across the globe.

Capable of embarking 1,900 US Marines and all of the equipment to support them, the Wasp class also carries all of the equipement necessary to provide either air (via helicopter and V-22 Osprey aircraft) or sea assault (via well-docked air cushion or landing craft) on the objectives of those marines, while giving them the logistical, command and control, close-air support (through its embarked wing of VSTOL fighter bombers), and the hospital support they require while doing so.

In the Sea control role, the Wasp class can embark an air wing made up of Harriers, or the future, very capable Joint Strike fighter, for fleet defense or offense, and the numnerous ASW helicopters for defending against and prosecuting sub surface threats.

Originally intended to be a class of six, with the decommissioning of the Iwo Jima class which were the first ships built to be dedicated large-deck Amphibious assault vessels, the Wasp class has been expaned to eight vessels, the eighth of which was christened in 2006.

That vessel, the Makin Ilsand, provides a transformational bridge into the future development of the LHA(R) vessels, and replaced one of the Tarawa class when she was commissioned in October of 2009. She is the first Wasp vessel to have Gas turbine engines and an all electric drive like the LHA(R) vessels will have. In addition, she will use a fiber optic network for machinary control, intergrated into her damage control system, the more capable SPQ-9B radar and the US Navy's Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC).