USS Saipan decommissions after 29 years
by MC2 (SW) Derek Hurder
NORFOLK, Va. (April 20, 2005)—The Navy bid farewell to USS Saipan (LHA 2) during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk April 20.
Saipan served the Navy and the nation for 29 years and is the second of five Tarawa-class general amphibious assault ships to be decommissioned.
Saipan was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Vessel on October 15, 1977. Its operational career began in July 1979 when it was assigned to non-combatant evacuation operations in Nicaragua.
In May 1980, SAIPAN augmented U.S. Coast Guard efforts to assist Cuban refugees crossing the Straits of Florida to the United States. On August 25, 1980, SAIPAN departed Norfolk for the first Mediterranean deployment by an LHA, and on September 3, 1981, SAIPAN deployed for her second tour in the Mediterranean. During that deployment, SAIPAN visited or operated in seven different countries on three continents, transited the Suez Canal Saipan is the second ship in the Navy to bear the name.
SAIPAN set sail for her third Mediterranean deployment on January 22, 1985. During this deployment, she steamed more than 32,000 miles, logged over 6,700 safe aircraft landings, and visited ports in three countries. After a maintenance period in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia from October 1985 to February 1986, SAIPAN sailed to Guantanamo Bay to complete Refresher Training. Amphibious Refresher Training was held later in May off the Coast of North Carolina with SAIPAN achieving a 99.97 overall grade, the highest score ever achieved by any amphibious ship.
On August 17, 1986, SAIPAN departed on her fourth Mediterranean deployment. Extended briefly in the Eastern Mediterranean for contingency operations, SAIPAN returned to Norfolk February 24, 1987. From March 17, 1990 through September 17, 1990, SAIPAN was deployed to the Mediterranean and conducted the evacuation of approximately 1,600 civilians from war-torn Liberia in support of Operation SHARP EDGE. From September 17, 1991 to March 17, 1992, SAIPAN deployed to the Persian Gulf as a unit of ARG 3-91 in support of Operation DESERT STORM.
On June 28, 1996 SAIPAN deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). During this deployment, SAIPAN participated in Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and various multi-national training exercises. The ship returned to Norfolk December 21, 1996.
From July 1, 1998 to December 9, 1998, SAIPAN participated in its seventh deployment to the Mediterranean area with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ship conducted multiple exercises with the armed forces of the Mediterranean littoral nations and spent substantial operating time in the Adriatic Sea.
A month after deployment, SAIPAN became the developmental and operational test platform for the V-22 Osprey aircraft. During underway training conducted in January, February, August and December 1999, the ship played an integral role in evaluating the Osprey for amphibious operations.
On July 11, 2000, SAIPAN commenced her eighth Mediterranean deployment. Deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), the ship commenced Adriatic presence operations during the Fall 2000 federal elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Participating in various multi-national training exercises, SAIPAN also provided significant support for "SLUNJ 2000," the first-ever US-Croatian Exercise.
On January 10, 2003, SAIPAN deployed from Norfolk in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. SAIPAN led the way in the 7-ship Amphibious Task Force East, offloading over 2,000 Marines, 200 vehicles, and 300 tons of equipment to Kuwait. SAIPAN remained on station to provide maintenance, logistics and medical support to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The ship departed the Persian Gulf May 21, 2003. Enroute to Norfolk, SAIPAN stopped at Rota, Spain, from June 6 to June 11 after 148 days at sea. SAIPAN returned to its homeport June 26, 2003.
On September 15, 2004, SAIPAN departed Norfolk to participate in the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) Western Atlantic Deployment. Three ships from the SAIPAN Expeditionary Strike Group joined 14 ships from five countries, including Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. The objective of the exercise was to conduct coordinated training and operate in a coalition environment while demonstrating the capabilities of an expeditionary strike group (ESG) as part of a multinational strike force. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk November 19, 2004.
On January 19, 2005, SAIPAN deployed to Gonaives, Haiti to support Exercise New Horizons 2005. SAIPAN offloaded 50 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One and nearly 1,200 tons of equipment used to build schoolhouses and wells on the hurricane-ravaged island. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk March 9, 2005.
On May 25, 2005, SAIPAN deployed to the European and Central Command maritime area of responsibility along with four other East Coast ships under the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). FRP is an operational construct resulting in increased deployment readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power. During the 91-day deployment, SAIPAN participated in Exercise Adriatic Engagement 2005, training alongside Sailors from Albania and Macedonia on the Albanian island Sazan. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk on August 25, 2005.
Saipan most recently completed a deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of the Global War on Terrorism. They returned to Norfolk at the end of December 2007.
Its predecessor, the carrier Saipan (CVL 48), served from July 1946 to January 1970.
The name “Saipan” was taken from an integral World War II battle in the Marianas Islands where military forces took over the island of Saipan, subsequently triggering Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo’s fall from power.
The ship’s primary mission was to transport Marine Expeditionary Units and other United States Marine Corps Forces. The ship has a well deck for deploying conventional and air cushioned landing craft, and a flight deck for launching a variety of helicopters and AV-8B Harrier II jump jets. Saipan was capable of carrying a complete Marine battalion and landing them ashore by helicopter or amphibious craft.
Another function of the USS Saipan was to provide for evacuation and disaster relief. The ship’s medical department was able to accommodate nearly 400 patients, with four operating rooms, a 17-bed Intensive Care Unit, and an onboard laboratory and blood bank.
Saipan received numerous awards in its 29 years of service, including six Battle “E” awards, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Saipan served the Navy and the nation for 29 years and is the second of five Tarawa-class general amphibious assault ships to be decommissioned.
Saipan was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Vessel on October 15, 1977. Its operational career began in July 1979 when it was assigned to non-combatant evacuation operations in Nicaragua.
In May 1980, SAIPAN augmented U.S. Coast Guard efforts to assist Cuban refugees crossing the Straits of Florida to the United States. On August 25, 1980, SAIPAN departed Norfolk for the first Mediterranean deployment by an LHA, and on September 3, 1981, SAIPAN deployed for her second tour in the Mediterranean. During that deployment, SAIPAN visited or operated in seven different countries on three continents, transited the Suez Canal Saipan is the second ship in the Navy to bear the name.
SAIPAN set sail for her third Mediterranean deployment on January 22, 1985. During this deployment, she steamed more than 32,000 miles, logged over 6,700 safe aircraft landings, and visited ports in three countries. After a maintenance period in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia from October 1985 to February 1986, SAIPAN sailed to Guantanamo Bay to complete Refresher Training. Amphibious Refresher Training was held later in May off the Coast of North Carolina with SAIPAN achieving a 99.97 overall grade, the highest score ever achieved by any amphibious ship.
On August 17, 1986, SAIPAN departed on her fourth Mediterranean deployment. Extended briefly in the Eastern Mediterranean for contingency operations, SAIPAN returned to Norfolk February 24, 1987. From March 17, 1990 through September 17, 1990, SAIPAN was deployed to the Mediterranean and conducted the evacuation of approximately 1,600 civilians from war-torn Liberia in support of Operation SHARP EDGE. From September 17, 1991 to March 17, 1992, SAIPAN deployed to the Persian Gulf as a unit of ARG 3-91 in support of Operation DESERT STORM.
On June 28, 1996 SAIPAN deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). During this deployment, SAIPAN participated in Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and various multi-national training exercises. The ship returned to Norfolk December 21, 1996.
From July 1, 1998 to December 9, 1998, SAIPAN participated in its seventh deployment to the Mediterranean area with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ship conducted multiple exercises with the armed forces of the Mediterranean littoral nations and spent substantial operating time in the Adriatic Sea.
A month after deployment, SAIPAN became the developmental and operational test platform for the V-22 Osprey aircraft. During underway training conducted in January, February, August and December 1999, the ship played an integral role in evaluating the Osprey for amphibious operations.
On July 11, 2000, SAIPAN commenced her eighth Mediterranean deployment. Deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), the ship commenced Adriatic presence operations during the Fall 2000 federal elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Participating in various multi-national training exercises, SAIPAN also provided significant support for "SLUNJ 2000," the first-ever US-Croatian Exercise.
On January 10, 2003, SAIPAN deployed from Norfolk in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. SAIPAN led the way in the 7-ship Amphibious Task Force East, offloading over 2,000 Marines, 200 vehicles, and 300 tons of equipment to Kuwait. SAIPAN remained on station to provide maintenance, logistics and medical support to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The ship departed the Persian Gulf May 21, 2003. Enroute to Norfolk, SAIPAN stopped at Rota, Spain, from June 6 to June 11 after 148 days at sea. SAIPAN returned to its homeport June 26, 2003.
On September 15, 2004, SAIPAN departed Norfolk to participate in the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) Western Atlantic Deployment. Three ships from the SAIPAN Expeditionary Strike Group joined 14 ships from five countries, including Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. The objective of the exercise was to conduct coordinated training and operate in a coalition environment while demonstrating the capabilities of an expeditionary strike group (ESG) as part of a multinational strike force. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk November 19, 2004.
On January 19, 2005, SAIPAN deployed to Gonaives, Haiti to support Exercise New Horizons 2005. SAIPAN offloaded 50 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One and nearly 1,200 tons of equipment used to build schoolhouses and wells on the hurricane-ravaged island. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk March 9, 2005.
On May 25, 2005, SAIPAN deployed to the European and Central Command maritime area of responsibility along with four other East Coast ships under the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). FRP is an operational construct resulting in increased deployment readiness and the ability to provide significant combat power. During the 91-day deployment, SAIPAN participated in Exercise Adriatic Engagement 2005, training alongside Sailors from Albania and Macedonia on the Albanian island Sazan. SAIPAN returned to Norfolk on August 25, 2005.
Saipan most recently completed a deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of the Global War on Terrorism. They returned to Norfolk at the end of December 2007.
Its predecessor, the carrier Saipan (CVL 48), served from July 1946 to January 1970.
The name “Saipan” was taken from an integral World War II battle in the Marianas Islands where military forces took over the island of Saipan, subsequently triggering Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo’s fall from power.
The ship’s primary mission was to transport Marine Expeditionary Units and other United States Marine Corps Forces. The ship has a well deck for deploying conventional and air cushioned landing craft, and a flight deck for launching a variety of helicopters and AV-8B Harrier II jump jets. Saipan was capable of carrying a complete Marine battalion and landing them ashore by helicopter or amphibious craft.
Another function of the USS Saipan was to provide for evacuation and disaster relief. The ship’s medical department was able to accommodate nearly 400 patients, with four operating rooms, a 17-bed Intensive Care Unit, and an onboard laboratory and blood bank.
Saipan received numerous awards in its 29 years of service, including six Battle “E” awards, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.