Iwo Jima-class (LPH-2)

The Iwo Jima class was the first series of United States Navy amphibious assault ships designed and built specifically as helicopter carriers. Preceded by converted Essex-class vessels, the class received non-sequential hull numbers to integrate with existing Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) conversions. Seven ships were completed between 1961 and 1970, with construction distributed among Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and Ingalls Shipbuilding.

The vessels utilized a hull design that subsequently provided the basis for the Blue Ridge class of amphibious command ships. Designated as LPH, the ships were designed to transport and land marines via helicopter. Aviation facilities supported helicopter operations and AV-8 Harrier V/STOL aircraft. While the ships shared a common design, specific vessels underwent modifications for specialized roles. USS Inchon was converted into a mine countermeasures ship to support mine-sweeping helicopters, and USS Guam was utilized as a test platform for the Sea Control Ship concept between 1970 and 1974 to evaluate the use of V/STOL aircraft on smaller carriers.

The class remained in active commission from 1961 until 2002. Operational history included involvement in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Dominican Civil War. The ships provided support for nuclear weapons testing at Johnston Atoll and were deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Between 1966 and 1975, the vessels served as recovery ships for Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. Additional service included participation in the Multinational Force in Lebanon and the Iran hostage crisis. The class also supported operations in Grenada, Liberia, Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, and Kuwait. Following their retirement from active service, ships of the class were either broken up for scrap or utilized as targets in sinking exercises.