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<li id="toc-1990s" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1990s"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>1990s</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1990s-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-1993" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1993"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.1</span> <span>1993</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1993-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1994" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1994"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.2</span> <span>1994</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1994-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1996" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1996"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.3</span> 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class="vector-toc-link" href="#2003"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2.2</span> <span>2003</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2003-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2004" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2004"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2.3</span> <span>2004</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2004-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2008" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2008"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2.4</span> <span>2008</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2008-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2009" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2009"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2.5</span> <span>2009</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2009-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2010s" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2010s"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>2010s</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2010s-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-2010" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2010"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.1</span> <span>2010</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2010-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2011" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2011"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.2</span> <span>2011</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2011-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2012" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2012"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.3</span> <span>2012</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2012-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Collision_with_USNS_Yukon" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-4"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Collision_with_USNS_Yukon"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.3.1</span> <span>Collision with USNS <i>Yukon</i></span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Collision_with_USNS_Yukon-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2014" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2014"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.4</span> <span>2014</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2014-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2015" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2015"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.5</span> <span>2015</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2015-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2017" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2017"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.6</span> <span>2017</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2017-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2018" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2018"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.7</span> <span>2018</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2018-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2020_COVID-19_pandemic" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2020_COVID-19_pandemic"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.4</span> <span>2020 COVID-19 pandemic</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2020_COVID-19_pandemic-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2022" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2022"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>2022</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2022-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2023" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2023"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.6</span> <span>2023</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2023-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" 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href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B3%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3_%D8%A7%D8%B3%DA%A9%D8%B3_(%D8%A7%D9%84%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%DA%86%E2%80%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DB%B2)" title="یواس‌اس اسکس (ال‌اچ‌دی-۲) – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="یواس‌اس اسکس (ال‌اچ‌دی-۲)" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_%EC%97%90%EC%8B%9D%EC%8A%A4_(LHD-2)" title="USS 에식스 (LHD-2) – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="USS 에식스 (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%82%BB%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9_(%E5%BC%B7%E8%A5%B2%E6%8F%9A%E9%99%B8%E8%89%A6)" title="エセックス (強襲揚陸艦) – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="エセックス (強襲揚陸艦)" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="USS Essex (LHD-2) – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="USS Essex (LHD-2)" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1039542#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" title="View the content page [c]" 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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2">"USS Essex" LHD-2</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22USS+Essex%22+LHD-2&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">March 2019</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <table class="infobox" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;"> <caption>USS <i>Essex</i> (LHD-2) </caption> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align:center;line-height:1.5em;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg/300px-USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg/450px-USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg/600px-USS_Essex_LHD_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4442" data-file-height="2957" /></a></span><div>USS <i>Essex</i> in the <a href="/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a> in September 2021</div> </td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">History</th></tr> <tr><th height="30" colspan="2" style="background-color:#B0C4DE;text-align:left;padding-left:2px;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><span class="flagicon"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/54px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" decoding="async" width="54" height="28" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/80px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/107px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1235" data-file-height="650" /></span></span></span><span style="padding-left:1em">United States</span></th></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Name</td><td><i>Essex</i></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Namesake</td><td><a href="/wiki/USS_Essex_(CV-9)" title="USS Essex (CV-9)">USS Essex (CV-9)</a></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Ordered</td><td>10 September 1986</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Builder</td><td><a href="/wiki/Ingalls_Shipbuilding" title="Ingalls Shipbuilding">Ingalls Shipbuilding</a></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Laid down</td><td>20 March 1989</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Launched</td><td>23 February 1991</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Commissioned</td><td>17 October 1992</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Homeport</td><td><a href="/wiki/Naval_Base_San_Diego" title="Naval Base San Diego">San Diego</a></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Identification</td><td><ul style="list-style:none; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><a href="/wiki/Maritime_Mobile_Service_Identity" title="Maritime Mobile Service Identity">MMSI number</a>: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/mmsi:368779000">368779000</a></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><a href="/wiki/Maritime_call_sign" title="Maritime call sign">Callsign</a>: NESX</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><span class="flagicon" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:ICS_November.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/ICS_November.svg/15px-ICS_November.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/ICS_November.svg/23px-ICS_November.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/ICS_November.svg/30px-ICS_November.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span><span class="flagicon" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:ICS_Echo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/ICS_Echo.svg/15px-ICS_Echo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/ICS_Echo.svg/23px-ICS_Echo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/ICS_Echo.svg/30px-ICS_Echo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span><span class="flagicon" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:ICS_Sierra.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/ICS_Sierra.svg/15px-ICS_Sierra.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/ICS_Sierra.svg/23px-ICS_Sierra.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/ICS_Sierra.svg/30px-ICS_Sierra.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span><span class="flagicon" style="padding-right:0.3em;"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:ICS_X-ray.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/ICS_X-ray.svg/15px-ICS_X-ray.svg.png" decoding="async" width="15" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/ICS_X-ray.svg/23px-ICS_X-ray.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/ICS_X-ray.svg/30px-ICS_X-ray.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></span></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><a href="/wiki/Hull_number" title="Hull number">Hull number</a>: LHD-2</li> </ul></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Motto</td><td><i>Take Notice</i></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Nickname(s)</td><td><i>The Iron Gator</i></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Status</td><td>in active service</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Badge</td><td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png/150px-USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="219" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png/225px-USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png/300px-USS_Essex_LHD-2_Crest.png 2x" data-file-width="725" data-file-height="1058" /></a></span></td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">General characteristics</th></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Type</td><td><a href="/wiki/Wasp-class_amphibious_assault_ship" title="Wasp-class amphibious assault ship"><i>Wasp</i>-class</a> <a href="/wiki/Amphibious_assault_ship" title="Amphibious assault ship">amphibious assault ship</a></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Displacement</td><td>40,500 long tons (41,150 t) full load</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Length</td><td>844.0 ft (257.25 m)</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Beam</td><td>106 ft (32.3 m)</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Draft</td><td>27 ft (8.1 m)</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Propulsion</td><td>Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 shp (52,000 kW);</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Speed</td><td>22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Range</td><td>9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)</td></tr> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Well deck dimensions</th><td class="infobox-data">266-by-50-foot (81 by 15.2 m) by 28-foot (8.5 m) high</td></tr><tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Boats & landing <br /> craft carried</td><td><ul style="list-style:none; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">3 <a href="/wiki/Landing_Craft_Air_Cushion" title="Landing Craft Air Cushion">Landing Craft Air Cushion</a> or</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">2 <a href="/wiki/Landing_Craft_Utility" title="Landing Craft Utility">Landing Craft Utility</a><sup id="cite_ref-Navy_fact_file_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Navy_fact_file-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> or</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">12 <a href="/wiki/Landing_Craft_Mechanized" class="mw-redirect" title="Landing Craft Mechanized">Landing Craft Mechanized</a></li> </ul></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Troops</td><td>1,687 troops (plus 184 surge) <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps" title="United States Marine Corps">Marine</a> Detachment</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Complement</td><td>1,208</td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Sensors and <br /> processing systems</td><td><ul style="list-style:none; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/wiki/AN/SPS-49" title="AN/SPS-49">AN/SPS-49</a> 2-D Air Search Radar</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/wiki/AN/SPS-48" title="AN/SPS-48">AN/SPS-48</a> 3-D Air Search Radar</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/wiki/AN/SPS-67" title="AN/SPS-67">AN/SPS-67</a> Surface Search Radar</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/w/index.php?title=Mk23_Target_Acquisition_System&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mk23 Target Acquisition System (page does not exist)">Mk23 Target Acquisition System</a> (TAS)</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/w/index.php?title=AN/SPN-43&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AN/SPN-43 (page does not exist)">AN/SPN-43</a> Marshalling Air Traffic Control Radar</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/wiki/AN/SPN-35" title="AN/SPN-35">AN/SPN-35</a> Air Traffic Control Radar</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/w/index.php?title=AN/URN-25&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AN/URN-25 (page does not exist)">AN/URN-25</a> <a href="/wiki/Tactical_air_navigation_system" title="Tactical air navigation system">TACAN</a> system</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">1 <a href="/w/index.php?title=AN/UPX-24&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="AN/UPX-24 (page does not exist)">AN/UPX-24</a> Identification Friend Foe</li> </ul></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Armament</td><td><ul style="list-style:none; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">Two <a href="/wiki/RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile" title="RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile">RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile</a> launchers</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">Three 20 mm <a href="/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS" title="Phalanx CIWS">Phalanx CIWS</a> systems</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">Four <a href="/wiki/25_mm_caliber" title="25 mm caliber">25 mm</a> <a href="/wiki/M242_Bushmaster#Naval" title="M242 Bushmaster">Mk 38</a> <a href="/wiki/Chain_gun" title="Chain gun">chain guns</a></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">Four <a href="/wiki/.50_BMG" title=".50 BMG">.50 BMG</a> <a href="/wiki/M2_Browning_machine_gun" class="mw-redirect" title="M2 Browning machine gun">machine guns</a></li> </ul></td></tr> <tr style="vertical-align:top;"><td style="font-weight: bold">Aircraft carried</td><td><ul style="list-style:none; margin:0;"> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><i>Actual mix depends on the mission</i></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><b>Standard Complement:</b></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">6 <a href="/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier_II" class="mw-redirect" title="AV-8B Harrier II">AV-8B Harrier II</a> <a href="/wiki/Ground-attack_aircraft" class="mw-redirect" title="Ground-attack aircraft">attack aircraft</a></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><i>or</i></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">6 <a href="/wiki/F-35B_Lightning_II" class="mw-redirect" title="F-35B Lightning II">F-35B Lightning II</a> stealth strike-fighters</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">4 <a href="/wiki/AH-1W" class="mw-redirect" title="AH-1W">AH-1W</a><a href="/wiki/AH-1Z" class="mw-redirect" title="AH-1Z">/Z</a> <a href="/wiki/AH-1W" class="mw-redirect" title="AH-1W">Super Cobra</a><a href="/wiki/AH-1Z" class="mw-redirect" title="AH-1Z">/Viper</a> attack helicopter</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">12 <a href="/wiki/MV-22B_Osprey" class="mw-redirect" title="MV-22B Osprey">MV-22B Osprey</a> assault support tiltrotor</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">4 <a href="/wiki/CH-53E_Super_Stallion" class="mw-redirect" title="CH-53E Super Stallion">CH-53E Super Stallion</a> heavy-lift helicopters</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">3–4 <a href="/wiki/UH-1Y_Venom" class="mw-redirect" title="UH-1Y Venom">UH-1Y Venom</a> utility helicopters</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><b>Assault:</b></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">22+ <a href="/wiki/MV-22B_Osprey" class="mw-redirect" title="MV-22B Osprey">MV-22B Osprey</a> assault support tiltrotor</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><b>Sea Control:</b></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">20 <a href="/wiki/AV-8B_Harrier_II" class="mw-redirect" title="AV-8B Harrier II">AV-8B Harrier II</a> <a href="/wiki/Ground-attack_aircraft" class="mw-redirect" title="Ground-attack aircraft">attack aircraft</a></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;"><i>or</i></li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">20 <a href="/wiki/F-35B_Lightning_II" class="mw-redirect" title="F-35B Lightning II">F-35B Lightning II</a> stealth strike-fighters</li> <li style="padding-left: .4em; text-indent: -.4em;">6 <a href="/wiki/SH-60_Seahawk#SH-60F_"Oceanhawk"" class="mw-redirect" title="SH-60 Seahawk">SH-60F</a>/<a href="/wiki/SH-60_Seahawk#HH-60H_"Rescue_Hawk"" class="mw-redirect" title="SH-60 Seahawk">HH-60H</a> <a href="/wiki/Anti-submarine_warfare" title="Anti-submarine warfare">ASW</a> helicopters</li> </ul></td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><b>USS <i>Essex</i> (LHD-2)</b> is a <a href="/wiki/Wasp-class_amphibious_assault_ship" title="Wasp-class amphibious assault ship"><i>Wasp</i>-class</a> <a href="/wiki/Landing_Helicopter_Dock" class="mw-redirect" title="Landing Helicopter Dock">Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD)</a> in service with the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Amphibious_assault_ship" title="Amphibious assault ship">amphibious assault ship</a> was built at what is now <a href="/wiki/Huntington_Ingalls_Industries" title="Huntington Ingalls Industries">Huntington Ingalls Industries</a> in <a href="/wiki/Pascagoula,_Mississippi" title="Pascagoula, Mississippi">Pascagoula, Mississippi</a>. She was <a href="/wiki/Ship_naming_and_launching" class="mw-redirect" title="Ship naming and launching">launched</a> 23 February 1991 and <a href="/wiki/Ship_commissioning" title="Ship commissioning">commissioned</a> on 17 October 1992 while moored at <a href="/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_North_Island" title="Naval Air Station North Island">Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island</a>. She is the fifth ship named for <a href="/wiki/Essex_County,_Massachusetts" title="Essex County, Massachusetts">Essex County, Massachusetts</a>. <i>Essex</i> served as the command ship for <a href="/wiki/Expeditionary_Strike_Group_Seven" class="mw-redirect" title="Expeditionary Strike Group Seven">Expeditionary Strike Group Seven</a> until replaced by <a href="/wiki/USS_Bonhomme_Richard_(LHD-6)" title="USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)">USS <i>Bonhomme Richard</i></a> on 23 April 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg/220px-USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg/330px-USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg/440px-USS_Essex_Thailand.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2310" data-file-height="1540" /></a><figcaption>USS <i>Essex</i> performs a <a href="/wiki/Stern_gate" class="mw-redirect" title="Stern gate">stern gate</a> mating with <a href="/wiki/Landing_Craft_Utility" title="Landing Craft Utility">Landing Craft Utility</a> 1631, while back-loading elements of the <a href="/wiki/31st_Marine_Expeditionary_Unit" title="31st Marine Expeditionary Unit">31st Marine Expeditionary Unit</a>.</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1990s">1990s</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: 1990s"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1993">1993</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: 1993"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>Essex</i> conducted a training program during the spring of 1993, and from 18 August until 23 November, was undergoing upgrades, during Post Shakedown Availability, in <a href="/wiki/Long_Beach,_California" title="Long Beach, California">Long Beach</a> harbor.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1994">1994</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: 1994"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><i>Essex</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s maiden deployment was in October 1994. With the <a href="/wiki/13th_Marine_Expeditionary_Unit" title="13th Marine Expeditionary Unit">13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)</a> <a href="/wiki/Marine_expeditionary_unit_(special_operations_capable)" title="Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable)">(Special Operations Capable (SOC))</a> embarked. In January 1995, she left the <a href="/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> to prepare for the complex task of covering the withdrawal of <a href="/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a> multinational force from Somalia in <a href="/wiki/Operation_United_Shield" title="Operation United Shield">Operation United Shield</a>. Under fire from advancing Somalis, every member of the force was successfully extracted. <i>Essex</i> returned to <a href="/wiki/San_Diego" title="San Diego">San Diego</a> on 25 April 1995.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1996">1996</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: 1996"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After a short maintenance period, <i>Essex</i> embarked on a vigorous workup cycle, culminating in her participation in <a href="/wiki/RIMPAC" title="RIMPAC">Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC)</a>, a biennial, seven-nation naval exercise. On 10 October 1996, she embarked on her second Western Pacific deployment with the <a href="/wiki/11th_Marine_Expeditionary_Unit" title="11th Marine Expeditionary Unit">11th MEU (SOC)</a> and Amphibious Squadron Five. During the deployment, <i>Essex</i> participated in multinational exercises with Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, as well as Exercise Tandem Thrust 1997, an American-Australian combined exercise with over 28,000 troops, 250 aircraft, and 40 ships participating.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1997">1997</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: 1997"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On her return in April 1997, <i>Essex</i> went into a short maintenance period, followed by a shortened workup cycle. She then departed for her third Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf deployment on 21 June 1998 with the <a href="/wiki/15th_Marine_Expeditionary_Unit" title="15th Marine Expeditionary Unit">15th MEU (SOC)</a> and Amphibious Squadron Five. <i>Essex</i> participated in Exercises Sea Soldier and Red Reef and Military SALT and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations with the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. Additionally, <i>Essex</i> supported <a href="/wiki/Operation_Southern_Watch" title="Operation Southern Watch">Operation Southern Watch</a>, enforcing the UN-mandated no-fly zone over southern Iraq.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2000s">2000s</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: 2000s"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2000">2000</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: 2000"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 26 July 2000, after the successful completion of the largest crew swap in U.S. Navy history, <i>Essex</i> replaced <a href="/wiki/USS_Belleau_Wood_(LHA-3)" title="USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)">USS <i>Belleau Wood</i></a> and inherited the distinctive role as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in <a href="/wiki/United_States_Fleet_Activities_Sasebo" title="United States Fleet Activities Sasebo">United States Fleet Activities Sasebo</a>, Japan.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:ESSEX_PENNANT.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/ESSEX_PENNANT.png/220px-ESSEX_PENNANT.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/ESSEX_PENNANT.png/330px-ESSEX_PENNANT.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/ESSEX_PENNANT.png/440px-ESSEX_PENNANT.png 2x" data-file-width="2850" data-file-height="1500" /></a><figcaption>Pennant of <i>Essex</i>.</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2003">2003</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: 2003"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While in her forward-deployed role, <i>Essex</i> has participated in various humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations, including <a href="/wiki/East_Timor" title="East Timor">East Timor</a> in October and November 2003 and <a href="/wiki/Foal_Eagle" title="Foal Eagle">Foal Eagle</a> in <a href="/wiki/Korea" title="Korea">Korea</a> in 2003.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:USSEssexLCAC.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/USSEssexLCAC.JPG/220px-USSEssexLCAC.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/USSEssexLCAC.JPG/330px-USSEssexLCAC.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/USSEssexLCAC.JPG/440px-USSEssexLCAC.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Landing_Craft_Air_Cushion" title="Landing Craft Air Cushion">LCAC</a> entering the stern of <i>Essex</i>.</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2004">2004</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: 2004"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 2004, <i>Essex</i> carried the <a href="/wiki/31st_Marine_Expeditionary_Unit" title="31st Marine Expeditionary Unit">31st MEU</a> to <a href="/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a>, along with <a href="/wiki/USS_Harpers_Ferry" title="USS Harpers Ferry">USS <i>Harpers Ferry</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Juneau_(LPD-10)" title="USS Juneau (LPD-10)">USS <i>Juneau</i></a>. <i>Essex</i> stayed in the Persian Gulf while the 31st MEU and the combat element <a href="/wiki/1st_Battalion,_3rd_Marines" title="1st Battalion, 3rd Marines">1st Battalion, 3rd Marines</a> went into Iraq for the <a href="/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Fallujah" title="Second Battle of Fallujah">Battle of Fallujah</a>. During that time, <i>Essex</i> went to aid in <a href="/wiki/Operation_Unified_Assistance" title="Operation Unified Assistance">Operation Unified Assistance</a> in <a href="/wiki/Banda_Aceh" title="Banda Aceh">Banda Aceh</a>, Indonesia, after the <a href="/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami" title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami">December 2004 tsunami</a>. She then returned to the Persian Gulf to embark the 31st MEU SOC and the combat element despite being in need of maintenance. After picking up the MEU and the Combat Element, the three ships returned to <a href="/wiki/Okinawa,_Japan" class="mw-redirect" title="Okinawa, Japan">Okinawa, Japan</a>. The ship had been at sea for a total of eight months.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2008">2008</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: 2008"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the 2008 Myanmar <a href="/wiki/Cyclone_Nargis" title="Cyclone Nargis">Cyclone Nargis</a> crisis and the subsequent Operation Caring Response aid mission, <i>Essex</i> and her amphibious group (made up of <i>Juneau</i>, <i>Harpers Ferry</i>, and the <a href="/wiki/Destroyer" title="Destroyer">destroyer</a> <a href="/wiki/USS_Mustin_(DDG-89)" title="USS Mustin (DDG-89)">USS <i>Mustin</i></a>) stood by off Burma from 13 May to 5 June, waiting for the Myanmar junta government to permit US aid to its citizens.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In early June, with permission still not forthcoming, it was decided to put the group back on its scheduled operations.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2009">2009</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: 2009"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Early in 2009, <i>Essex</i> completed exercise <a href="/wiki/Cobra_Gold" title="Cobra Gold">Cobra Gold</a>, which had been cut short the previous year. <i>Essex</i> followed this with exercise <a href="/wiki/Balikatan" title="Balikatan">Balikatan</a> with the Republic of the Philippines. <i>Essex</i> then got underway in support of exercise Talisman Saber 2009 and conducted various well deck and flight deck evolutions supporting this joint bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Australian military forces.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2010s">2010s</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: 2010s"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2010">2010</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: 2010"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In February, at the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2010, <i>Essex</i> visited Laem Chabang in Thailand.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>From 21–23 October, the <i>Essex</i> <a href="/wiki/Expeditionary_Strike_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="Expeditionary Strike Group">Expeditionary Strike Group</a> provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Philippines after the <a href="/wiki/Typhoon_Megi_(2010)" title="Typhoon Megi (2010)">Super Typhoon Juan</a> (international name Megi) caused extensive destruction to municipalities along the eastern coast of the <a href="/wiki/Province_of_Isabela" class="mw-redirect" title="Province of Isabela">Province of Isabela</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The crew was awarded the <a href="/wiki/Humanitarian_Service_Medal" title="Humanitarian Service Medal">Humanitarian Service Medal</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2011">2011</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: 2011"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>At the request for assistance from the Japanese government, the Navy directed <i>Essex</i> to be deployed off the northeastern coast of <a href="/wiki/Honshu" title="Honshu">Honshu</a> after the massive <a href="/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami" title="2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami">2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The ship was involved in relief activities in the <a href="/wiki/Sea_of_Japan" title="Sea of Japan">Sea of Japan</a> off <a href="/wiki/Akita_Prefecture" title="Akita Prefecture">Akita Prefecture</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Helicopters from the ship helped deliver relief supplies to quake and tsunami survivors along the northeast coast of <a href="/wiki/Tohoku" class="mw-redirect" title="Tohoku">Tohoku</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The ship departed Sasebo in September 2011 to patrol the western Pacific. Accompanying the ship were the landing ships <a href="/wiki/USS_Germantown_(LSD-42)" title="USS Germantown (LSD-42)">USS <i>Germantown</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Denver_(LPD-9)" title="USS Denver (LPD-9)">USS <i>Denver</i></a>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In November, a Petty Officer 1st Class was fatally injured aboard <i>Essex</i> during a weapons systems test while the ship was off the coast of Bali.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A command report released in early 2012 cited "breakdown of safety procedures, protocol violations and gross negligence".<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2012">2012</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: 2012"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While <i>Essex</i> was scheduled to depart for Cobra Gold 2012, an annual exercise with Thailand, her participation was canceled due to maintenance issues.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>It was announced in January 2012 that <i>Essex</i> would be returning to her former home port of San Diego, California, after 11 years of forward deployment in Japan.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Before departing for San Diego, the <i>Essex</i> crew will perform a hull swap with the crew of fellow <i>Wasp</i>-class sister-ship, <i>Bonhomme Richard</i>, to continue their deployment to Sasebo, but aboard the newly arrived ship. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading5"><h5 id="Collision_with_USNS_Yukon">Collision with USNS <i>Yukon</i></h5><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Collision with USNS Yukon"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 16 May 2012, <i>Essex</i> suffered an apparent steering failure while approaching <a href="/wiki/USNS_Yukon_(T-AO-202)" title="USNS Yukon (T-AO-202)">USNS <i>Yukon</i></a> for an <a href="/wiki/Underway_replenishment" title="Underway replenishment">underway replenishment</a>. The two ships collided, causing damage to both ships. There were no injuries, and no loss of fuel was reported. Both ships were able to continue to San Diego under their own power.<sup id="cite_ref-collide_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-collide-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 19 June 2012 the Navy announced that the ship's commander, Captain Chuck Litchfield, had been relieved of command due to "loss of confidence in his ability to command."<sup id="cite_ref-relieved_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-relieved-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An investigation determined that the collision was avoidable and caused by improper supervision by Litchfield over his junior bridge crew. Although <i>Essex</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s steering had failed, the investigation determined that better leadership by Litchfield could have prevented the collision. The investigation recommended administrative action against <i>Essex</i><span class="nowrap" style="padding-left:0.1em;">'</span>s executive officer, <a href="/wiki/Officer_of_the_deck" title="Officer of the deck">Officer Of the Deck (OOD)</a>, conning officer, and helm safety officer.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>Essex</i> entered Naval Base San Diego for an 18-month maintenance and upgrade on 18 September 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2014">2014</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: 2014"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After two years of dry-dock and pier side maintenance, <i>Essex</i> executed an on-time underway to conduct sea trials in April 2014. <i>Essex</i> also received an aviation certification in May 2014 by showing proficiency in the launching, landing, and refueling of various helicopters and MV-22 Ospreys on the flight deck. <i>Essex</i> was one of the three US Navy ships, the other two being <a href="/wiki/USS_Harry_S._Truman" title="USS Harry S. Truman"><i>Harry S. Truman</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Kearsarge_(LHD-3)" title="USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)"><i>Kearsarge</i></a>, in which the US Navy installed metal 3D printers.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2015">2015</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: 2015"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Light_Show_(16653571951).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg/220px-Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg/330px-Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg/440px-Light_Show_%2816653571951%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5760" data-file-height="3840" /></a><figcaption>An AV-8B Harrier prepares to take off aboard <i>Essex</i>, off the coast of San Diego, 24 February 2015.</figcaption></figure> <p>On 30 November 2015, <i>Essex</i> and her <a href="/wiki/Amphibious_ready_group" title="Amphibious ready group">Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)</a>, embarked with the 15th MEU and entered the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Third_Fleet" title="United States Third Fleet">United States Third Fleet</a> <a href="/wiki/Area_of_operations" title="Area of operations">Area of Operations (AO)</a>, returning from a deployment that spread across the 5th, 6th and 7th AOs.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2017">2017</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: 2017"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 7–9 October <i>Essex</i> was in <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco" title="San Francisco">San Francisco</a>, and along with <a href="/wiki/USS_Champion_(MCM-4)" title="USS Champion (MCM-4)">USS <i>Champion</i></a>, was open to visitors as part of the "San Francisco Fleet Week" event.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2018">2018</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: 2018"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In September 2018 the <i>Essex</i> ARG with the <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#F-35B" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">F-35B</a> equipped <a href="/wiki/VMFA-211" title="VMFA-211">Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211)</a> aboard deployed to the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Central_Command" title="United States Central Command">United States Central Command</a> AO.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 27 September, it was reported that the first-ever F-35B airstrike was launched from <i>Essex</i> against a fixed Taliban target.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2020_COVID-19_pandemic">2020 COVID-19 pandemic</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: 2020 COVID-19 pandemic"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_naval_ships" title="COVID-19 pandemic on naval ships">COVID-19 pandemic on naval ships</a></div> <p>The coronavirus pandemic was reported to have spread to the crew of <i>Essex</i> when its first case was reported on 17 March.<sup id="cite_ref-essex.navy_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-essex.navy-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The sailor had been attending a course at <a href="/wiki/Naval_Base_San_Diego" title="Naval Base San Diego">Naval Base San Diego</a> since 6 February 2020 when the test returned positive on 14 March.<sup id="cite_ref-essex.navy_27-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-essex.navy-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The student subsequently self-isolated at home.<sup id="cite_ref-essex.navy_27-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-essex.navy-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2022">2022</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: 2022"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 27-30 May, <i>Essex</i> and <a href="/wiki/USS_Portland_(LPD-27)" title="USS Portland (LPD-27)">USS <i>Portland</i> (LPD-27)</a> were open to the public as a part of <a href="/wiki/Fleet_Week#Los_Angeles" title="Fleet Week">Los Angeles Fleet Week 2022</a>, in <a href="/wiki/San_Pedro,_California" class="mw-redirect" title="San Pedro, California">San Pedro, California</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><i>Essex</i> participated in <a href="/wiki/Exercise_RIMPAC" class="mw-redirect" title="Exercise RIMPAC">RIMPAC</a> 2022.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2023">2023</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: 2023"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 2 August, a machinist’s mate was arrested for espionage for passing information about the <i>Essex</i>, the ship he was stationed on, and others, to a Chinese agent.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Navy_fact_file-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Navy_fact_file_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161019033201/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=400&ct=4">"Fact File: Amphibious Assault Ships – LHD/LHA(R)"</a>. <i>U.S. Navy</i>. 13 April 2016. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&ct=4&tid=400">the original</a> on 19 October 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=Fact+File%3A+Amphibious+Assault+Ships+%E2%80%93+LHD%2FLHA%28R%29&rft.date=2016-04-13&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy.mil%2Fnavydata%2Ffact_display.asp%3Fcid%3D4200%26ct%3D4%26tid%3D400&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurke2012" class="citation news cs1">Burke, Matthew (23 April 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-crews-swap-ships-during-sasebo-ceremony-1.175288">"Navy crews swap ships during Sasebo ceremony"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stars_and_Stripes_(newspaper)" title="Stars and Stripes (newspaper)">Stars and Stripes</a></i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131907/http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-crews-swap-ships-during-sasebo-ceremony-1.175288">Archived</a> from the original on 24 September 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Archived from <span class="id-lock-subscription" title="Paid subscription required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3897844.ece">the original</a></span> on 11 May 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 May</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Times&rft.atitle=US+threatens+military+aid+drops+as+Burma+leaders+stall&rft.date=2008-05-09&rft.aulast=Fletcher&rft.aufirst=Martin&rft.au=Sugden%2C+Joanna&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesonline.co.uk%2Ftol%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Farticle3897844.ece&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090327010003/http://www.pacom.mil/news/news2008/USPACOM_PRESS_RELEASE_%20008_08.pdf">"USS Essex Group/31st MEU Prepare To Resume Previous Operational Schedule"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>U.S. Pacific Command</i>. 3 June 2008. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">3 December</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=USS+Essex+Arrives+in+Thailand&rft.date=2010-02-15&rft.aulast=Smith&rft.aufirst=Andrew&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy.mil%2Fsubmit%2Fdisplay.asp%3Fstory_id%3D51290&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121007075830/http://www.marines.mil/unit/31stmeu/Pages/NewsStories/31STMEUandPHIBRON-11provideassistanceafterSuperTyphoonJuan.aspx">"31ST MEU and PHIBRON-11 provide assistance after Super Typhoon Juan"</a>. <i>U.S. Marines</i>. 21 October 2010. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 May</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Marines&rft.atitle=31ST+MEU+and+PHIBRON-11+provide+assistance+after+Super+Typhoon+Juan&rft.date=2010-10-21&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marines.mil%2Funit%2F31stmeu%2FPages%2FNewsStories%2F31STMEUandPHIBRON-11provideassistanceafterSuperTyphoonJuan.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRabiroff2011" class="citation news cs1">Rabiroff, John (17 March 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/earthquake-disaster-in-japan/u-s-military-delivers-40-tons-of-supplies-to-hardest-hit-areas-1.138003">"U.S. military delivers 40 tons of supplies to hardest-hit areas"</a>. <i>Stars and Stripes</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110321012130/http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/earthquake-disaster-in-japan/u-s-military-delivers-40-tons-of-supplies-to-hardest-hit-areas-1.138003">Archived</a> from the original on 21 March 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Stars+and+Stripes&rft.atitle=U.S.+military+delivers+40+tons+of+supplies+to+hardest-hit+areas&rft.date=2011-03-17&rft.aulast=Rabiroff&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fpacific%2Fearthquake-disaster-in-japan%2Fu-s-military-delivers-40-tons-of-supplies-to-hardest-hit-areas-1.138003&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110323003053/http://www.seawaves.com/japan2011.asp">"Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan"</a>. <i>Seawaves</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.seawaves.com/japan2011.asp">the original</a> on 23 March 2011.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Seawaves&rft.atitle=Warships+Supporting+Earthquake+in+Japan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seawaves.com%2Fjapan2011.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110320213514/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110319003100.htm">"Japan-U.S. relief efforts expanding"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Yomiuri" class="mw-redirect" title="The Daily Yomiuri">The Daily Yomiuri</a></i>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 March</span> 2011</span>. <q><i>Essex</i> with 2,200 members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard ... involved in relief activities in the <a href="/wiki/Sea_of_Japan" title="Sea of Japan">Sea of Japan</a> off <a href="/wiki/Akita_Prefecture" title="Akita Prefecture">Akita Prefecture</a>.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Daily+Yomiuri&rft.atitle=Japan-U.S.+relief+efforts+expanding&rft.date=2011-03-20&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yomiuri.co.jp%2Fdy%2Fnational%2FT110319003100.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHansen2011" class="citation audio-visual cs1">Hansen, Liane (27 March 2011). <i>USS Essex Helps Delivers Aid To Japan</i>. <i><a href="/wiki/Weekend_Edition" title="Weekend Edition">Weekend Edition</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/NPR" title="NPR">NPR</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=USS+Essex+Helps+Delivers+Aid+To+Japan&rft.pub=NPR&rft.date=2011-03-27&rft.aulast=Hansen&rft.aufirst=Liane&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan/essex-ready-group-and-31st-meu-underway-for-fall-patrol-1.156127">"Essex Ready Group and 31st MEU underway for fall patrol"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stars_and_Stripes_(newspaper)" title="Stars and Stripes (newspaper)">Stars and Stripes</a></i>. 26 September 2011. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924132040/http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan/essex-ready-group-and-31st-meu-underway-for-fall-patrol-1.156127">Archived</a> from the original on 24 September 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Stars+and+Stripes&rft.atitle=Essex+Ready+Group+and+31st+MEU+underway+for+fall+patrol&rft.date=2011-09-26&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fpacific%2Fjapan%2Fessex-ready-group-and-31st-meu-underway-for-fall-patrol-1.156127&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurke2011" class="citation news cs1">Burke, Matthew M. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 March</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Stars+and+Stripes&rft.atitle=Navy+report+says+gross+negligence+led+to+death+of+Essex+sailor&rft.date=2012-03-06&rft.aulast=Burke&rft.aufirst=Matthew+M.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fnavy-report-says-gross-negligence-led-to-death-of-essex-sailor-1.170796%23.WNWxAzzXeEd&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurke2012" class="citation web cs1">Burke, Matthew M. 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Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/2-US-Navy-ships-collide-in-Pacific-no-injuries-3563582.php">the original</a> on 17 May 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 May</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Seattle+Post-Intelligencer&rft.atitle=2+US+Navy+ships+collide+in+Pacific%3B+no+injuries&rft.date=2012-05-16&rft.aulast=Watson&rft.aufirst=Julie&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seattlepi.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F2-US-Navy-ships-collide-in-Pacific-no-injuries-3563582.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-relieved-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-relieved_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/commanding-officer-of-uss-essex-relieved-of-command-following-collision-with-tanker-at-sea/2012/06/19/gJQAHr5IoV_story.html">"Commanding officer of USS Essex relieved of command following collision with tanker at sea"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Washington_Post" class="mw-redirect" title="Washington Post">Washington Post</a></i>. 19 June 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 June</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Washington+Post&rft.atitle=Commanding+officer+of+USS+Essex+relieved+of+command+following+collision+with+tanker+at+sea&rft.date=2012-06-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnational%2Fcommanding-officer-of-uss-essex-relieved-of-command-following-collision-with-tanker-at-sea%2F2012%2F06%2F19%2FgJQAHr5IoV_story.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged June 2021">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-report-faults-essex-crew-for-may-collision-1.187425">"Navy report faults Essex crew for May collision"</a>. <i>Stars and Stripes</i>. 30 August 2012. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160802112446/http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-report-faults-essex-crew-for-may-collision-1.187425">Archived</a> from the original on 2 August 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 March</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Stars+and+Stripes&rft.atitle=Navy+report+faults+Essex+crew+for+May+collision&rft.date=2012-08-30&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fnavy%2Fnavy-report-faults-essex-crew-for-may-collision-1.187425&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFuentes2012" class="citation web cs1">Fuentes, Gidget (27 August 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130129143249/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/08/navy-essex-collision-report-investigation-yukon-082712/">"Report reveals Essex chaos before collision"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Military_Times" class="mw-redirect" title="Military Times">Military Times</a></i>. Archived from <span class="id-lock-subscription" title="Paid subscription required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/08/navy-essex-collision-report-investigation-yukon-082712/">the original</a></span> on 29 January 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Military+Times&rft.atitle=Report+reveals+Essex+chaos+before+collision&rft.date=2012-08-27&rft.aulast=Fuentes&rft.aufirst=Gidget&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navytimes.com%2Fnews%2F2012%2F08%2Fnavy-essex-collision-report-investigation-yukon-082712%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJanik2012" class="citation web cs1">Janik, Christopher B. (20 September 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd2/Pages/USSEssexPreparesForDry-DockMaintenaceAvailability.aspx#.UX7-q8qNDK0">"USS Essex (LHD 2) Prepares For Dry-Dock Maintenance Availability"</a>. <i>U.S. Navy</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124713/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd2/Pages/USSEssexPreparesForDry-DockMaintenaceAvailability.aspx#.UX7-q8qNDK0">Archived</a> from the original on 24 September 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=USS+Essex+%28LHD+2%29+Prepares+For+Dry-Dock+Maintenance+Availability&rft.date=2012-09-20&rft.aulast=Janik&rft.aufirst=Christopher+B.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.public.navy.mil%2Fsurfor%2Flhd2%2FPages%2FUSSEssexPreparesForDry-DockMaintenaceAvailability.aspx%23.UX7-q8qNDK0&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurke2013" class="citation web cs1">Burke, Matthew M. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">22 October</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Stars+and+Stripes&rft.atitle=Essex+begins+18+months+of+maintenance%2C+upgrades+in+San+Diego&rft.date=2013-04-23&rft.aulast=Burke&rft.aufirst=Matthew+M.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fnavy%2Fessex-begins-18-months-of-maintenance-upgrades-in-san-diego-1.217783&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAlec2016" class="citation web cs1">Alec (15 January 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160115-us-navy-adopts-metal-3d-printing-as-practical-manufacturing-tool-in-warfare-center.html">"US Navy adopts metal 3D printing as practical manufacturing tool in warfare center"</a>. <i>3Ders.org</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161028021959/http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160115-us-navy-adopts-metal-3d-printing-as-practical-manufacturing-tool-in-warfare-center.html">Archived</a> from the original on 28 October 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 October</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=3Ders.org&rft.atitle=US+Navy+adopts+metal+3D+printing+as+practical+manufacturing+tool+in+warfare+center&rft.date=2016-01-15&rft.au=Alec&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3ders.org%2Farticles%2F20160115-us-navy-adopts-metal-3d-printing-as-practical-manufacturing-tool-in-warfare-center.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd2/Pages/Essex-ARG-15th-MEU-Enter-US-3rd-Fleet-Area-of-Operations.aspx#.VyEaNVbR-JA">"Essex ARG, 15th MEU Enter U.S. 3rd Fleet Area of Operations"</a>. <i>U.S. Navy</i>. 2 December 2015. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160516160943/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lhd2/Pages/Essex-ARG-15th-MEU-Enter-US-3rd-Fleet-Area-of-Operations.aspx#.VyEaNVbR-JA">Archived</a> from the original on 16 May 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=Essex+ARG%2C+15th+MEU+Enter+U.S.+3rd+Fleet+Area+of+Operations&rft.date=2015-12-02&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.public.navy.mil%2Fsurfor%2Flhd2%2FPages%2FEssex-ARG-15th-MEU-Enter-US-3rd-Fleet-Area-of-Operations.aspx%23.VyEaNVbR-JA&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://fleetweeksf.org/navy-ships/">"Parade of Ships"</a>. <i>Fleet Week SF</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171013201558/https://fleetweeksf.org/navy-ships/">Archived</a> from the original on 13 October 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 October</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Fleet+Week+SF&rft.atitle=Parade+of+Ships&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffleetweeksf.org%2Fnavy-ships%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cpr11/Pages/Essex-ARG-13th-MEU-with-embarked-F35B-enters-Central-Command.aspx">"Essex ARG 13th MEU with embarked F35B enters Central Command"</a>. <i>U.S. Navy</i>. 11 September 2018. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180912081233/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cpr11/Pages/Essex-ARG-13th-MEU-with-embarked-F35B-enters-Central-Command.aspx">Archived</a> from the original on 12 September 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 September</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=Essex+ARG+13th+MEU+with+embarked+F35B+enters+Central+Command&rft.date=2018-09-11&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.public.navy.mil%2Fsurfor%2Fcpr11%2FPages%2FEssex-ARG-13th-MEU-with-embarked-F35B-enters-Central-Command.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/27/politics/airstrike-afghanistan-first-f-35b/index.html">"US F-35 fighter jet conducts first-ever airstrike"</a>. <i>CNN</i>. 27 September 2018. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180927164449/https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/27/politics/airstrike-afghanistan-first-f-35b/index.html">Archived</a> from the original on 27 September 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 September</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=CNN&rft.atitle=US+F-35+fighter+jet+conducts+first-ever+airstrike&rft.date=2018-09-27&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2018%2F09%2F27%2Fpolitics%2Fairstrike-afghanistan-first-f-35b%2Findex.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-essex.navy-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-essex.navy_27-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-essex.navy_27-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-essex.navy_27-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200319002415/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112376">"Navy School Closed After Third COVID-19 Case"</a>. <i>U.S. Navy</i>. 17 March 2020. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112376">the original</a> on 19 March 2020.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Navy&rft.atitle=Navy+School+Closed+After+Third+COVID-19+Case&rft.date=2020-03-17&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy.mil%2Fsubmit%2Fdisplay.asp%3Fstory_id%3D112376&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lafleetweek.com/2022/05/22/uss-essex-lhd-2/">"USS Essex (LHD-2)"</a>. <i>LA Fleet Week</i>. 22 May 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">31 May</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=LA+Fleet+Week&rft.atitle=USS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29&rft.date=2022-05-22&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Flafleetweek.com%2F2022%2F05%2F22%2Fuss-essex-lhd-2%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.usni.org/2022/08/01/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-aug-1-2022">"USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker"</a>. news.usni.org. 1 August 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 August</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=USNI+News+Fleet+and+Marine+Tracker&rft.date=2022-08-01&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.usni.org%2F2022%2F08%2F01%2Fusni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-aug-1-2022&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRosenzweig-Ziff2023" class="citation news cs1">Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan (4 August 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/03/navy-sailors-arrested-military-information-china/">"Two U.S. Navy sailors accused of passing secrets to China"</a>. <i>Washington Post</i>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0190-8286">0190-8286</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 August</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Washington+Post&rft.atitle=Two+U.S.+Navy+sailors+accused+of+passing+secrets+to+China&rft.date=2023-08-04&rft.issn=0190-8286&rft.aulast=Rosenzweig-Ziff&rft.aufirst=Dan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnational-security%2F2023%2F08%2F03%2Fnavy-sailors-arrested-military-information-china%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/08/0802.htm">Photo gallery</a> of <i>Essex</i> at NavSource Naval History</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090928215038/http://www.essex.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/history.aspx">"USS <i>Essex</i> history"</a>. <i>USS Essex</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.essex.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/history.aspx">the original</a> on 28 September 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 December</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=USS+Essex&rft.atitle=USS+Essex+history&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.essex.navy.mil%2FSite%2520Pages%2Fhistory.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid 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data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:USS_Essex_(LHD-2)" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:USS Essex (LHD-2)">USS Essex (LHD-2)</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.uscarriers.net/lhd2history.htm">"USS <i>Essex</i> history"</a>. <i>U.S. Carriers</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=U.S.+Carriers&rft.atitle=USS+Essex+history&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscarriers.net%2Flhd2history.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AUSS+Essex+%28LHD-2%29" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>USS <i>Essex</i> (LHD-2) command histories – <a href="/wiki/Naval_History_%26_Heritage_Command" class="mw-redirect" title="Naval History & Heritage Command">Naval History & Heritage Command</a> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215408/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/1992.pdf">1992</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215443/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/1993.pdf">1993</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215506/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/1994.pdf">1994</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215520/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/1995.pdf">1995</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215610/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/1996.pdf">1996</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006164829/http%3A//www%2Ehistory%2Enavy%2Emil/shiphist/e/lhd%2D2/2000%2Epdf">2000</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a> Web Archives (archived 2012-10-06)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060920063227/http://history.navy.mil:80/shiphist/e/lhd-2/2001.pdf">2001</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2006-09-20)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006164803/http%3A//www%2Ehistory%2Enavy%2Emil/shiphist/e/lhd%2D2/2002%2Epdf">2002</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a> Web Archives (archived 2012-10-06)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215819/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/2003.pdf">2003</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215827/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/2004.pdf">2004</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121104215840/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/lhd-2/2005.pdf">2005</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 2012-11-04)</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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(LHD-5)"><i>Bataan</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USS_Bonhomme_Richard_(LHD-6)" title="USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)"><i>Bonhomme Richard</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USS_Iwo_Jima_(LHD-7)" title="USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)"><i>Iwo Jima</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/USS_Makin_Island_(LHD-8)" title="USS Makin Island (LHD-8)"><i>Makin Island</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Preceded by: <a href="/wiki/Tarawa-class_amphibious_assault_ship" title="Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship"><i>Tarawa</i> class</a></li> <li>Followed by: <a href="/wiki/America-class_amphibious_assault_ship" title="America-class amphibious assault ship"><i>America</i> class</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Navy_amphibious_warfare_ships" title="List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships">List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&oldid=1253001904">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USS_Essex_(LHD-2)&oldid=1253001904</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Wasp-class_amphibious_assault_ships" title="Category:Wasp-class amphibious assault ships">Wasp-class amphibious assault ships</a></li><li><a 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