USS Saipan (LHA-2) was a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship, the second United States Navy ship named in honor of the World War II Battle of Saipan. Commissioned in 1977, the ship saw service until 2007 when she was decommissioned. In 2009 the ship was sold for scrapping.
USS Saipan underway on 5 April 2004
USS Saipan moored at Naval Station Rota (Spain) in February 1982 along with the USS Raleigh and Spanish carrier Dédalo
OV-10 Broncos of VMO-1 parked aboard Saipan in 1987
Saipan conducts an underway replenishment with USS Simpson during exercise Phoenix Express 2006.
Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship
The Tarawa class is a ship class of Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) type amphibious assault ships operated by the United States Navy (USN). Five ships were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding between 1971 and 1980; another four ships were planned, but later canceled; instead they were joined by the Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.
USS Saipan during Expeditionary Strike Group integration training in 2004
A LCU returning to USS Belleau Wood's well deck