USS Tarawa (LHA-1), the lead ship of her class, is an amphibious assault ship that served in the United States Navy from 1976 to 2009. She is the second ship to be named for the Battle of Tarawa, fought during World War II. Tarawa was decommissioned on 31 March 2009, at San Diego Naval Base.
Tarawa at Pearl Harbor on 28 June 2002
Tarawa portside in Hawaii, 2004
Activity hums around Tarawa, as US Marines go ashore in Kuwait.
USMC AV-8B Harrier launching from Tarawa in 2003
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