USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is a modern American universal amphibious assault ship. The keel for this unit was laid in 1997, the launch took place in February 2000, and the entry into service with the US Navy took place in 2001. The ship is 257 m long, 34 m wide, and has a full displacement of about 41,000 tons. The maximum speed of the ship is around 22 knots. The unit has on-board armament such as: two 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx sets, TWO RIM-116 missile launchers or two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers. The ship can also use up to 25-27 manned aircraft.
The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is one of the Wasp class units. The ships of this type were created to replace the Tarawa-class units, but in their construction they used a lot of experience gained from their operation. The main task of Wasp ships is landing operations. For this purpose, they have been adapted to transport about 2,000 US Marine Corps soldiers with full equipment, who can be disembarked by helicopters, landing barges or hovercraft, also carried by this type of landing craft. Due to their size, they can act as light aircraft carriers and are adapted to operate with AV-8 Harrier II or F-35B Ligthning II aircraft. The seventh vessel of this class - USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) - was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. The unit soon after entering service began combat operations, as already in 2003 it took part in the transfer of American troops from the Mediterranean basin to Iraq. Subsequently, it actively supported American activities in this country. In the same year, it operated off the coast of Liberia. In 2005, the ship supported the rescue operation after Hurricane Katrina. A year later, she was directed to the Mediterranean Sea to take part in the withdrawal of American civilians from Lebanon. In 2015, the ship operated in the Yemen region. The unit is still in active service.