Overview
USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) was the lead ship of her class — the first ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship. She carried helicopters and a detachment of embarked Marines for use in the Navy's "vertical envelopment" concept of amphibious operations. Iwo Jima was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of Iwo Jima.
General Specifications
Technical Specifications
Service History
Iwo Jima was laid down 2 April 1959 by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington; launched 17 September 1960; and commissioned 26 August 1961, Captain T. D. Harris in command.
Following shakedown training, she spent the rest of 1961 off the California coast in amphibious exercises. In April 1962 the ship joined Joint Task Force 8 in the Johnston Island–Hawaii area for a series of nuclear tests. Iwo Jima evacuated several islands and took part in the test evaluation.
In September she took part in full-scale amphibious exercises in California. As a crisis flared over the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba, Iwo Jima returned to San Diego, embarked Marines, and departed quickly for the Caribbean. As part of America's powerful and mobile force afloat, she cruised in a "ready" status until December brought an easing of the Cuban situation.