USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), nicknamed "Devil Dog", was the second ship named after the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I. Her keel was laid down on 5 March 1973 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was launched on 11 April 1977, and commissioned on 23 September 1978, with Captain T.C. Steele in command.
Belleau Wood was the third of five ships in a new class (Tarawa class) of general-purpose amphibious assault ships and combined into one ship type the functions previously performed by four different types: the amphibious assault ship (LPH/Landing Platform Helicopter), the amphibious transport dock (LPD), the amphibious cargo ship (LKA), and the dock landing ship (LSD). She was capable of landing elements of a United States Marine Corps battalion landing team and their supporting equipment by landing craft, helicopters, or a combination of both.
LHA-3: displacement 39,300; length 820'; beam 106'; draft 26'; speed 20 + knots; complement 904; armament: three 5-inch/54 guns, two Basic Point Defense Missile Systems and six 20-mm machine guns; sensors: SPS-52 3D search radar, SPS-10 and SPS-40 search radars, SPN-35 Air/navigation radar, Integrated Tactical Amphibious Warfare Data System, and OE-82 satellite communications antenna, SSR-1 receiver and WSC-3 transceiver.
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Period Name September 23, 1978 - July 8, 1980 Capt. Ted C. Steele, USN July 8, 1980 - April 24, 1982 Capt. James C. Hayes, USN April 24, 1982 - August 1, 1983 Capt. Henri B. Chase, USN August 1, 1983 - July 31, 1984 Capt. Francis R. Donovan, USN July 31, 1984 - July 10, 1986 Capt. Charles M. Barker, USN July 10, 1986 - December 11, 1987 Capt. Luther F. Schriefer, USN December 11, 1987 - January 19, 1990 Capt. Hubert F. Tahaney, Jr., USN January 19, 1990 - July 2, 1991 Capt. Paul G. Love III, USN July 2, 1991 - July 6, 1993 Capt. Douglas J. Bradt, USN July 6, 1993 - January 27, 1995 Capt. Harry M. Highfill, USN January 27, 1995 - June 4, 1996 Capt. John W. Townes III, USN June 4, 1996 - January 9, 1998 Capt. Frederic R. Ruehe, USN January 9, 1998 - April 2, 1999 Capt. Ward L. Harris, Jr., USN April 2, 1999 - July 26, 2000 Capt. Thomas A. Parker, USN July 26, 2000 - November 19, 2001 Capt. Robert J. Gilman, USN November 19, 2001 - May 30, 2003 Capt. Craig R. Solem, USN May 30, 2003 - October 28, 2004 Capt. Earl L. Gay, USN October 28, 2004 - October 28, 2005 Capt. Robert L. Ford, USN