The USS Wasp (LHD-1), a Landing Helicopter Dock amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy, will be deployed to U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo navy base in Japan in June 2017 from her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

 The lead ship in a class of eight LHDs, the Wasp will replace the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), which will be moved to San Diego, California.

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Wasp will deliver six Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighters destined for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. This delivery will bring to 16 the number of F-35Bs at this U.S. Marine airbase that will be among the first U.S. units to see action in the event of a war against China.

The F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the jet designed specifically for the Marines. It can also take-off and land vertically like a helicopter.

"I can't wait to get the airplane out to the Pacific," said Lt. General Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps.

"It's tailor-made for that part of the world with its fifth generation capability and its expeditionary capabilities to land on a small ship or strip, and flow back and forth between those."

The U.S. Navy said the deployment of Wasp to Japan is part of Washington's rebalancing strategy to increase the navy's presence in the Pacific. Once in Japan, Wasp will be part of the United States Seventh Fleet Forward Deployed Naval Forces.

Her previous assignment was to the Mediterranean Sea where her aircraft conducted almost daily airstrikes against Islamic State terrorists holed up in Libya. Wasp began combat operations against ISIL on August 1 until last week when she was replaced by the USS San Antonio (LPD-17), a landing platform dock.

Wasp supported Operation Odyssey Lightning. This air campaign over Libya is being conducted at the request of the country's government of national accord as part of the fight to retake the key city of Sirte from ISIL.

Wasp initially used AV-8B Harriers as strike aircraft and added AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters to provide close air support on these strike missions. She conducted 330 strikes since the mission began, an average of more than four strikes per day.

TagsUSS Wasp, U.S. Navy, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, USS Bonhomme Richard, Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, Japan, Iwakuni, United States Seventh Fleet