Exercise Anorak Express

USS ''Saipan'' (LHA-2) was a , the second United States Navy ship named in honor of the World War II Battle of Saipan. Commissioned in 1977, the ship saw service until 2007 when she was decommissioned. In 2009 the ship was sold for scrapping.

History

''Saipan'' was laid down on 21 July 1972 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Industries of Pascagoula, Mississippi; launched on 20 July 1974 and sponsored by the wife of Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf.

''Saipans operational career began in July 1979 when she was diverted from Fleet Refresher Training to Special Contingency Operations, for possible non-combatant evacuation of American personnel from the Nicaraguan Revolution.

1980s

From February to April 1980, ''Saipan'' was involved in ''Anorak Express 80''. The Navy crew of around 800 and an entire Marine battalion of over 2,000 sailed from Norfolk to Norway. In May, ''Saipan'' was underway to augment U.S. Coast Guard efforts to assist Cuban refugees crossing the Straits of Florida to the United States during the Mariel boatlift. On 25 August, ''Saipan'' departed Norfolk for the first Mediterranean deployment by an LHA.

On 3 September 1981, ''Saipan'' deployed for her second tour in the Mediterranean Sea. During that deployment, ''Saipan'' visited or operated in seven countries on three continents.

From August 1982 through July 1983, ''Saipan'' was in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her first scheduled complex overhaul. In September 1983, while undergoing Refresher Training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ''Saipan'' was diverted to participate in Operation Urgent Fury off Grenada. In 1984 ''Saipan'' on another North Atlantic deployment.

In January 1985, ''Saipan'' departed for her third Mediterranean deployment. She steamed more than , logged over 6,700 safe aircraft landings and visited ports in three countries.

Following a four-month restricted availability in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, ''Saipan'' sailed to Guantanamo Bay to complete various training evolutions.

On 17 August 1986, ''Saipan'' departed on its fourth Mediterranean deployment. Extended briefly in the Eastern Mediterranean for contingency operations, ''Saipan'' returned to Norfolk on 24 February 1987.

Starting at the end of October 1987, ''Saipan'' was in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for major refitting. In January 1989, ''Saipan'' returned to Norfolk, Virginia.

1990s

From March 1990 through September 1990, ''Saipan'' was deployed for the fifth time to the Mediterranean. However, in late May 1990 it was diverted into the Eastern Atlantic, to what would become known as ''Mamba Station''. While there, ''Saipan'' conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO), evacuating 1,600 civilians from war-torn Liberia in support of Operation Sharp Edge.

From September 1991 to March 1992, ''Saipan'' deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm.

''Saipan'' again deployed to the Mediterranean in March 1993, in support of Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise. The ship returned in September 1993 and began her third scheduled complex overhaul in April 1994.

In June 1996, ''Saipan'' deployed to the Mediterranean and participated in ''Operation Decisive Endeavor'' and various multi-national training exercises. She returned to Norfolk in December 1996.

''Saipan'' departed on her seventh deployment to the Mediterranean in July 1998. ''Saipan'' spent substantial operating time in the Adriatic Sea due to turmoil in Albania. On 28 July 1998 ''Saipan'' went to the rescue of the motor yacht MY ''Huntress'' which was burning approximately southwest of Corfu and east of Nisos Island (''sic''). The crew and guests were saved, but ''Huntress '' burned and sank despite damage control efforts of ''Saipan''.

During her 1998 deployment to the Mediterranean ''Saipan'' with an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) (SOC) were split up to support several missions including ''Operation Balkan Calm'' in support of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM) from 15 July 1998 to 19 November 1998, ''Operation Autumn Shelter'', the Non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) of the U.S. embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo from 10 August 1998 to 16 August 1998 and ''Operation Resolve Resolute'' in support of the ''Albania Security Mission'' at the U.S. embassy in Tirane, Albania from 17 August 1998 to 15 November 1998.

In 1999, ''Saipan'' became the developmental and operational test platform for the V-22 Osprey aircraft.

2000s

In July 2000, ''Saipan'' began her eighth Mediterranean deployment. The ship commenced Adriatic presence operations during the Fall of 2000 federal elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

On 12 February 2001, ''Saipan'' entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its fourth scheduled complex overhaul.

On 10 January 2003, ''Saipan'' was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terrorism.

From late January 2005 until early March 2005, ''Saipan'' was on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (USNAVSO) area of responsibility in support of New Horizons, the humanitarian civic assistance efforts in Haiti. In early June, she made an official visit to Oslo on the occasion of Norway's independence centennial. During the week of 26 June 2005, ''Saipan'' was one of two American military vessels (the other being ) to participate in the Royal Navy International Fleet Review in the waters off Portsmouth, England. This review, conducted by Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family, consisted of a parade of more than 166 ships from around the world. This event also coincided with the 2005 International Festival of the Sea and Trafalgar 200 celebration.

In May 2006, ''Saipan'' sailed for the Mediterranean to take part in multi-national training exercises during ''Operation Phoenix Express'' which involved the countries of Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. She returned to Norfolk in July. From 16 August, ''Saipan'' deployed to the Persian Gulf region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for her final operational deployment. She returned to Norfolk on 22 December.

Decommissioning

''Saipan'' was decommissioned on 20 April 2007 at her home port in Naval Station Norfolk. She was used for weapons effect testing, providing vital information on structural integrity and survivability which will assist in the designing and planning of future ships. She was transferred to the inactive fleet, and was tied up at Pier 4 of the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, where she was joined by ex- on 22 March 2008.

On 30 September 2009, a contract to dismantle ex-''Saipan'' was issued to International Shipbreaking Ltd, Brownsville, Texas and on 28 October 2009 the ship departed Philadelphia under tow.

International Shipbreaking completed scrapping ex-''Saipan'' on 23 February 2011.

USS ''Saipan'' awards

''Saipan''s awards include the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal (two awards), Humanitarian Service Medal, Battle Efficiency "E" (four awards), the Admiral Flatley Safety Award (two awards), the Sledge Award, the Atlantic Fleet Surface Force "Admiral’s Cup" in 1985, COMPHIBRON Twelve's "Bronze Anchor" for retention excellence, and the 1993 COMNAVSURFLANT Command Excellence Award for Command and Control, Maritime Warfare and Logistics Management.

References

External links

history.navy.mil: USS ''Saipan''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saipan (LHA-2)
Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships
Cold War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States
Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi
1974 ships