Tripoli III (LHA-7)
Historic victory; A joint land-sea operation against Derna, Libya, during the war between the United States and the Barbary state of Tripoli that resulted in the capture of that fortress city on 27 April 1805. After a long and grueling march across the desert from Alexandria, Egypt, William H. Eaton, the American naval agent in the Barbary states, led a polyglot force of Arabs, Greek mercenaries, and a small detachment of marines in storming the Tripolitan defensive positions. Gunfire from United States warships Hornet, Nautilus, and Argus, and the valor of the leathernecks commanded by Lt. Presley Neville O’Bannon, USMC, proved instrumental in achieving the American victory immortalized in the Marine Corps hymn, “. . . to the shores of Tripoli. . . .” This is the third Navy ship to carry the name. The first, CVE-64, an escort carrier, fought in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. She was decommissioned at New Orleans, La., on 25 November 1958, and on 1 February 1959 stricken from the Navy List. The second, LPH-10, an amphibious assault ship, earned nine battle stars, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a Navy Unit Commendation for her service in Vietnam. She was decommissioned at Naval Station San Diego, Calif., on 8 September 1995, and on 15 September 1995 stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.
III
(LHA-7: displacement 30, 587 (light), 44,971 (full); length: 844’; beam: 106’; draft 28’; speed 20+ knots; complement: 1,059; troop capacity: 1,687 (184 surge); armament: 2 RAM launchers; 2 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers (with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)); 2 20 millimeter Phalanx CIWS mounts; 7 twin .50 cal. machine guns; aircraft a mix of: Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier IIs, Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs, Sikorsky CH-53K Super Stallions, Bell AH-1Z Vipers/UH-1Y Venoms, and Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawks; class America)
On 4 May 2012, Secretary of the Navy Raymond E. Mabus Jr., announced the selection of Tripoli as the name for the Navy's next large-deck amphibious assault ship. The third Tripoli (LHA-7) was laid down on 20 June 2014 at Pascagoula, Miss., by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.; launched on 1 May 2017; and christened at her building yard on 16 September 2017 by Mrs. Lynne Mabus, wife of former Secretary of the Navy Mabus.
Detailed history pending.
Christopher B. Havern Sr.
26 October 2015
