US confirms sending amphibious assault ship USS Bataan to Israel.

According to information published by the US government on October 18, 2023, Sabrina Singh has publicly confirmed that the Bataan Amphibious Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capability) currently deployed off the coast of Oman is heading for Israel.
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US Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Bataan. (Picture source: Dvids)

The USS Bataan (LHD-5) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship serving in the United States Navy. The vessel has a full-load displacement of 40,500 long tons and measures 843 ft in length, 104 ft in beam, and has a draft of 27 ft.

Its propulsion system consists of two boilers and two geared steam turbines, generating 70,000 shp, pushing the ship to speeds up to 22 knots. The Bataan can cover a range of 9,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots.

The ship's well deck has dimensions of 266-by-50-foot with a height of 28 feet. It can carry various landing crafts including 3 Landing Craft Air Cushion, 2 Landing Craft Utility, or 12 Landing Craft Mechanized. The ship is designed to house 1,687 troops with an additional 184 in surge conditions, all under the protection and guidance of a 1,208-strong crew.

The USS Bataan is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and processing systems including the AN/SPS-49 2-D Air Search Radar, AN/SPS-48 3-D Air Search Radar, AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar, Mk23 Target Acquisition System, and several others.

Its armaments feature the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile launchers, 20 mm Phalanx CIWS systems, 25 mm Mk 38 chain guns, and .50 BMG machine guns.

The aircraft onboard the USS Bataan vary depending on the mission. Its standard complement includes 6 AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft or 6 F-35B Lightning II stealth strike-fighters, 4 AH-1W AH-1Z Viper Super Cobra/Viper attack helicopters, 12 MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors, 4 CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, and 3-4 UH-1Y Venom helicopters.

In assault mode, the ship can carry over 22 MV-22B Ospreys, and in sea control mode, it can house 20 AV-8B Harrier II or F-35B Lightning II aircraft along with 6 SH-60F/HH-60H ASW helicopters.