USS Wasp Sails To Japan For Deployment Of New US Marine Corps F-35B Fighters

The US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp upgraded to deploy new F-35B stealth fighter jets will soon arrive at Sasebo naval base in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.

The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Saturday that the USS Wasp had entered waters under its area of operations and was heading toward Sasebo.

The U.S. military plans to load F-35Bs deployed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the 257-meter Wasp and use them to deter North Korea and China, The Japan Times reports.

The Wasp (landing helicopter deck – LHD 1) Class is the US Navy’s large-deck multipurpose amphibious assault ship. The Wasp Class carries a mix of assault helicopters, plus six to eight Harriers for close air support. A typical mix of helicopters is: 12 CH-46 Sea Knight, four CH-53E Sea Stallion; three UH-1N Huey and four AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters.