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9. Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship
Joined the Service in 1989
Producers: Ingalls Shipbuilding
Price: *$750 million
Dominating the seas with an impressive combination of firepower, versatility, and capacity, the Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ships are integral assets to the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in the late 1980s, these vessels are designed to embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine landing force in amphibious assault operations.
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Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship ©U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons
With a flight deck tailored for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, they can support operations of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, and various helicopters. Each ship is also capable of carrying over 1,800 Marines and their equipment. Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, the Wasp-class ships are not only powerful projection platforms but also crucial nodes in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
