Talk:USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)

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Military history: Aviation / Maritime / North America / United States C‑class

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Nickname

I served on the Belleau Wood in the mid-90's, when it was based in Sasebo, and I don't recall anyone referring to the ship as the "Big Dawg." Any citation for this? ----Bog 10:33, 14 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yup. Even the Navy acknowledges it: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navnews/nns00/nns00033.txt From the document: Belleau Wood has been forward deployed to Sasebo since 1992. The San Diego crew will return the ship -- known affectionately as the "Big Dawg" by its former crew and Sasebo locals -- to the states later this summer. Ocon 00:30, 15 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm skeptical: Like I say, I was there. Sure, there was the silly cartoon bulldog in the ship's logo. But I don't remember anyone using "Big Dawg" in conversation. Neither does my wife, who was with me in Sasebo. Sounds like something the Public Affairs office made up because it sounded cute. The PAO may have used it in press releases, but real people (at least among the enlisted sailors and marines I lived and worked with) did not. Bog 01:58, 19 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I was stationed onboard from '91 to '94. The ship first arrived in Sasebo in 1992 and I heard it around the base over the next year. Maybe it just depended on who you talked to. Ocon 04:15, 19 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Righto. Good enough for me, if the PA folks, and some people you knew around the base, were using the term. I'm wondering, though, if "Big Dawg" couldn't be considered more of a generic nickname for the largest ship (with the most senior CO) in any particular homeport, whatever it may be? Bog 06:52, 19 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm a little skeptical too... I served on her from late 94-97 and later on CFAS from 97-98 and I heard a few nick names: "B-Wood", "Big Bella", and a few less flattering (Being in Deck and having to to sweep, paint, chip, grind, rig, well-deck, steer, look-out, moor up, cast off and non-skid through a deployment, that happens.) but Big Dawg? Never heard it and I was a Base Rat. From the USO to the SS Sam, from the Harbor View to Galaxies and the Triple Play and I gotta tell you, it rings no bells. LewiscRM3 —Preceding undated comment was added at 16:19, 15 September 2008 (UTC).[reply]

Decom

Anyone got a clue why the Belleau Wood was decom'ed after just 27 years when LHAs are expected to stay in service for ~35 years? --Schlendrian 16:35, 7 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Every US ship that was home ported in Japan and went through overhaul there were decommissioned after their deployment in Japan. The agreement between the US and Japan pertaining to permanently stationed US Naval Ships in Japanese ports dictates that all work must be done by majority Japanese work crews and contractors. After many years and several overhauls the US naval ships ported in Japan would be more Japanese than American and were no longer compatible if returned to CONUS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.38.81.110 (talk) 13:34, 17 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Belleau Wood was a victim of overall ship cutting activities, and the Navy has plans to DC the entire Tarawa class. I remember reading an article a while back that said that the LHA class wasn't as useful in the current military climate, but I can't remember which class it was being replaced by. When I was stationed onboard during the early 90's, I recall that the ship was aging faster than expected, as was the entire class. Ocon 16:24, 23 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

thanks! --Schlendrian 09:02, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Found a couple extra things about this. The class slated to replace the LHA is the LHA-R. I also found an article breifly giving some details: The USA's New LHA-R Ship Class: Carrier Air + Amphibious Assault (updated). Ocon 03:01, 2 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

i decomed the belleau wood as an EN the ships was a horrible mess after it was recived from japan and still was in 05, on its last deployment it returned a month early for the simple fact it wasnt going to make it —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.12.120.2 (talk • contribs) 17:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Sad...I was part of the commissioning crew in Sept. 1978 and served on it until Aug. 1980, and at the time the Belleau Wood (both ship and crew) had the reputation as being one of the best of the Tarawa class. As a supposed "plankowner", I'm miffed that I heard about the sinking only by chance, months after it had occurred. Gpetty 15:48, 8 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

You know, when I stepped off that ship for the very last time back in Sas-Vegas (all of the lights none of the action), I promised myself, I'd never get back on another boat. This turned out to be a lie. I ended up crewing tows on the Mississippi out of New Orleans and then helping to build the new LPDs w/ NG... But Bella, she was my 1st. Damned shame when a man reads in the paper that his house has been sunk... Thats happened to me twice now, once here and again in New Orleans, Its an emotional "mixed bag". LewiscRM3

USS Belleau Wood

The section concerning 1982 West Pac cruise it lists Thailand as a visited port. We did not go to Thailand on that float but we did do maneuvers in Oman. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.172.20.5 (talk) 01:20, 12 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with the above. I was a Marine on Belleau Wood on the '82-83 Westpac. We did not go to Thailand. More on this can be found at:http://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/lha3-82/index.html, including a map of ports visited. We also made only one trip to Singapore. Never heard the term Big Dawg for her either, and I spent almost half of the float on ships duty. - Michael — Preceding unsigned comment added by Michael marine84 (talk • contribs) 01:05, 5 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Enemy fire

"In May 1987, Belleau Wood rescued Korean ROK's off the coast of Cambodia under enemy fire." - I was on board the Belleau Wood during this time, and we never came under enemy fire. We did go past Cambodia on our way to Pattaya, Thailand, but there was no "enemy fire" at all. MuttJunior (talk) 19:06, 10 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

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