1964 USS GUAM. Guam was the fourth of the seven-ship Iwo Jima class of helicopter carriers, designed to put into practice the doctrine of vertical envelopment amphibious assault developed by the US Marine Corps.
HELICOPTER ASSAULT
The ships of the Iwo Jima class were the first in the world to be built specially for helicopter operations. Their carrier-like flight deck allowed them to launch or recover up to seven Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights or four of the much larger Sikorski CH-53 Sea Stallions at one time. Guam was laid down at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in November 1962, launched on 22 August 1964 and commissioned on 16 January
1 965. One of her early duties was to recover the Gemini XI astronauts in September 1966. In 1971 she was modified to become the proto type Sea Control Ship, carrying AV-8A Harrier V/STOL strike aircraft and Sea King helicopters fitted for mine detection; she later reverted to her original role. In October 1983 she was called upon to play out this role in earnest during Operation Urgent Fury, launching four airborne assaults on the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada.
A NEED FOR LARGER SHIPS
The Iwo Jimas were essentially stop-gaps though Guam herself was to stay in commission until 25 August 1998. It soon became clear that bigger ships, with added Flexibility, like the later Tarawas and Wasps, were needed in the helicopter assault ship role. The main short coming was in the capacity of her elevators, which could accommodate no more than 20-ton loads enough for aircraft, but not for landing craft, though a sister-ship, Inchon, was modified to carry two LCVPs in davits. As well as the aircraft elevators, lifts were provided to move standard pallets between the holds and the deck, and there was a separate hangar for light vehicles and artillery pieces.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Amphibious assault ship
Machinery: 1 shaft Westinghouse geared turbine, delivering 22,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 183.6m (602.3ft); beam, 25.7m (84.2ft)
Displacement: l0,720t standard, 18,000t deep load
Draught: 8m (26ft)
Complement: 667 (plus 2057 troops)