US Navy Sends Three Ships to Assist Sandy Recovery – UPDATE

USS Wasp

Update: It appears that earlier reports saying that the US Navy was in the process of mobilizing as many as 3 ships to assist with rescue and recovery operations in New York and New Jersey are false and the only official task the Navy has received is to provide contract support in obtaining industrial size pumps for the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to dewater areas of New York City.

In a statement, Rear Adm. John Kirby, Chief of Information of the US Navy said:

It is true that the Navy is moving ships to be closer to the areas affected by the hurricane; however these ships have not been officially tasked to provide support.

Yesterday, the helicopter carrier USS Wasp (LHD 1), which was already at sea riding out the storm, began to head north to be better positioned. And today the Fleet Commander ordered two other amphibious ships, USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), to get underway and likewise head north.

NBC News says that the Navy has sent the USS Wasp, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, the USS Carter Hall, a LSD, and the USS Mesa Verde, a LPD, will provide landing platforms for Coast Guard, National Guard and civilian agency helicopters if needed. The USS Wasp and USS Mesa Verde are homeported in Norfolk, VA while the USS Carter Hall is homeported at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, VA.

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