USS Howard (DDG-83) and USS Preble (DDG-88) in the foreground

Class & type: Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement: 40,650 tons (full combat load)
Length: 844 ft (257 m), Beam: 106 ft (32 m), Draft: 28 ft (8.5 m) (full load)
Propulsion: Geared steam turbines, Speed: 24+ knots
Boats & landing craft carried: 3 LCACs or 2 LCUs
Troops: 1,800
Complement: 73 officers, 1109 enlisted
Armament:RAM, NATO Sea Sparrow, Mk 15 CIWS, .50-caliber M2HB machine gun
Aircraft carried: up to 36, including: UH-1N Huey, AH-1W Cobra, CH-53 Super Stallion, CH-46 Sea Knight, MH-60 Seahawk, AV-8B Harrier