A visit by the large amphibious aircraft carrier USS Wasp to the Spanish Naval Station Rota

The Naval Station Rota, in the province of Cádiz, Spain, is a joint military installation used by Spain and the United States.

The deployment of Spanish Harrier IIs on the American amphibious assault ship USS Wasp
The simultaneous replenishment of two US destroyers by a Spanish ship

This military port is the base of NATO's anti-missile shield, made up of several American destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class. It is also a port of call for ships of the United States Navy and other naval forces of allied countries.

Recently, USS Wasp (LHD 1) was in Rota as part of her deployment to Europe. The Wasp is the flagship of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th MEU (SOC). It is an amphibious aircraft carrier, a type of military ship technically called a landing helicopter dock (LHD). Launched in 1987 and in service since 1989, the USS Wasp was the first ship of its class, based on the Tarawa class. Eight ships of this class were built, of which seven remain in service, following the fire that severely damaged the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in 2020 (the ship was scrapped in 2021).

At 257 metres long and 32 metres wide, the Wasp is larger than the largest ship in the Spanish Navy, the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61 (with a length of 231 metres). Like this ship, the Wasp carries AV-8B Harrier II Plus fighter and attack aircraft (a total of six, as usual). It also typically carries F-35B Lightning II fighter jets (up to half a dozen of this STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter), AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters (four), CH-53E Super Stallion heavy helicopters (four), MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor helicopters (twelve), and UH-1Y Venom and MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters. USS Wasp is owned and operated by the US Navy, but all of its aircraft are Marine Corps aircraft, with the sole exception of the MH-60S Sea Hawk, which are Navy aircraft.

The USS Wasp is a regular visitor to Rota. These first three photos you can see here were taken during a stopover in June at the Spanish naval station. These photos were released by the US Navy on June 25. On Nov. 18, the Wasp posted this video of its new stopover in Rota, along with this text: "Our Stingers buzzed with eager anticipation as Wasp rode into Rota. Wasp pulled into Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a regularly scheduled port visit to explore the culture and enjoy some well-deserved liberty together."

As I have already told you before, Naval Station Rota is a highly coveted destination for the US Navy, due to the sunny climate of southern Spain and the good quality of life enjoyed in this country. For the crews of ships that stop in Rota, this port is a great opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Obviously, good things don't last forever. Last Thursday, November 21, the USS Wasp set sail from Rota to continue its voyage. The YouTube channel Barcos por Cádiz has published this video showing the departure of this ship from the Spanish naval base.

The US Navy released these images on Thursday, showing the USS Wasp leaving Rota. In the first image above, we see on the left three Rota-based Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, part of the aforementioned missile shield.

A sailor, two airmen and several marines on the flight deck of the Wasp as it left Rota. To the right we can see four MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor planes, with their wings and propellers folded.

A US Navy quartermaster reading a course from the island of the USS Wasp on its way out of Rota.

The flight deck of the USS Wasp, packed with aircraft and vehicles. We see a Marine AV-8B Harrier II Plus, and in front of it, two helicopters. A Navy MH-60S Seahawk. In the background, on the starboard side of the flight deck, in front of the ship’s island, is a row of MV-22B Ospreys, AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms parked and folded.

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Main photo: USS WASP LHD 1. Rest of the photos: U.S. Navy.