USS Bataan is the Navy's first amphibious assault ship designed and built from the keel up with accommodations for female sailors. This "Women at Sea" modification provides it with living areas for nearly 450 female officers, chiefs, enlisted personnel and embarked troops. Overall, the ship has living areas for nearly 3,200 crew members and troops. LHD 5 will enter service with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet when commissioned in mid-1997. Captain Craig Wilson, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been selected as ship's Prospective commanding officer.

USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group left homeport of Norfolk, VA., on September 15, 1999, on a six-month deployment a few days earlier in order to evade Hurricanes Floyd and Gert. The ships of the ARG were initially scheduled to deploy September 17.

After spending some time in the Atlantic Ocean doing hurricane evasion, the amphibious assault ship picked up the 22nd MEU at Onslow Bay off the coast of North Carolina. ARG ships, including USS Whidbey Island and USS Shreveport proceeded early to relieve the USS Kearsarge ARG in the Mediterranean Sea operational area. Throughout the deployment, three ships served as the Strategic Reserve Force for the Balkans and supported regional security through presence operations in the Adriatic Sea. LHD 5 and LSD 41 returned to Hampton Roads March 15, 2000 following their two-day offload of Marines and equipment from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in North Carolina.

September 20, 2001 USS Bataan, USS Shreveport and USS Whidbey Island departed their homeports for a scheduled six-month deployment. The three-ship Amphibious Ready Group is part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group. The ARG had recently completed an extensive work-up cycle during which sailors assigned to LHD 5, LPD 12 and LSD 41 and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit trained and prepared to conduct amphibious and special operations. The last phase of their eight-month training cycle successfully concluded with a Joint Task Force Exercise involving numerous ships including the TR Battle Group.

February 20, 2002 USS Bataan returned to Norfolk after a six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

January 12, 2003 LHD 5 deployed with Amphibious Task Force - East (ATF-E), with embarked North Carolina 2nd MEB, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Global War on Terrorism.

USS Bataan was dubbed "Harrier Carrier" during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate Iraqi people, eliminate weapons of mass destruction and end the regime og Saddam Hussein.

June 25, USS Bataan returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a five-and-a-half month combat deployment.

September 16, The amphibious assault ship departed Norfolk before hurricane "Isabel" arived. More than 40 ships left the Naval Station Norfolk to avoid any potential damage from high winds and seas generated by the hurricane.

The Navy announced on January 13, 2004 that USS Bataan, would deploy Jan. 19 from Norfolk to the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 (OIF 2) force rotation.

LHD 5 offloaded Marines, their equipment and ammunition into Kuwait Feb. 20-22 for their scheduled seven-month tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C., are part of a 25,000 member air-and-ground task force that is contributing to the largest rotation of U.S. forces since World War II to help stabilize Iraq. The major II MEF units that offloaded from Bataan included 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and 8th Communications Battalion from Camp Lejeune and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 261 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 from Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C.

March 31, USS Bataan returned to homeport after a 72-day deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

November 10, After six months of maintenance, restoration and upgrades, the amphibious assault ship got underway from Norfolk Shipyard and Drydock Corporation (NORSHIPCO) in downtown Norfolk, Va., Oct. 27 for two days of Sea Trials. After returning from a surge deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March, it went through an extensive six-month maintenance availability. This was the first time it was dry-docked since the ship was commissioned in 1997. The dry-docking will contribute to the 40-year life expectancy of the ship. LHD 5 returned to Norfolk Naval Station and is currently working to obtain all the requisite certifications and qualifications to begin her training cycle in preparation for a future deployment.

January 27, 2005 USS Bataan along with USS Trenton responde to assist in rescuing the eight members from a MH-53 E, of the HM 14 "Vanguards", that went down during a routine training mission in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 25 approximately 28 miles off the coast of Virginia at 3 p.m. All eight have been rescued and are being transported by two MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Their conditions are unknown. The U.S. Coast Guard also supported the rescue with two C-130 Hercules and one HH-60 Jayhawk by providing initial on scene rescue coordination.

April 11, LHD 5 completed Final Evaluation Period (FEP) earlier than scheduled while underway off the coast of Virginia March 28 through April 1. Along with FEP, the amphibious assault ship had to complete the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART II), Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA I/II/III), and Specialty Training in order to complete the Basic Phase.

April 25, USS Bataan arrived at Port Everglades, FL., to kick-off "Fleet Week" 2005.

May 1, The Bataan departed the South Florida region steaming back toward its homeport of Norfolk and will soon go back to sea for flight operations later this month.

May 10, The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting routine trainings.

June 9, LHD 5 is currently at sea conducting operational testing of the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

July 3, USS Bataan is currently in Boston port to take part in Boston's annual Harborfest festivities.

July 26, The Bataan is currently in Ingleside, Texas, loadind equipment in preparation for the exercise PANAMAX, a joint exercise between Panama, the U.S. and sixteen other countries on simulated terrorist threats to the Panama Canal.

August 12, LHD 5 and embarked company are participating in exercise PANAMAX 2005 off the coast of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. PANAMAX is a training exercise in defense of the Panama Canal involving 15 countries. The Panama Canal is critical to the free flow of trade and goods in the Western Hemisphere and the entire world. The region's economy and stability largely depend on the safe transport of several hundred million tons of cargo that transit through the canal every year.

August 18, USS Bataan served as the flagship for PANAMAX 2005 while underway in the Caribbean Sea, in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) August 4-16. As part of PANAMAX, she worked with HM-14 and HM-15 to conduct Mk 105 Minesweeping Sled mine warfare operations. The Mk 105 is a helicopter-towed, hydrofoil-mounted Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) System designed to provide a reliable and safe method of detonating magnetic influence mines.

August 25, The amphibious assault ship departed the south-western Caribbean after wrapping up a successful liberty port visit in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, August 19-21. After it's service as the flagship for PANAMAX 2005, it headed east and spent three days docked at the Dutch colony where locals welcomed the Sailors and embarked guests with open arms. Curacao is the first foreign port call it has had since visited Rota, Spain, after it's participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The visit to the Dutch Antilles marked the southern-most point the Wasp-class ship will go before returning to her homeport in early September.

August 31, USS Bataan is currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 100 miles South of New Orleans. The ship’s involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations is an effort led by the Department of Defense in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She has been tasked to be the Maritime Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Navy’s role in the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern Gulf Coast States.

September 5, LHD 5 completed its seventh day of Hurricane Katrina humanitarian relief efforts in the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region. Four MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, based out of Corpus Christi, Texas, five MH-60 Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, based out of Norfolk, Va., and Bataan’s air department have conducted flight operations almost around the clock to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. To date, the two squadrons have transported 1,613 displaced people and delivered more than 100,000 pounds of cargo. The amphibious ship also provided 8,000 gallons of fresh drinking water to the ravished Gulfport, Miss., area.

September 20, LHD 5 will depart Mayport, Fla., today or Sept. 21 after resupplying and embarking four MH-60 Black Hawk and two MH-53 Pave Low helicopters, with the intent of following behind aproching Hurricane Rita. The hurricane near the Florida Keys strengthened to Category 2 today and is forecast to strengthen further as it moves westward into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Capt. David C. Hulse relieved Capt. Nora W. Tyson as Commanding officer of USS Bataan during the ship’s change of command ceremony while pierside in Mayport, Fla. Sept. 20.

September 23, USS Bataan returned to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk after a 66-day underway period in support of Exercise Fuerzas Aliadas (PANAMAX 2005) and 19 days in support of Joint Task Force Katrina search, rescue and relief efforts in the New Orleans and Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., areas.

January 13, 2006 The amphibious assault ship is currently underway off the Atlantic coast conducting damage control, engineering and combat systems exercises.

February 10, The Bataan is currently working with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., to complete over water qualifications. It is on a regularly scheduled underway training and certification period in the Atlantic Ocean, in preparation for the upcoming deployment later this year.

February 23, LHD 5 is off the coast of Onslow Beach conducting invasion exercises as part of the well deck certification.

March 16, USS Bataan is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean, preparing for an upcoming deployment.

May 17, The Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship departed its homeport for the Dutch led Joint-Caribe Lion 2006 (J-CL06) exercise. Three U.S. Navy ships, including USS Taylor (FFG 50) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), with nearly 2,000 Sailors will join France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea from mid-May to early June.

June 6, LHD 5 is currently off the coast of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.

June 14, USS Bataan pulled into St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for a liberty port call. The port visit is the first stop for ship since completing the Dutch-led exercise Joint-Caribe Lion 2006 (JCL 06).

June 23, USS Bataan returned to its homeport after spending more than five weeks underway in support of the Dutch-led exercise, “Joint Caribbean Lion 2006.” Before returning to homeport, the crew welcomed aboard family and friends during a Tiger Cruise which originated in Mayport, Fla., and a Family Day Cruise off the coast of Virginia. Bataan embarked more than 600 friends and family members, in addition to nearly 150 friends and family members the ship picked up in Mayport, June 20.

July 14, Former Commander of Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Rear Adm. Michael P. Nowakowski, relieved Rear Adm. Curtis A. Kemp, as President of Board of Inspection and Survey, during a change-of-command ceremony held aboard the Bataan in Norfolk, Virginia.

August 15, LHD 5 departed Naval Station Norfolk to conduct an Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT) with USS Shreveport, USS Oak Hill, embarked elements of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Two and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in preparation for an upcoming regularly scheduled deployment.

October 11, The amphibious assault ship is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting training in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

October 27, USS Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group is currently underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise. ESG is comprised of embarked elements of Amphibious Squadron 2, the 26th MEU, USS Shreveport (LPD 12), USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), USS Underwood (FFG 36), USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), and USS Scranton (SSN 756). Joining the LHD 5 ESG for COMPTUEX is the French ship, FS Degrasse (D612), providing invaluable coalition training, along with USS Hawes (FFG 53), USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Kaufman (FFG 59), who are deploying separately.

November 30, LHD 5 is currently underway, off the East Coast, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit for the MEU's Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

December 5, USS Bataan completed an ammunition transfer with the amphibious assault ships USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during a routine underway off the coast of Virginia Dec. 2.

January 4, 2007 USS Bataan ESG-2 departed Norfolk for a six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

January 23, USS Bataan recently departed Palermo, Sicily, after a scheduled port visit. Expeditionary Strike Group transited the Suez Canal on Jan. 30.

February 21, The amphibious assault ship is currently in Arabian Sea conducting maritime security operations (MSO).

March 5, Six U.S. service members were safely rescued and evacuated to USS Bataan after their UH-1N Huey helicopter crashed near Manda Bay, Kenya, during a scheduled training exercise with Kenyan armed forces. The aircraft, from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 (Reinforced), was participating in Exercise Edged Mallet, a bilateral military training exercise with the Kenyan military.

March 22, Capt. Richard P. Snyder relieved Capt. David Hulse as CO of USS Bataan, during a change of command ceremony held aboard the ship, in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

April 25, The 26th MEU completed the off-load of personnel and equipment from the ships of the LHD 5 Expeditionary Strike Group into Kuwait April 22 to begin two weeks of sustainment training at the Udairi Range complex. The Bataan is currently in the Persian Gulf conducting Maritime Security Operations.

June 1, USS Bataan ESG departed the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), after transiting the Suez Canal.

June 20, LHD 5 departed Rota, Spain, after a scheduled port visit.

July 3, USS Bataan returned to Norfolk after a six-month deployment.

August 14, The amphibious assault ship conducted ammunition offload Aug. 6-10, at Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J.

September 5, USS Bataan pulled to NNSY for a nine-month dry-dock phased maintenance availability.

February 15, 2008 USS Bataan moved out of dry dock to her new berth at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Feb. 7 as part of her depot planned maintenance availability (DPMA) period.

May 5, LHD 5 departed NNSY after an eight-month DPMA. Some major jobs completed aboard the Bataan were completion of a seawater compensated fuel system modification and upgrades to support the newest vertical/short take off and landing Marine Corps aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey. The main machinery rooms also received repairs and upgrades. The ship had four fuel oil manifolds removed; many fuel tanks were combined into four groups and are now compensated with sea water.

June 5, The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification.

July 1, USS Bataan pulled to Boston, Mass., to celebrate the 4th of July festival, 27th annual Harborfest.

July 31, LHD 5 returned to homeport after a 10-day underway period to provide support for the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone", in preparation for the upcoming deployments of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) CSG and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) ESG.

September 2, USS Bataan departed Naval Station Norfolk to participate in Hurricane Exercise 08-002. HURREX is a Commander, U.S. Second Fleet directed exercise designed to test the ship's ability to respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief needs during the 2008 hurricane season.

September 11, The amphibious assault ship returned to homeport after completing a four-day HURREX exercise and landing qualifications for VMA-542 and VMM-263 pilots.

September 18, Capt. Samuel C. Howard relieved Capt. Richard P. Snyder as the ninth commanding officer of USS Bataan, during a change of command ceremony at Pier 12 at the Norfolk Naval Station.

November 12, The Bataan departed New York City after completing a seven-day port visit, celebrating Veterans Day and supporting the reopening and re-christening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

November 23, LHD 5 returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a four-week Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT) exercise with the 22nd MEU.

February 3, 2009 USS Bataan ESG and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit departed Norfolk to participate in a Composite Training Unit Exercise off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. Also participating in COMPTUEX are the French ships Tonnerre (L 9014) and La Motte-Picquet (D 645); USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196), USS Carr (FFG 52), USS Simpson (FFG 56), USS Boise (SSN 764), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Hawes (FFG 53), USS Kauffman (FFG 59), USS Doyle (FFG 39), USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Nicholas (FFG 47).

March 10, Elements of the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group and the 22nd MEU, are currently off the Atlantic Coast for a certification exercise (CERTEX), the third and final certification before their deployment later this spring.

May 5, USS Bataan departed for a one-day Friends and Family Day Cruise.

May 13, USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departed Norfolk for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

May 30, The amphibious assault ship departed Palma de Mallorca, Spain, after a three-day port visit.

June 20, LHD 5 transited the Suez Canal to conduct maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet AoR. The Bataan recently departed Souda Bay, Greece, after a routine port call.

September 7, The Bataan recently pulled to Manama, Bahrain, for a routine pot visit after completing the mine countermeasure exercise with the U.S. and Royal Navy ships.

September 29, USS Bataan recently departed Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, after a scheduled port call.

October 7, The Bataan ARG entered the Mediterranean Sea after transiting the Suez Canal.

October 14, The three ships are currently participating in a joint training exercise Bright Star 2009, off the coast of Egypt, Oct. 10-20.

October 22, Capt. Paul L. McElroy III relieved Capt. Jack L. Sotherland as Commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 2, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Bataan, while in port of Aqaba, Jordan.

November 6, Ten MV-22B, from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), were launched in three waves from USS Bataan, off the coast of Pakistan, for a flight to Camp Bastion where they will be transferred to VMM-261 and used to support the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. This is the first time the Ospreys will be used in Afghanistan.

November 16, The Bataan arrived in Izmir, Turkey, for a three-day port visit.

December 8, USS Bataan returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period.

January 14, 2010 USS Bataan departed Norfolk Naval Station to conduct humanitarian relief exercises in preparation for Haiti relief efforts after a magnitude-7.0 quake devastated the impoverished nation Tuesday afternoon. The amphibious assault ship will be joined by USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and the 22nd MEU.

January 18, The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince in support of Operation Unified Response.

February 1, Detachments from the HSC-9, HSC-26 and HM-14 embarked USS Bataan after spending more than two weeks operating from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

February 19, Capt. Steve Koehler relieved Capt. Samuel C. Howard as CO of the Bataan during a change-of-command ceremony om the ship's flight deck.