Atlantic Ocean. (May 8, 2025): Few people will ever forget the sting of a wasp. In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Kemble, Seaman Nathan Kimbrough mans a fire hose aboard the flight deck of the USS Wasp during an aviation training exercise. Numerous ships have worn the name, including sloops, schooners, a steam yacht, and two aircraft carriers and every one of them delivered a vicious bite.

The first USS Wasp was a Continental Navy schooner, originally named Scorpion, which set sail in 1775 with the first American naval fleet. The vessel was later destroyed in 1777 during an unsuccessful engagement with the British. It was run aground, set on fire, and its gunpowder exploded.

The most famous Wasps were aircraft carriers that served in the Pacific during World War II. The first was designated CV-7 and she met her end during the Battle of Guadalcanal. She was struck by three Japanese torpedoes and was subsequently scuttled. Although a destroyer managed to rescue over 2,000 survivors, 193 Sailors lost their lives according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.

The second carrier to proudly bear the name served from World War II to Vietnam and served as the recovery ship for NASA’s Gemini missions. After earning five battle stars during her service, she was deactivated in 1972.

Today’s version, commissioned in 1989, is the lead ship in its class and a major part of the Navy’s amphibious assault operations. The gigantic ship is designed to accommodate the amphibious Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) for fast troop movement over the beach and the various versions of the Harrier II Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing jets. The ship can also deploy the full range of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters and fighters including the tiltrotor MV-22 Osprey and the F-35B Lightning II.

Since the early days of our republic, America’s enemies have felt the unforgettable sting of the Wasp.