PHIBRON is a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
abbreviation for Amphibious Squadron. It is a tactical and administrative organization composed of amphibious assault shipping to transport troops and their equipment for an amphibious assault operation.
Before the advent of modern helicopter-oriented amphibious warfare, the amphibious squadron was made up differently, depending on the era. During the 1960s, a typical squadron might consist of an
Attack Transport (APA/LPA), a
Dock Landing Ship (LSD), an
Attack Cargo Ship (AKA/LKA), one or two
Landing Ships, Tank, (LST) and, especially if there were only one LST, a
High Speed Transport
High-speed transports were converted destroyers and destroyer escorts used in US Navy amphibious operations in World War II and afterward. They received the US Hull classification symbol APD; "AP" for transport and "D" for destroyer. In 1969, the ...
(APD). The APA carried troops and
LCVPs in which to land them, plus a few
LCMs for bigger loads. The AKA carried cargo and an assortment of
LCVPs and
LCMs with which to land it. The LSD carried boats. The LST carried tanks and other rolling stock, and had the ability to discharge its cargo directly onto the beach. The destroyer-like APD provided limited
gunfire support
Naval gunfire support (NGFS) (also known as shore bombardment) is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the ...
and fast defense of the squadron. It frequently also carried a
UDT unit or other similar troops. The
Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) replaced the APA in the late 1960s and provided helicopters to land troops and supplies inland, beyond the beach.
In modern times, a U.S. PHIBRON usually consists of three amphibious ships, typically one
LHD, an
LSD and an
LPD. When the ships of a PHIBRON are loaded up with the forces of a
Marine Expeditionary Unit and some additional Navy units (including a Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) detachment and landing craft from two or more
Assault Craft Unit
An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in crim ...
s or ACU), it is designated as an
Amphibious ready group (ARG). The officer in charge of a PHIBRON is designated COMPHIBRON (#) or Commander Amphibious Squadron (#) and acts as the commodore for all ships in the ARG.
List of
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
amphibious squadrons
Active
*Amphibious Squadron 1 - Stationed in San Diego, CA
*Amphibious Squadron 3 - Stationed in San Diego, CA
*Amphibious Squadron 4 - Stationed in Norfolk, VA
*Amphibious Squadron 5 - Stationed in San Diego, CA
*Amphibious Squadron 6 - Stationed in Norfolk, VA
*Amphibious Squadron 7 - Stationed in San Diego, CA (Composed of
USS Makin Island
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS ''Makin Island'', named for Makin Island, target of the U.S. Marine Raiders' raid early in World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or ...
,
USS Anchorage, and
USS John P. Murtha)
*Amphibious Squadron 8 - Stationed in Norfolk, VA
*Amphibious Squadron 9 - Stationed in San Diego, CA
*Amphibious Squadron 11 - Stationed in Sasebo, Japan (Composed of
USS America
USS ''America'' may refer to:
* , a 74-gun ship of the line, laid down in 1777, but not launched until 1782 and thereupon given to France
* USS ''America'' (IX-41), a 19th-century racing yacht converted for United States naval service during the ...
,
USS New Orleans,
USS Green Bay,
USS Rushmore, and
USS Ashland)
Disestablished
*Amphibious Squadron 2 - Stationed in Norfolk, VA, disestablished in 2010
*Amphibious Squadron 10 - Stationed in Little Creek, VA disestablished 1974
References
External links
{{commons, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON)
COMPHIBRON ONE official web siteCOMPHIBRON THREE official web siteCOMPHIBRON FOUR official web siteCOMPHIBRON FIVE official web siteCOMPHIBRON SIX official web siteCOMPHIBRON SEVEN official web siteCOMPHIBRON EIGHT official web siteCOMPHIBRON ELEVEN official web site
Ship squadrons of the United States Navy
Amphibious units and formations of the United States Navy