The USS Essex, an 844-foot long, 44,000 ton vessel, arrived in Sihanoukville November

26 for a six-day visit to the Kingdom. Essex, the second ship to be commissioned

by the US Navy in the WASP-class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships, is capable

of deploying, commanding and supporting all elements of a Marine landing force of

over 2000 troops during assault by air and amphibious craft. While docked, hundreds

of US Sailors and Marines will be deployed to sites across the Kingdom to provide

medical and dental treatment, complete engineering projects, and conduct military

exchanges and training.