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.