US Navy amphibious ships USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) have concluded Puerto Rico hurricane response and were redeployed to other missions, the US Navy said.
The decision to withdraw the ships from Puerto Rico was made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Defense in consultation with Puerto Rico’s governor.
As part of the broader planning effort to transition from hurricane response to hurricane recovery, it was determined that some DoD assets are no longer needed.
The principle contribution to the hurricane relief effort by USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) has been helicopter support FEMA and DoD have determined there are sufficient land-based helicopters and tilt rotor lift capabilities in the territories to continue helping the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as they recover.
The US Navy did not specify where the two ships were redeployed.