Welcome aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)! USS Kearsarge is a Wasp-class multi-purpose amphibious assault ship. Our ship is named in honor of USS Kearsarge, a sloop-of-war that gained fame hunting Confederate raiders during the American Civil War. The sloop was named for Mount Kearsarge in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The ship was commissioned Oct. 16, 1993 and since, has served the nation and the American people with distinction. Our motto Proud-Trustworthy-Bold, is embodied by our crew every day ensuring the highest standards of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. We look forward to having you join the crew of “America’s favorite amphibious assault ship!” Our ship's primary mission is to support U.S. Marines during combat operations, and to also provide disaster relief and medical support to those in need. Our standard is excellence in all we do. In order to gain a sponsor, please email us at sponsor@lhd3.navy.mil. Once again, welcome aboard!