The counter-change of colors emphasizes the ship's capability to integrate sea, air and land combat missions to make an amphibious assault. The shield is divided into nine sections honoring the nine previous ships named "WASP."

Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose) Wasp Class Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. Power Plant: Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 shaft horsepower Length: 844 feet (253.2 meters) Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters) Displacement: Approx. 40,500 tons (41,150 metric tons) full load Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour) Aircraft: Assault: 42 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters Sea Control: 5 AV-8B Harrier attack planes; Six ASW helicopters Crew: Ships Company: 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted Marine Detachment: 1,894 Armament: Two RAM launchers; two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts (two on LHD 5-7); four .50 cal. machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns (LHD 5-7 have three 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns). Date Deployed: July 29, 1989