VMM-263(MV-22B Osprey) photos from aboard the USS Wasp LHD-1

United States Navy ^ | 29 September - 4 October 2007

[A.A. Cunningham]

070929-N-1189B-196 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 29, 2007) - An MV-22 "Osprey" attached to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 263 takes to the air from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on a surge deployment bringing the Osprey on its first combat deployment to the Middle East. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

070929-N-1189B-126 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 29, 2007) - An MV-22 "Osprey" attached to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 263 takes to the air from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on a surge deployment bringing the Osprey on its first combat deployment to the Middle East. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071003-N-1189B-070 STRAITS ON TIRAN (Oct. 3, 2007) - Lights on the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) illuminate a MV-22 Ospreys attached to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 263 as it transits the Straits of Tiran. Wasp is on a surge deployment bringing the Osprey on its first combat deployment to the Middle East. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071003-N-1189B-072 STRAITS ON TIRAN (Oct. 3, 2007) - Lights on the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) illuminate a MV-22 Ospreys attached to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 263 as it transits the Straits of Tiran. Wasp is on a surge deployment bringing the Osprey on its first combat deployment to the Middle East. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-2439G-017 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class AnTuan D. Guerry (RELEASED)

071004-N-2568S-125 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

071004-N-2568S-066 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A Marine aircrewman peers from an U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 Marine Aircraft Group 29, as it prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

071004-N-2568S-073 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

071004-N-2568S-119 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, takes off from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

071004-N-2439G-040 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class AnTuan D. Guerry (RELEASED)

071004-N-2568S-015 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

071004-N-1238B-064 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - Marines attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, board an U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, on the flight deck of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) as they prepare to transit to their final operational destination in Iraq. This marks the first combat deployment of the Osprey. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Toni Burton (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-099 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-127 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, takes off from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-190 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-022 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-048 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-080 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-002 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-005 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

071004-N-1189B-012 GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

[oyez]

I saw one two days ago for the first time. As it flys away, the way the rotors turn it looks like a large bird flapping its wings.

[al baby]

Great pics how long does it take to configure them to go up or down the elevators ?

[BenLurkin]

Very cool pics.

Thanks for posting!

[ishabibble]

Great photos! Thanks for posting.

[Westlander]

Cool px. Let's pray the bugs have been resolved on the Osprey.

[tryon1ja]

Wow! Thanks for all the great pictures. I was on the USS Wasp in 1962. It was the USS Wasp (CVS-18) out of Boston, Mass. She was an antisubmarine warfare carrier with about 70 planes aboard. Most of them were choppers, some S2F and A4D fixed wing.

We were down by Bermuda when the Destroyer Noah, picked up John Glenn. We were scheduled to pick him up but he was 3 miles off target. Just the name brings back many memories.

[Theresawithanh]

Those pictures are awesome! Thanks for posting.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Great photos...

Thanks for the post

[usmcobra]

It can’t take any longer then a CH-53 does on a windy day.

[Travis McGee]

Cool pics, thanks!

[Squantos]

“E”........ yer babies are in the nest !

Now with my pavelows a M134 or Ma Duce was in each door with maybe one or the other augmented by a Mk-19 on the rear deck....... any provisions for self defense on these besides crew PDW’s and counter measure flares etc ?

Is speed it’s lone defense ?

[e_castillo]

Nice job posting great pics!

[e_castillo]

These are great pics. The deployment seems to be going well. Hard to beleive the drive by media isn’t finding something bad to say about the V-22 or the War in general.

Ramp mounted mini gun or Ma Duce are the only weapons so far. The operations are mostly at low level for other types of Helicopters in Iraq because of the Missile threat so any increase in speed and decrease in noise levels in airplane mode should be a benefit.

Thanks for the ping.

[Squantos]

Yer welcome !

Stay safe !

[e_castillo]

90 seconds

[Tribune7]

That thing looks like a Transformer.

[Severa]

*LOL* My husband is a V-22 mech for Dyncorp. You should watch a V-22 fold up for carrier storage (3rd and 4th pictures on this page) cause you wouldn't be too far off the mark. V-22 Compilation - Youtube. You can see it done in this video at 0:56.

[Travis McGee]

Osprey has some gun mount problems due to weight distribution and those big ass rotor/props. Guns aft can’t swing forward, and a chin gun was nixed due to weight. Now they are talking about chin guns again.

[Squantos]

Yeah that was first thing I looked at with those rotors coming down where there interfere with any waist door gunner’s field of fire when in forward flight. In Hover it may be a non issue.......

Ramp gun can make do fine w/ a M134 or Ma Deuce can get it done for hot LZ cover fire on extraction .......Waist guns can have a cutoff / block for when rotors transition to forward flight mode etc.......???

Wait and see....:o)