USS Saipan - Definition

Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Saipan, after the island of Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands that was a scene of heavy fighting in World War II.

• The first Saipan (CVL-48) was commissioned as a light aircraft carrier in 1946, converted to the command ship Arlington (AGMR-2) and recommissioned in 1966, serving until 1970.

• The second Saipan (LHA-2) is an amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1977 and on active service as of 2004.