The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) was docked at the foot of Bryant Street where it met The Embarcadero. It was in town as part of San Francisco's annual Fleet Week, during which the Blue Angels performed.

An elevator near the aft of this ship was used to move aircraft off deck and into the interior of the ship, and then back out again. Notice the massive rails on either side of the large opening.

Because the ship was at dock, a lift was set up on deck as an aid to required maintenance.

The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship currently homeported in San Diego, California. It is scheduled to switch homeports in Spring 2012 when it will take the place of the USS Essex (LHD-2) as the command ship for Expeditionary Strike Group Seven in Sasebo, Japan.

The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) carries: 42 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; 5 AV-8B Harrier attack planes; and 6 ASW helicopters.

A close-up shot of the six on the ships side with its six E's and an H next to it.

Tours were being giving of the deck that day. Unfortunately the lines were long to partake. As you can see, not only were there aircraft on deck, but there were also armored vehicles.

The primary mission of USS Bonhomme Richard is to embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine landing force in amphibious assault operations by helicopter, landing craft and amphibious vehicle.

As with all war ships, detection helps prepare the ship for any inbound attack.

The aft of the ship opens to form a landing bay for the transfer of armored Marines from ship to a beach.