The USS Bonhomme Richard - French for "Good Man Richard'' - docked at Sydney's Garden Island this morning following three weeks of joint manoeuvres in Queensland waters.

More than 3000 US sailors and marines are due to hit Sydney during their scheduled port visit, which comes after a stop in Brisbane last month.

The amphibious assault ship, which is also known by the nickname "The Revolutionary Gator'', can carry more than 40 assault helicopters and five Harrier "Jump Jet'' aircraft and is usually deployed at the Sasebo naval base in Japan.

It forms part of the US Navy's 7th fleet and was named after Benjamin Franklin, the nation's first ambassador to France who wrote some of his works under the pseudonym Richard Saunders.

The ship was first deployed as part of the navy 15 years ago and has since been involved in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, during which tiem it served as a launchpad for Harrier strikes into the country.

The vessel is normally home to 1000 enlisted personnel including 100 officers, although its 300-seat mess hall can cater to more than 2000 people eating in shifts over two hours.

US officials would not say how long the ship would stay in Sydney or what its next destination was for security reasons.