2003 Artist’s concept of the San Antonio Class amphibious transport dock ships firing a missile from a vertical launch system in the ship’s bow. US Navy Image
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Navy and the Marine Corps are studying installing a vertical launch system in its San Antonio class of amphibious warships that would allow the ships to field larger offensive missiles, service officials told USNI News this week. Read More
MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft prepare to take off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), while in the background an landing craft air cushion (LCAC) approaches the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) in April 2015. US Navy photo.
The surface and expeditionary warfare community has adopted the aviation community’s “enterprise” approach to coordinating modernization and maintenance throughout the fleet, in an attempt to regain ship readiness that has declined since the 1990s, the director of expeditionary warfare (OPNAV N95) said last week. Read More
America (LHA-6) returns to Ingalls Shipyard Jan. 31, 2014 from acceptance trials. US Navy Photo
THE PENTAGON – The Navy and Marine Corps amphibious fleet is on the cusp of two major changes – the introduction of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter and the growth of the fleet from 30 to 33 ships – that will change the way the fleet trains and fights, the director of expeditionary warfare told USNI News. Read More
The Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Millinocket (EPF-3) arrives in Vietnam on Aug. 17, 2015. US Navy photo.
The Auxiliary Platforms and Payloads Council at the Pentagon has focused its efforts on using the Expeditionary Fast Transport for Marines’ afloat command and control requirements, as well as looking at technical enablers to allow Marines to operate from the Littoral Combat Ship, the head of the amphibious warfare branch said last week. Read More
USS Arlington (LPD-24) under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding. Huntington Ingalls Industries Photo
The Navy and Marine Corps were able to design an LX(R) dock landing ship replacement with greater capability for less money by starting with the higher-end San Antonio-class LPD-17 design, stripping away unneeded features and adding back in desired ones, service officials said last week. Read More
