General Purpose Amphibious Assault Ships - LHA/LHA(R)
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Description
The largest of all amphibious warfare ships; resembles a small aircraft carrier; capable of Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL), Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL), Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) tilt-rotor and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft operations; contains a well deck to support use of Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC) and other watercraft (with exception of the first two LHA(R) class ships, LHA 6 and LHA 7, which have no well deck).
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Features
Modern U.S. Navy Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) / Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). A key element of the Seapower 21 pillars of Sea Strike and Sea Basing, these ships transport and land elements of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) or Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) with a combination of aircraft and landing craft.
The Tarawa-class LHAs provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. Three LHAs — which have extensive storage capacity and can accommodate Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and LCAC craft — were active during Operations Desert Shield / Storm. Since that time, LHAs have been participants in major humanitarian-assistance, occupation and combat operations in which the United States has been involved. Such operations have included participating as launch platforms for Marine Corps expeditionary forces into Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2002, Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and humanitarian support after the catastrophic Tsunami in 2004. In 2004, LHAs were used to transport thousands of Marines and their equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan for combat operations. LHA 6 was placed under contract in June 2007 with NGSB. LHA 6 will be an aviation-centric modified repeat of the USS Makin Island, LHD 8 and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in 2013. Key differences between LHA 6 and the LHD class ships include an enlarged hangar deck, enhanced aviation maintenance facilities, increased aviation fuel capacity, additional aviation storerooms, removal of the well deck, and an electronically reconfigurable C4ISR suite. Three of the original five Tarawa-class LHAs were recently decommissioned: USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) in October 2005, USS Saipan (LHA 2) in April 2007 and USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in March 2009.
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Background
Amphibious warships are designed to support the Marine Corps tenets of Operational Maneuver From the Sea (OMFTS) and Ship to Objective Maneuver (STOM). They must be able to sail in harm’s way and provide a rapid buildup of combat power ashore in the face of opposition. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to also support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice. The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world. The USS America, LHA Replacement or LHA(R) is the next step in the incremental development of the “Big Deck Amphib”. She is being designed to accommodate the Marine Corps’ future Air Combat Element (ACE) including F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and MV-22 Osprey with additional aviation maintenance capability and increased fuel capacities, while also providing additional cargo stowage capacities and enabling a broader, more flexible Command and Control capability.
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Program Status
LHAs 4 & 5 are in-service. LHA 6 (America) is planned for delivery to the Fleet in 2013. A keel authentication ceremony for the future USS America (LHA 6) was held July 17, 2009, at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.
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Point Of Contact
Corporate Communications Office
Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA 00D)
Washington, D.C. 20376
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General Characteristics, Tarawa Class
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Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS.
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Date Deployed: May 29, 1976 (USS Tarawa)
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Propulsion: Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower.
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Length: 820 feet (249.9 meters).
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Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters).
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Displacement: 39,400 tons (40,032 metric tons) full load.
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Speed: 24 knots (27.6 miles per hour).
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Crew: Ships Company: 82 officers, 882 enlisted
Marine Detachment 1,900 plus.
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Armament: Two RAM launchers; two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mount; three .50 cal. machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns.
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Aircraft: 12 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; 6 AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft; 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters; 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters.
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Landing/Attack Craft: 4 LCUs or 2 LCUs and 1 LCAC.
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General Characteristics, LHA(R) Class LHA (6) - America Class
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Builder: Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula, MS.
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Date Deployed: Scheduled for delivery to the fleet in 2013.
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Propulsion: Two marine gas turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total brake horsepower, two 5,000 horsepower auxiliary propulsion motors.
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Length: 844 feet (257.3 meters).
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Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters).
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Displacement: Approximately 44,971 long tons full load (45,695 metric tons).
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Speed: 20+ knots.
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Crew: 1,059 (65 officers)
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Load: 1,687 troops (plus 184 surge).
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Armament: Two RAM launchers; two NATO Sea Sparrowlaunchers (with Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)); two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts; seven twin .50 cal. machine guns.
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Aircraft: A mix of: F-35B Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) STOVL aircraft; MV-22 Osprey VTOL tiltrotors; CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; UH-1Y Huey helicopters; AH-1Z Super Cobra helicopters; MH-60S Seahawk helicopters.
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Homeport: PCU America (LHA 6), No homeport - under construction
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