America-class amphibious assault ship

America-class amphibious assault ship. The America class is a class of amphibious assault ships operated by the United States Navy. Designed to replace the aging Tarawa class, these ships prioritize aviation capabilities to support the F-35B Lightning II and the MV-22B Osprey, serving as the centerpiece of an Amphibious ready group. The lead ship, , was commissioned in 2014, with a modified second ship, , entering service in 2020.

Design and development

The America class emerged from the LHA Replacement (LHA(R)) program in the early 2000s, intended to succeed the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship. The design, led by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and executed by Huntington Ingalls Industries at its Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, represents a significant evolution from the preceding Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. A pivotal design decision was the elimination of a well deck on the first two ships (Flight 0) to maximize space for aviation facilities, including enlarged hangars, increased fuel and weapon storage, and a redesigned flight deck optimized for STOVL aircraft. This aviation-centric configuration was influenced by the operational concepts of Sea Basing and the requirements of the United States Marine Corps for enhanced air support. Subsequent ships in the class, beginning with the future , will reintroduce a well deck in a hybrid "Flight 1" design to restore traditional surface assault capabilities while retaining advanced aviation features.

Features and capabilities

The America class is distinguished by its extensive aviation support infrastructure. Its 844-foot flight deck features two aircraft elevators and can operate up to 20 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters or a mix of rotorcraft including the MV-22B Osprey, CH-53K King Stallion, UH-1Y Venom, and AH-1Z Viper. The ship's internal layout includes substantial magazine space for aviation ordnance and nearly 240,000 gallons of JP-5 fuel. For command and control, it is equipped with the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) and modern AN/SPY-6 radar variants for air search and tracking. While the initial Flight 0 ships lack a well deck, they carry a complement of Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) and Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) vessels using only the flight deck for deployment, a limitation addressed in the Flight 1 design. The ship's medical facilities include a full hospital with multiple operating rooms and hundreds of patient beds, supporting its role in humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Ships in class

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Name !! Hull number !! Builder !! Laid down !! Launched !! Commissioned !! Status |- | || LHA-6 || Huntington Ingalls Industries || 17 July 2009 || 4 June 2012 || 11 October 2014 || Active in service |- | || LHA-7 || Huntington Ingalls Industries || 20 June 2014 || 1 May 2017 || 15 July 2020 || Active in service |- | || LHA-8 || Huntington Ingalls Industries || 14 March 2019 || 6 October 2023 || (Planned 2024) || Under construction |- | Unnamed || LHA-9 || Huntington Ingalls Industries || — || — || — || Ordered |}

Operational history

deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in 2016, integrating with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and conducting exercises with allies such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. In 2021, it became the first American warship to deploy with a full squadron of F-35B Lightning II aircraft, operating alongside the British Carrier Strike Group centered on . has served as a dedicated "Lightning Carrier," experimenting with deploying large groups of F-35Bs to augment the power projection of supercarriers. Both ships have participated in major exercises like RIMPAC and Valiant Shield, and have been forward-deployed to Yokosuka and Sasebo as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's commitment to Indo-Pacific Command. Their operational history underscores their role in implementing the Distributed Maritime Operations and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concepts.

See also

* Wasp-class amphibious assault ship * Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship * USS Makin Island (LHD-8) * Amphibious ready group * Lightning Carrier

Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes Category:Ship classes of the United States Navy