Amphib America arrives in Japan

The Huntington Ingalls Industries-built USS America (LHA-6) arrived at its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, Dec. 5. The change puts the big-deck amphibious assault ship, designed to accommodate the F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, into the Western Pacific. America is part of the U.S. 7th Fleet force, and replaces another HII-built ship, USS Wasp (LHD-1), which moved to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in November. America is one of two big-deck amphibs built without a well deck to focus on aviation operations. America and the future Tripoli (LHA-7), when compared to Wasp-class amphibs, have enlarged hangars, expanded aviation maintenance facilities, increased spare parts and equipment storage and increased aviation fuel storage. Tripoli’s commissioning has been delayed by shipbuilder HII-Pascagoula while it tests some of the ship’s systems. Tripoli is now expected to join the fleet in May 2020 and will likely be homeported in San Diego. Moving America to Japan expands on Marine capabilities moving to the Western Pacific. America, as part of Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is expected to regularly integrate its operations with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Joining America in Sasebo is the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18), the second transport dock ship assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious fleet. Having a second LPD provides the Navy more flexibility to conduct maintenance on other forward-deployed amphibious warships and still generate three-ship amphibious ready groups. Currently, USS Green Bay (LPD-20) - Northrop Grumman Ship Systems New Orleans - USS Ashland (LSD-48) - Avondale Shipyard New Orleans - and USS Germantown (LSD-42) are stationed in Japan. (Source: USNI News 12/06/19) https://news.usni.org/2019/12/06/amphibious-assault-ship-uss-america-arrives-in-japan