USS AMERICA, (PCU) LHA-6
Posted on 05/23/2012 10:56:53 AM PDT by Jeff Head
The USS America, (PCU), LHA-6, the United States Navy's newest Amphibious/Air Assault and Sea Control Carrier nears completion in Mississippi.
She's 45,000 tons of US Navy fighting machine. Can carry up to two thousand Marines and the vehicles and wepaonry to support them, including transport helos, attack helos, and air support Harriers or later, F-35B Joint Strike Fighters.
She can also be outfitted for pure sea control duties and operate as a modern "Jeep" Carrier, with 24 or so Strike Fighters, and support helicopters.
Its capabilities are impressive, but I’m surprised at the relative slow speed of this class. Are they not expected to operate with the rest of the fleet?
VMA 223 The Bismarck was only
41,700 t (41,000 long tons; 46,000 short tons) standard 50,300 t (49,500 long tons; 55,400 short tons) full load
and the HMS Hood
46,680 long tons (47,430 t) deep load
Bismarck;
HMS Hood
*RIP all brave sailors lost.
Can't keep up with the fast carriers and their escorts...but they get the job done.
Also,unlike the Wasp Class ships (of which there are eight) these do not have a well deck so the LCACs and Landing Craft cannot dock inside there. They will be dependent on Air Assault when working by themselves.
It's likely in any big operation you would have one or two San Antonios Class LPDs which do have a well deck, and maybe a Wasp with them for assaults.
You are not going to get me to believe that it is slow. Not with that hull design. I think they just aren't telling us everything.
Amazing. Glad it’s ours.
I guess it wouldn’t make sense to broadcast exactly when the marines might be landing.
Those Tarawa class vessels were great. I believe they decommmisioned them too early, should have been able to get 40-50 years out of their hulls.
As it was, the Nassau was decommissioned 31 March 2011 after being commissioned in 1979, so only 32 years. But that’s the Obama admin and their cohorts for you.
They’re keeping her in reserve and the only Tarawa class left is the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). She will probably be decommissioned once the America is commissioned, leaving nine large Amphibious ready groups. (Eight Wasp class and the One America).
The Belleau Wood (LHA-3) was decommissioned in 2005 and has already had a SINKEX completed on her. Saipan (LHA-2 )was decomm’ed in 2007 and already sold for scrap.
All of them getting about 32 years in.
Anyhow, sad to see them go.
And that's okay. She will fulfill carrier duties in her sea control role, and when she is, shel'll have a bunch of F-35Bs aboarrd.
I'd love to see them build an AEW variant of the V-22, an EV-22 AEW, and an ASW vaiant of the V-22, the SV-22, specifcally for these vessels (they would also be purchased by a lot of our allies).
And that's okay. She will fulfill carrier duties in her sea control role, and when she is, shel'll have a bunch of F-35Bs aboarrd.
I'd love to see them build an AEW variant of the V-22, an EV-22 AEW, and an ASW vaiant of the V-22, the SV-22, specifcally for these vessels (they would also be purchased by a lot of our allies).
Just so as it is not re-christened the UNS America.
Well, 24 knots is about 28 miles per hour. Listed top speed is 24 knots, so she will probably do 28-30 when necessary...in a pinch, maybe a little more.
I know that the nuclear carriers, which are listed at 30+ will do over 45 for short periods if necessary...like to avoid a torpedo...or outrun it.
They will flat leave their escorts behind if they have to, because all of them are non-nuclear these days and they are listed at 30 knots but can max out at 38 or so.
Me too!
I have a very good friend that was a comm officer on a nuke carrier back in his day that told me just what you did. He said that they got minor structural damage every time they did it.
Also compare her to the Essex class carriers of WW2: 27,500 tons standard displacement, 34,000 tons full load.
I don't think that will be possible with this vessel. Have to be a full navy crew aboard...they do that with non-cobatant supply vessels usually.
And, IMHO, for the fast supply AOE vessels and the like, it's a mistake. They have to run with the big task forces and will come into harms way. Those vessels need their self defense armament added back on, IMHO, and be manned by full US Navy crews.
And they are retiring the USS Enterprise now...
Yep, these flat tops, particularly the new America class, are larger than the WW II “Fast Carriers”. And, they are being built with a clear fixed wing role for sea control, meaning only a few helos and mostly fixed wing aircraft. As such, they are really US Marine Corps carriers.
You could easily use one of these and a normal PhibRon group built around a Wasp class, and eliminate the need to have a full blown nuclear carrier supporting the landing and inland operations of the Marines because this type carrier could do that with attack helos and attack aircraft of its own, and in sufficent numbers..
I mean a Wasp with six strike aircraft and four attack helos, and then an America with 24 strike aircraft and 6 attack helos, means you have 30 strike aircraft and 10 attach helos to support the landing.
If you already have air dominance over the battlefield, then an America class is all you need.
Is the America nuclear powered or conventional?
The new America will be a potent force equipped as you suggest!
Any idea the answer to the earlier question? Why doesn't she have a top speed in the 30's?
Yep I sure miss the old gal. I had a memorable four year ride on her.
Propulsion: Two marine gas turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total brake horsepower, two 5,000 horsepower auxiliary propulsion motors.
too bad. Nukes don't need to be refueled very often. :-(
I’m gonna be down in P’goula in a couple of weeks. I’ll have to see if I can see this vessel at the shipyard!
Served onboard the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) 1991-1995.
I recently spent a fascinating day on the USS Midway museum in San Diego. It was quite a treat for a landlubber like me. They are doing a great job with that ship.
Is there an ‘artist’s conception’ of this ship anywhere? I’d love to see how it’s supposed to look, when it’s all done.
Designation: LHA(R)
Displacement: 45,000 t
Length: 844 feet (257.3 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)
Elevators: 2
Speed: 24 knots
Propulsion:
- 2 x GE LM 2500+ gas turbines
- 2 x shafts
Crew: - 1060 crew
- 1700 Troops
Aircraft (Normal):
- 8 F-35B JSF
- 12 MV-22 Osprey
- 4 CH-53K Chinook
- 4 MH60 Nighthawk
- 4 AH-1W Supercobra
Aircraft (Sea Control):
- 20 F-35B JSF
- 4 SH-60 SeaHawk
- 4 Other helo/vtol
Armament:
- 2 x RAM (42 missiles)
- 2 x ESSM (16 missiles)
- 2 x 20mm CIWS
- 3 × 25 mm Mk 38 cannons
- 6 x .50 cal MGs
Ships in class: 1
The LHA(R) America Class will bes the largest amphibious assault vessels ever built. Displacing over 45,000 tons when fully loaded, the vessels are larger than most other nations aircraft carriers, which they closely resemble. These amphibious warships are uniquely designed to support the US Marines Aviation Combat Element (ACE) philosophy including assault from the sea against defended positions ashore and Sea Control Air operations using enhanced numbers of strike fighters.
This ship is powered by two gas turbine engines. This is not a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and in no way could match the speed of the larger nuclear powered carriers such as the Enterprise. The Enterprise is advertised as a 30+ knot top speed carrier, but there is evidence that it is about double that.
“Is there an ‘artist’s conception’ of this ship anywhere?”
Go to the source link
http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/america.htm
MWCS 28...Semper Fi
No one had too tell us we were running flank you could feel and hear it especially on the second deck. Usually underway unless you were down in number one pump room in the bow you would not feel the rise and fall. You'd only notice port to starboard listings. At Flank you'd feel the ship going up and down.
My last trip back from the MED we were flat out hauling. It's been 33 years but IIRC there were concerns about us getting across and ahead of a major storm {hurricane} well too our south. I remember because even though we were a long ways from it we were in some very rough seas. We were also tossing everything not bolted down over the side. Two reasons for that. One was the storm the other was we were scheduled to head into a year long overhaul and they wanted as much stuff off the ship as possible for that.
The new America does have a much lower speed. But the speed gets the job done. If you want to drive from NYC to LA fast you want a fast car. If you want to haul freight or equipment from NYC to LA it takes a truck. Slower speeds but it will get there. The old LST troop and amphib equipment haulers {Tank Landers} did much less than that somewhere like 14 knots and they served us through Nam.
The USS America
Carrier Veteran’s Assoc.
REUNION 2012
September 11 – 15, 2012
Baton Rouge, LA.
The USS America class is similar in size to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
America-class amphibious assault ship:
Displacement = 45,000 tons
Length = 844 feet
Beam = 106 feet
French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle:
Displacement = 42,000 tons
Length = 858 feet
Beam = 211 feet
Thank for the report cva66snipe. Confirms what my buddy told me years ago.
The 1st new Ford Class carrier, the USS Ford, CVN-78 is now (as of April) 75% structurally complete and due to launch in 2013 and commission in 2015. The second, CVN-79, USS John F. Kennedy, started building last year.
She deserves a seperate thread and as she gets closer I will post one.
We'll be down to ten carrier groups until she is launched and commissioned (which will take 18-24 months) and then be back at eleven groups by 2015.
She is conventionally powered. Two GE LM 2500+ gas turbines.
Thanks to all posters, linkers, researchers, educators, veterans. Informative & educational. Thanks to all who have served. America’s finest BUMP!
Not necessary for her flamnk speed to be that high. She’s listed at 24 knots which means she can probably do close to 30 in a pinch for short periods. But she will be in a Phibron group and constrained by the speed of the other troop carriers and support vessels.
Hey do! If you get some good pics, upload them and put them in this thread...that would be GREAT!
Thank you for your service! The Peleliu is still serving and plowing the waves. Great vessel...all of the Tarawa class were.
Here's one I did by modifying a pic of LHD-8, the USS Makin Ilsand (which is built to the same form except with a well deck) to be the America, also linking to that site:
Thanks! Bravo Zulu.
God bless you bro! for your service to this Republic and for the way you live your life. Always do love your sea stories.
The old LST troop and amphib equipment haulers {Tank Landers} did much less than that somewhere like 14 knots and they served us through Nam.
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That 14 knots in the 1156 class T’s was downhill, with following sea in a typhoon....that is if you could keep all ‘4 feet’ on the ground at the same time....
Jeff Head - I believe the UNS is supposed a quip in reference to United Nations Ship ????
Just a guess.... and yes, I am familiar with the USNS meaning etc...stack stripes and all....<: <:
Then “UNS” ain’t gonna happen. Not while I have breath anyway.
Could you imagine that? The UN trying to run our Navy? Waht a pitiful joke that would be.
Don’t get me wrong, I know there are pols and progresives like Obama and others who may want to try to push things that way...but it is just not going to happen IMHO. But IMHO, you’d have massive rebellion in the ranks and COs and Admirals refusing it.
A lot of people wouldn't think this would happen but it's true. In rough seas on a carrier you can be forward on the second deck and feel some or even fairly heavy listing port and starboard. But if you went down into number one pumproom on the 6th deck {the most forward space and lowest deck accessible} to work sometimes you had to tie yourself off it would be so intense. My shop had a pump down there for the A/C system.
We took one hard list while I was climbing up number two pump room trunk about 20 frames aft of that which threw me off the ladder. This was a straight vertical ladder not the inclined with steps with rails. I got lucky because the safety nets were there. I fell about a deck. Just hurt my pride LOL.
Then “UNS” ain’t gonna happen. Not while I have breath anyway.
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You can ‘damn straight’ include me on THAT ping.
Unless it has been done recently the USMC won’t even work under the ‘General Command of the US Army - - last time I remember hearing of that was when USMC GEN “Howlin` Mad” Smith, relieved a USA General Smith on Saipan.
So I was told by someone who knew LOL. My uncle was one of T-Bones last Captains.
Damn! Thank the Lord for safety nets...hehe!
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