That’s almost as big as France’s only carrier, (India’s too), and larger than those of Italy, Spain, or Turkey.
All of our Tarawa class are retired though, correct? I am reading that we presently have operational 8 Wasp Class LHD’s (including the Essex - LHD-2) and 1 America Class (45,000t) with 10 more of the latter planned.
The WASP’s can carry up to 20 F35B’s (if they don’t take ‘copters along) — according to Wikipedia as many as 24 Harriers have been accommodated.
I pondered this a while: Of course it would never happen this way, but leaving the British out of the fight, our amphibious assault ships could in most scenarios defeat all the other carriers in the world. (Ok, if the Chinese get a couple more carriers built, bring in the Brits or the under-construction Italian carrier on our side.) Then our LHD’s land the Marines.
There is one LHA in service and another due to be launched.
LHAs 6 and 7.
There is one LHA in service and another due to be launched.
LHA 6 (USS America) is home ported in San Diego and LHA 7 (USS Tripoli) is due to be delivered.
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=400&ct=4
All of the original 5 Tarawa class have been retired.
I did two Westpacs on LHA-1, USS Tarawa.