Free Republic

On Sunday, Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli fast-roped from helicopters onto the deck of the Iranian cargo ship M/V Touska to take custody of the vessel, the first seizure of the week-long U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports. The Touska was first disabled by sailors on the Navy destroyer USS Spruance, who fired several shots from its 5-inch MK 45 gun at the vessel’s engine room. Carried out under the cover of darkness, the operation highlighted the capabilities of a small, highly trained group of Marines known as a Maritime Raid Force, or MRF, that specializes in...

“We refer to the ship as ‘assault carrier 7.’ And assault is traditional for an LHD, LHA,” Capt. Joel Lang, the ship’s commander, said during an April 3 media event aboard Tripoli. “We have the space for a battalion landing team, we have about 1,000 infantrymen. And typically the air combat element is a blend of rotary and tilt-rotor in order to enable that assault force to go ashore. What we’re doing right now is lightning carrier, and we are proving the operational concept. … We are proving the tactics and the techniques and the procedures to employ the lightning...

The Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Wednesday that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli concluded its Fitting Out Availability. Photo by MCS1 Woody Paschall/U.S. Navy March 31 (UPI) -- The large-deck amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli completed its Fitting Out Availability and awaits sea trials, the U.S. Navy announced on Wednesday. The FOA on the ship, the Navy's second in the America class, concluded last week in San Diego, Naval Sea Systems Command said in a press release on Wednesday. The sea trials will involve performance validation, including "navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems, combat systems, communications and...

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy awarded a $2,381,448,356 contract to Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII) May 31, for the detail design and construction of the future USS Tripoli (LHA 7), the Navy's next large-deck amphibious assault ship. The ship will be constructed at HII's Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss. Ship delivery is expected in fiscal year 2018. Like the future USS America (LHA 6), LHA 7 has an increased aviation capacity, including an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity.