requests. Funding of the second ship of the class is
planned in 2010.
“LHA 6 will enhance the Marine Corps amphibious
assault mission, whether that mission is associated
with noncombatant or combat-related operations,”
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas Benes, director of
expeditionary warfare on the Navy staff, said in a June
7 press release. “By focusing on the aviation mission,
LHA 6 provides the ability to deploy lighter combat
forces with more precision and over a greater range by
capitalizing on the more capable aircraft of the future
Marine Aviation Combat Element.”
The Navy conducted an analysis of alternatives,
completed in 2002, to determine the best method of
replacing the Tarawa-class LHAs. The study evaluated
three options:
■ A repeat LHD 8 with evolutionary modifications.
■ An LHD 8 modified to add 77 feet to its 844-foot length
and 10 feet to its 106-foot beam, or “LHD Plug Plus.”
■ New ship designs spanning a wide range of sizes
and capabilities.
Navy and Marine Corps leaders determined that the
first option was the most suitable choice based on cost,
capability and schedule.
The key change from the LHD 8 to the LHA 6
design is that the floodable well deck below the hangar
deck was eliminated to accommodate and support
greater numbers of Marine Corps aircraft.
“Removal of the well deck allows for an extended
hangar deck with two wider high-bay areas, each fitted
with an overhead crane for aircraft maintenance,”
according to Northrop Grumman.
“By eliminating the well deck, we were able to incorporate several aviation capability enhancements,” said
Michael Arnold, the LHA 6 program’s Navy acquisition
manager within the Program Executive Office for Ships.
“We enlarged the hangar deck, realigned and expanded
the aviation maintenance facilities, significantly
increased stowage for parts and support equipment [and
also] increased aviation fuel [and ordnance] capacity.”
As a result, LHA 6 will be able to accommodate up
to 23 F-35Bs or 28 MV-22s, or a mix of those aircraft
and helicopters.
“LHA 6 can carry an increased number of aircraft
compared to Wasp-class LHDs or can carry the same
load-out with increased operational flexibility,” Riedel
said. “A typical load-out of Marine Corps aircraft for
both ship types will include 12 MV-22s, four CH- 53
Sea Stallions, four AH- 1 Super Cobras, three UH- 1
Hueys and six F-35Bs. Because of the larger hangar …
LHA 6 will be able to embark up to four more F-35Bs
or MV-22s in an all-F- 35 or MV- 22 load-out.”
He added that the LHA 6’s better maintenance capabilities and increased fuel and ordnance storage capac-
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
The Navy ordered its first Amphibious Assault (LHA 6)
Ship (General Purpose) in June. Optimized to support
Marine aviation assets, such as the new MV- 22 Osprey
tiltrotor aircraft and planned F-35B Lightning II Joint
Strike Fighter, it creates an aircraft carrier specifically tailored for the Marine Corps.
ity “will support higher-tempo and sustained operations for a longer period than current LHDs.”
The ship also features a number of other capability
and efficiency improvements, according to Riedel.
“Its design has an innovative power and auxiliary
system that reduces fuel and manpower needs,” he
said. “LHA 6 will utilize a combined gas turbine and
electrical propulsion system, instead of the steam
propulsion system used in many of the currently serving amphibious warfare ships.”
The propulsion plant and electrical distribution systems to be used aboard LHA 6 will be the same as those
designed and built for LHD 8, he said. The entire
propulsion and electric system is controlled by a comprehensive machinery control system, which can
switch from gas turbine to electric propulsion on the
fly. It also controls and monitors damage control, ballast and de-ballast, fuel fill and auxiliary machinery.
The LHA 6 also will feature a reconfigurable command-and-control complex.
“LHA 6 will be multifunctional and versatile, modifying current command, control, communications,
computers and intelligence spaces to allow for adaptable mission-based electronic reconfiguration,” Riedel
said. “The class will have the flexibility to operate in
the traditional role as the flagship for an Expeditionary
Strike Group, as well as potentially playing a key role
in the maritime prepositioning force.”
“LHA 6 is the first of a new class of amphibious assault
ships designed to fully support the future Marine Corps
aircraft,” said Rear Adm. Chuck Goddard, Program
Executive Officer-Ships, in the June press release. “LHA 6
will bring additional capability to the fleet with its
improvements in aviation maintenance capability, magazine and aviation fuel capacity, and improved survivability
compared to previous amphibious assault ships.” ■
