[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence video] US Amphibious Assault Ships Gathering in the Pacific

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The US Navy's latest amphibious assault ship, the America (LHA-6), replaces the guided missile destroyer Stethem (DDG 63) and the amphibious assault ship Wasp (LHD 1), which were deployed at Sasebo Port in Japan.

Commissioned in 2014, the America is the US Navy's newest amphibious assault ship, measuring 257 meters in length with a full load displacement of 45,000 tons, comparable to a medium-sized aircraft carrier. It notably carries a large number of the US Marine Corps' latest stealth vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the F-35B.

In 2017, the US Navy also commissioned the America-class amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA-7). Although Tripoli is the second ship of the America class delivered to the Navy, it is the first specially designed to enable Marine combat forces to conduct effective operations in future amphibious warfare environments in conjunction with the F-35B.

The Tripoli measures three times the width of a soccer field, 257 meters in length, and about 20 stories high, rivaling medium-sized aircraft carriers. With a construction cost exceeding $3 billion (3.4 trillion won), Tripoli typically carries nine F-35B fighters but can accommodate up to 20 by expanding space. It also transports two battalion-sized units of infantry, artillery, armor, and special forces, along with MV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft (12 units) and CH-53E Super Stallion medium helicopters (4 units) for long-range transport and rapid deployment.

For ground force fire support, it carries four AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, which have performance comparable to the AH-64 Apache. The Viper is equipped with 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles and third-generation thermal imaging systems, enabling long-range engagements. To rescue pilots or Marines isolated at sea or on land, two MH-60S search and rescue helicopters are also onboard. Its defense systems include RIM-116 RAM fleet air defense missiles and 20mm Phalanx CIWS.

Recently, the US Navy has additionally deployed an amphibious assault ship, a transport dock ship (LPD), and a dock landing ship (LSD) ? three ships forming the core of a naval task force ? along with about 2,200 Marines, totaling approximately 5,000 personnel in an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) to the Pacific region. Since operating the first ship, America (LHA-6), from April 2014, the US Navy plans to possess a total of 11 amphibious assault ships within the next 20 years, significantly enhancing its maritime projection capabilities to respond to conflicts on the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, the Mediterranean, and other areas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.