USS America (LHA 6), the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced
amphibious assault ship, was commissioned during a formal ceremony at
Pier 30/32 dur ing San Francisco Fleet Week, Oct. 11. More than 8,000
friends, family members and invited guests gathered in front of the
ship to witness its introduction to the U.S. Navy fleet.
During the ceremony, Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet,
commended the crew for their performance during acceptance trials and
sailing around South America. He said because conflict and crisis can
arise at any time, warships like America will be needed as the nation
conducts its strategic rebalance to the Pacific. |
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America is the first ship of its class and the fourth
ship named "America." The first America was originally a racing
schooner launched in 1851 and served in the Navy until 1873 before returning
to civilian life. In 1921, she was presented to the Navy for preservation
as a relic and remained at the U.S. Naval Academy until being scrapped
in 1945. The second America transported troops during World War I. The
third ship to bear the name was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier,
CV 66, which supported operations from the Vietnam War through Operation
Desert Storm.
America weighs 44,971-tons, is 844 feet in length and has an overall
beam of 106 feet. It's equipped with a fuel-efficient, hybrid electric
propulsion system, the same built for USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which
is an energy initiative designed to give the ship the benefit of increased
range, endurance, and time on station, enhancing its combat capability.
It also provides greater flexibility in scheduling refueling and reduces
maintenance costs.
The ship is optimized for aviation and will be capable of supporting
current and future aircraft, such as the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and
F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. It was designed with additional aviation
spaces and provides increased aviation capacity, including an enlarged
hangar deck, the realignment and expansion of aviation maintenance facilities
which provide a significant increase in available stowage for parts
and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity.
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