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Naval
Forces News - USA |
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U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics contract for MLP 3 Afloat Forward
Staging Base |
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The
U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $128.5 million contract
for the detail design and construction of the Mobile Landing Platform
(MLP) 3 Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). NASSCO is a business unit
of General Dynamics. |
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The Military Sealift Command mobile landing platform ship USNS Montford
Point (MLP 1)
(U.S. Navy photo)
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Under the terms of the contract, NASSCO will provide the detail design
and construction efforts to convert the MLP 3 to an AFSB variant. The
work will be performed at NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard and scheduled
to be completed by October 2015.
The MLP class of modular, flexible ships belongs to MSC's Maritime Prepositioning
Force as a mobile sea-base option that provides our Navy fleet with
critical afloat capability, supporting the flexible deployment of forces
and supplies. Contract mariners will operate and navigate the MLP ships
on behalf of the Navy and Marine Corps. |
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An artist concept of a mobile landing platform (MLP) ship in Afloat
Forward Staging Base (AFSB) configuration
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MLP-3 is the first ship of the class to be configured as an Afloat Forward
Staging Base (AFSB). Delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of
2015.
The MLP AFSB is a flexible platform and a key element in the Navy’s
large-scale airborne mine countermeasure mission. The ship is designed
to facilitate a wide variety of future mission sets in support of special
operations. With accommodations for 250 personnel and a huge helicopter
flight deck, the MLP AFSB will provide a highly capable and affordable
asset to the Navy and Marine Corps. |
