Wish it was going to be the new CVAN, but at least the name America will rejoin the fleet.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

No. 550-08
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2008



Navy Names New Amphibious Assault Ship America

In-Depth Coverage


The Navy's newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ship, LHA 6, will bear the name USS America, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced while speaking at the USS America Carrier Veterans Association reunion in Jacksonville, Fla.

This ship will inherit a proud tradition, explained Winter. From the American Revolution through the first Gulf War, three warships have sailed with the name America.

"To serve in a ship named after our country adds to the pride one feels in being part of the Navy, and adds to the feeling that when America pulls into port, there is no more powerful symbol of the power, the ideals, and the greatness of the United States of America," said Winter.

LHA 6 will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name America. The first America, a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, was the first built for use by the Continental Navy. However, before having a chance to serve the fledgling U.S. Navy, the ship was presented as a gift to the king of France to show appreciation for his country's service to the new nation.

The second USS America (ID-3006) was later the name given to a troop transport used during World War I. The third was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier (CV 66) in commission from 1965 to 1996. Among other notable accomplishments, the carrier America made three deployments to Vietnam and launched air strikes on Iraq during the opening days of Operation Desert Storm.

The newest America will provide presence and power projection as an integral part of joint and multinational maritime expeditionary forces. The ship will support Marine Corps aviation requirements across a wide spectrum of operations, from small-scale contingency operations as the centerpiece of a forward-deployed expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in a major theater war.

LHA 6 will replace the aging Tarawa-class and represents a conscious decision to increase the aviation capacity of future big deck amphibious ships in order to maximize the Navy's investment in future aircraft.

LHA 6 will have an extended hangar deck with two higher hangar bay areas, each fitted with an overhead crane for aircraft maintenance. LHA 6 will also provide increased aviation fuel capacity, stowage for aviation parts and support equipment. LHA 6 will be able to embark and launch the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, cargo and attack helicopters, the AV-8B Harrier and the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant F-35B Lightning II Strike Fighter.

Winter explained the importance of the new America-class amphibious assault ship and the tremendous capability she will bring to the fleet.

"USS America is a wise investment in our nation's security," Winter said, "It will be a ship worthy of her illustrious namesake, and it will continue America's long tradition of peace through strength."

Winter also announced that the sponsor of the ship will be Lynne Pace, wife of former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace.

America is currently under contract at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2012.

For more information on amphibious assault ships, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=400&ct=4 . http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=12030

I too wish it was on a CV but it's still a good sized ship.

I miss the days when carriers were named after former famous ships and battles.

The long line of large carriers. A little out of date.
http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/cvcvn.htm

ALL
Great to hear that America is on the side of a grey painted hulk.
We need lots more good old names on our USN ships. Independence, Constitution, etc.
end

quote:

Originally posted by TennSlim:
ALL
Great to hear that America is on the side of a grey painted hulk.
We need lots more good old names on our USN ships. Independence, Constitution, etc.
end

The name U.S.S. FORRESTAL on the stern of a gray hulled vessel wouldn't be bad either...
I served on both ships, America and Forrestal...
Miss 'em both...
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

I made 2 cruises on the Saratoga with VF-74 and the Sunliners were there both times.

quote:

Originally posted by TennSlim:
ALL
Great to hear that America is on the side of a grey painted hulk.
We need lots more good old names on our USN ships. Independence, Constitution, etc.
end

Don't worry your wish for a new Independence is HERE.

I just wish she was a part of the new CVN-78 class.

Constitution won't happen until they decommission Old Ironsides..

From another old Independence sailor, WOW! That is some new ship!!!!!!

I know there's a good deal of controversy over some of the names that are given to our ships... I'm not so sure that Forrestal was a good choice to begin with, and can't think why a second ship should be named after him

ALL
With the Decomm of the Hawk, this will be the end of an era. No more CVs that are NON Nuclear powered. In an era of Big Oil costs, environmental concerns, and general Anti-Dod stuff, can this be good. Nuclear waste continues to be a problem, re: to storage. Noted an article about a "Leak over many inport visits on one of the Subs." Not verified, of course, but just one point.
We tried Nuclear Ship Plants with the Savannah? a fast transport vessel early on in Adm Rickovers' tenure, and this did not work well.
Point is, should we continue to just build CVs with Nuclear Plants, or maybe return to simpler, but less risky power plants?
end

AFLogDog, Forrestal was a good man. He did alot for the Armed Forces while in office. There was a big controversy involving him and some data concerning UFOs, which included Rosswell. Suddenly the man is unbalanced and committed to a mental ward. Where he committs sucuide? All the pertinent facts concerning him and a Missouri native president have been suppressed.
But just in the last few years more questions have raised about this situation and slowly facts are coming out.
I believe the man found out things he wasn't supposed to know and threatened to go public.
Was he pushed or thrown out the window?