The Aviation Magazine Volume 6, Issue 4, May 2015 Special Edition | Page 6
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USS America, the newest and most technologically advanced amphibious assault ship in the fleet, was com‐
missioned during a formal ceremony on October 11, 2014 at San Francisco’s Pier 30/32 during the city’s an‐
nual Fleet Week.
It is the fourth Navy ship to carry the name America, but it is the first in its class, replacing the Tarawa‐class
of amphibious assault ships. LHA 6 is a Landing Helicopter Assault ship optimized for aviation and will be
able to accommodate a variety of aircraft ranging from current rotorcraft such as the AH‐1Z Super Cobra
and MV‐22 Osprey to the newest addition to the Marine’s STOVL (Short Take‐Off, Vertical Landing) jet in‐
ventory, the F‐35B Lightning II. The ship is distinctive in that it lacks a “well deck,” the area at the rear of am‐
phibious assault ships which can be flooded to allow landing craft such as the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cush‐
ion) to dock. Instead, the space is devoted to sustaining increased aviation operations: much larger hangar
space, double the aviation fuel capacity and increased room for ordnance. Both the MV‐22 Osprey and the
F‐35B Lightning II are much larger and much more complex than the aircraft which they replace (the CH‐46
Sea Knight and AV‐8B Harrier II, respectively), requiring more hangar space and maintenance capacity to
keep them up and operating.
The ship recently completed its maiden transit, “America Visits the Americas,” during which the crew en‐
gaged in cooperative maritime security operations with Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Uruguay, Trinidad and To‐
bago, Chile, El Salvador, and Peru. The two‐month operation was designed to maintain access, enhance in‐
teroperability and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security. The ship’s motto “Bello vel pace
paratus” (“Ready for War or Peace”) echoes its dual role as both warship and provider of humanitarian assis‐
tance during times of crisis or natural disaster.
USS America, in her home port at San Diego, California.
Prior to the commissioning, members of the media were invited on board to tour the ship. Capt. Robert A.
Hall Jr., commanding officer of USS America, addressed reporters and journalists and answered their ques‐
tions.
The exact composition of the ͡