The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding a $324.4 million contract to definitize the long lead time material and to award the detail, design and construction of Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) 5.
NASSCO received a $106 million contract in June this year to procure long lead time material and engineering support for ESB 5
Previously known as the Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base program, Expeditionary Mobile Base is a ship that provides logistics movement from sea to shore supporting military operations.
The ESB will provide a flight deck and expansive reconfigurable mission deck; military personnel accommodations; small craft launch and recovery capabilities; and command, control, communication, computer and intelligence for communication and computer equipment across multiple networks and architectures.
The 239.3-meter-long ESD/ESB ships were based on an existing commercial design – the Alaska class crude oil carrier built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO).
The shipbuilder has delivered three ships in the class to the Navy: USNS Montford Point (ESD 1), USNS John Glenn (ESD 2) and USNS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 1) so far.
Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) ships USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn are configured with the core capability set which consists of add-on modules that support a vehicle staging area, vehicle transfer ramp, large mooring fenders and up to three LCAC vessel lanes to support its core transfer requirements.
USNS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) is the first Expeditionary Mobile Base, and along with follow-on ships, ESB 4 and ESB 5, will be optimized to support a variety of maritime based missions.