Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7) to the US Navy on February 28.
Tripoli, the navy’s newest America-class unit, will be commissioned later this year before sailing to its homeport of San Diego, California.
“The LHA team is proud to witness the delivery of the 15th large-deck amphibious ship built at Ingalls,” Bryan Williams, LHA 7 program manager, said.
Tripoli is the third ship to bear the name that commemorates the capture of Derna in 1805 by a small force of Marines and nearly 370 soldiers from 11 other nations. The battle brought about a successful conclusion to the combined operations of the First Barbary War.
Ingalls is currently the sole builder of large-deck amphibious ships for the US Navy. America-class ships are designed to enhance Marine Corps aviation, capable of supporting the tilt-rotor MV-22 and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.
When Tripoli enters the fleet, it will be the flagship of an Amphibious Ready Group, strategically positioning Marine Expeditionary Units ashore across a full spectrum of missions, including humanitarian, disaster relief, maritime security, antipiracy and other operations while providing air support for ground forces.
Related:
Amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7) passes US Navy trials