Amphibious Assault Ship Tripoli (LHA 7) Sails Away to Join the US Navy

The US Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), departed from Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding facility Friday to join the US Navy to its homeport in San Diego.

America-class large-deck amphibious warships are designed to enhance Marine Corps aviation, capable of supporting the tilt-rotor MV-22 and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

The ship underwent flight deck modifications to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft provide an increased aviation capacity.

Tripoli will be the flagship of an Amphibious Ready Group, strategically positioning Marine Expeditionary Units ashore across a full spectrum of missions including disaster relief, maritime security, antipiracy and other operations while providing air support for ground forces.

Tripoli is designed for survivability with increased aviation capacity, including an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity. Similar to its predecessors, the ship will be able to operate as the flagship for an expeditionary strike group.

The third ship in the America class, Bougainville (LHA 8), is currently under construction at the shipyard and will be the 16th large-deck amphibious ship built at Ingalls.