America is more than halfway through its post-shakedown
availability period (PSA) in which the ship's crew and contractors make
improvements to the ship's design. About 20 percent of the work being
performed is the normal maintenance associated with PSAs for newly constructed
ships. The rest of the maintenance consists of the upgrades designed
to support the JSF.
"When this ship was built, Joint Strike Fighter testing was
underway, most recently on the USS Wasp based on the East Coast at
the time," said America's Commanding Officer Capt. Michael W.
Baze. "The lessons learned during the Wasp testing periods, lessons
about the long-term sustainability of our ship flight decks during
JSF operations as compared with the legacy AV-8B Harrier, are being
incorporated into America's design. These changes will become a part
of subsequent LHA/LHDs moving forward, for example our follow-on LHA
ship the Tripoli; currently in construction."
The new thermal coatings will allow America, and subsequent ships
of the class, to handle the new JSF's thrust and reduce heat sent
to decks below allowing for longer time between deck maintenance.
"The beauty of the thermal spray is it is designed to wear a
lot better under these types of conditions," said Baze. "The
con of thermion is it does costs a little more than the traditional
non-skid we use in other parts of the ship that do not have to support
Joint Strike Fighter landings."
"As Marine Corps plankowners of America, we are all excited
about the improvements being made to America in support of the Joint
Strike Fighter," said U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer
4 Shane Duhe, America's mobility Combat Cargo Officer. "This
is because we will become one of the first ships to have the Joint
Strike Fighter with us in an operational environment. What this is
going to do for all of us, with the Navy-Marine Corps team, is it's
going to greatly increase the strike capability that Marine air-ground
task forces bring to the fight."
The America-class amphibious assault ships have the largest aviation
support spaces of all amphibious warships, and are therefore capable
of supporting the most advance Marine Corps aircraft, soon to include
the JSF.
"All the extra aviation volume and space translates into our
ability to stay on station longer, support what we call 'faster sortie
accomplishment rate' in aviation terms," said Baze. "That's
how fast and how often we can launch aircraft off this ship and keep
them flying."
America is currently moored at Naval Base San Diego and scheduled
to be in PSA until early next year. Every new ship conducts a PSA
that is designed to harness results of a thorough test and evaluation
period and pave the way to operational employment.
