Future of the U.S Amphibious & Auxiliary Fleet's

Always strategic for the U.S Fleet...

US AMPHIBIOUS FLEET
+/- 9 LHA/LHD
Up to 3 ? America
(America, others not yet named). 45 000+ tons, 257 meters. Commissioned by 2013+.

8 Wasp
(Wasp, Essex, Kearsage, Boxer, Bataan, Bonhomme Richard, Iwo Jima, Makin Island). 41 000/45 000 tons, 253 meters. Commissioned by 1989/2009, with probably +/- 30+ years of life expected, to be retired by 2019/2039.

The ageing USS Pelelieu (Tarawa class) will be retired soon, by 2012/2013

+/- 10 LPD
11 San Antonio
(San Antonio, New Orleans, Mesa Verde, Green Bay, New York, San Diego, Anchorage, Arlington, Somerset, John.P.Murtha, a last not yet named). 24 000+ tons, 208 meters. Commissioned by 2006/2013.

2 Austin (to be retired soon)
(Denver, Ponces). 9000/17 000 tons, 171 meters. Commissioned by 1968/1971, to be retired very soon, by 2012/2013 and replaced by the last San-Antonio LPD's.

12 (toward 9) LSD
4 Harpers Ferry
(Harpers Ferry, Carter Hall, Oak Hill, Pearl Harbor). 16 000+ tons, 186 meters. Commissioned by 1995/1998.

8 (toward 5) Whidbey Island
(Whidbey Island, Germantown, Fort McHenry, Gunston Hall, Comstock, Tortuga, Rushmore, Ashland). 16 000+ tons, 186 meters. Commissioned by 1985/1992. At least 3 LSD was expected to be prematurely retired from service (Whidbey-Island, Fort-McHenry, Tortuga) by FY-13/14.

Up to 10+ Joint High Speed Vessels
10+ Spearhead
(Spearhead, Choctaw County, Fortitude, Fall River, Resolute, others not yet named). 1500+ tons, 103 meters. To be commissioned by 2012+

Medium/Small Amphibious Crafts
60 to 72 LCAC(X) ?
Expected to replace the progressively ageing/worn-out 1980's-1990's LCAC by late 2010's/2020's

+/- 80 LCAC
(LCAC-01/91). 87/185 tons, 26 meters. Commissioned by 1984/2001. 74 crafts modernised by 2000/2015.

+/- 34 LCU-1600
(hull numbers between 1616-1681). 200/380 tons, 41+ meters. Commissioned by 1959/1987.

6 General Franck R Besson (large LCU, US Army manned)
(Gen Franck S Besson, Harold C Clinger, Gen Brehon B Somervell, Lt Gen William B Bunker, Gen Charles P Gross, James A Loux). 1600/4100 tons, 83+ meters. Commissioned by 1988/1995.

35 LCU-200 (US Army manned)
(LCU-2001/2035). 600/1100+ tons, 53 meters. Commissioned by 1990/1992.

8 LCVP

75 LCPL

72 LCM

US MARINES CORPS (200 000+)
Tanks: 403 M1-A1 Abrams
Recco: 252 LAV-25 Coyotte (included 50 in 81mm mortar version & 95 in TOW version)
Amphibious Armored Vehicles: 1311 AAV-7A1
Artillery (Towed): 331 M-101A1 (105mm); 595 M-198 (155mm); 356+ M-777 (155mm, to replace M-198).
Mortars: 535 M-252 (81mm)
Anti-Tanks Missiles: 1083 TOW; 1650 Predator
Recoiless Guns: 1650 SMAW (83mm); 1114 AT-4 (84mm)
Manpad: FIM-92A Stinger
UAV: 972+ 3D Max Dragon Eye; 100 BQM-147 Exdrone; Some RQ-11 Raven

US MARINES CORPS AVIATION (34 000+)
Aircrafts:
- 44 F/A-18 A Hornet
- 2 F/A-18 B Hornet
- 83 F/A-18 C Hornet
- 94 F/A-18 D Hornet
- 131 AV-8B Harrier II
- 29 EA-6B Prowler (AEW)
- 34 KC-130 J Hercules (tanker)
- 1 C-20 G Gulfstream IV (transport)
- 2 C-9B Nightingale (transport)
- 11 UC-12 B/F Huron (Utility)
- 7 UC-35 C/D Citation (Utility)
- 3 T-34C Turbo Mentor (training)
- 17 TAV-8B Harrier)

Helicopters:
- 139 AH-1 W Cobra
- 6+ AH-1Z Viper
- 5 HH-1N Iroquois (SAR)
- 4 HH-46E Sea Knight (SAR)
- 35 CH-53 D Sea Stallion
- 145 CH-53 E Sea Stallion
- 135 CH-46 E Sea Knight
- 8 VH-60 N (VIP)
- 76 UH-1N Iroquois (Utility)
- 9 UH-1Y Iroquois (Utility)
- 11 VH-3 D Sea King (VIP)
- Up to 360 MV-22 Osprey (planned)

UAV:
- 32 RQ-7B Shadow

US AUXILIARY FLEET & FORCES
14 Lewis & Clark (Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship)
(Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea, Alan Shepard, Richard E Byrd, Robert E Perry, Amelia Earhart, Carl Brashear, Wally Schirra, Matthew Perry, Charles Drew, Washington Chambers, William Mc Lean, Medgar Evers, Cesar Chavez). 23 000/40 000 tons, 210 meters. Commissioned by 2006/2013.

5 Kilauea (Ammunition Ship)
(Kilauea ???, Flint, Shasta, Mount Baker, Kiska). 10 000/20 000 tons, 171 meters. Commissioned by 1968/1972.

15 Henry J Kaiser (Fleet Replenishment Oilers)
(Henry J Kaiser, John Lenthall, Walter S Diehl, John Ericsson, Leroy Grumman, Kanawha, Pecos, Big Horn, Tippecanoe, Guadalupe, Patuxent, Yukon, Laramie, Rappanhannock, John Humphreys). 31 000/42 000 tons, 206 meters. Commissioned by 1986/1995.

2 Lyness (combat stores ships)
(Spica, Saturn). 10 000/16 000 tons, 159 meters (British late 1960's built). Transferred by early 1980's.

3 Mars (combat stores ships)
(Niagara Falls, Concord, San Jose). 9500/17 000 tons, 177 meters. Commissioned by 1992/1994.

1 Impeccable (ocean surveillance)
(Impeccable). 5300 tons, 85+ meters. Commissioned by 2000.

4 Victorious (ocean surveillance)
(Victorious, Able, Effective, Loyal). 3100/3300 tons, 70 meters. Commissioned by 1991/1993.

1 John Mc Donnell (coastal survey)
(John Mc Donnel). 1300/2200 tons, 63+ meters. Commissioned by 1991.

2 Mercy (hospital ship)
(Mercy, Comfort). 24 000/67 000 tons, 272 meters. Commissioned by 1987.

US CHARTERED MARITIME PREPOSITIONING SHIPS
1 Wheat
(LCPL Roy M Wheat). 50 000 tons, 263 meters (1980's built). Transferred by 2001.

1 Pisenbarger
(A1C Wiliam H Pitsenbarger). 40 000 tons, 189 meters (1980's built). Transferred by 2001.

2 T-AKR
(LTC John U D Page). 74 000+ tons, 289 meters (mid 1980's built). Transferred by 2001.

1 Sea Wolf
((Maj Bernard Fisher). 44 000 tons, 198 meters (1980's built). Chartered by 1999.

1 Neptun 900
(American Tern). 17 300 tons, 158 meters (1990 built). Chartered by 2002.

1 AK
(Capt Steven L Bennet). 59 000 tons, 209 meters (mid 1980's built). Chartered by 1997.

1 St Lt Harry L Martin
(St Lt Harry L Martin). 51 000+ tons, 229 meters (late 1970's built). Chartered by mid 1990's.

1 TSgt John A Chapman
(TSgt John A Chapman). 40 000+ tons, 204 meters (late 1970's built). Chartered by 2002.

5 Lt John P Bobo
(Lt John P Bobo, Dewayne T Williams, Lt Baldomero Lopez, Lt Jack Lummus, Sgt William R Button). 19 000/41 000 tons, 205 meters. Commissioned by 1985/1986.

5 Cpl Louis J Hauge/Jr
(Cpl Louis J Hauge, Pfc William B Baugh, Pfc James Anderson, 1st Lt Alex Bonnyman, Pvt Franklin S Philips). 23 000/49 000 tons, 230 meters. Chartered by mid 1980's

3 Sgt Matej Kocak
(Sgt Matej Kocak, Pfc Eugene A Obregon, Maj Stephen W Pless). 19 000/51 000 tons, 250 meters. Chartered by mid 1980's.

1 Baffin Strait
(Baffin Strait). 7400 tons, 100+ meters (mid 1990's built). Chartered by 2005.

2 Wright (aviation logistic support ships)
(Wright, Curtiss). 12 000/23 000 tons, 183+ meters (1970 built). Converted by 1986/1987.

8 SL-7 fast sealift ships
(Algol, Bellatrix, Denebola, Pollux, Altair, Regulus, Capella, Antares). 29 000/55 000 tons, 288 meters (1970's built). Converted by 1984/1986.

1 T-1 coastal transport tanker
(Montauk). 7000 tons, 109 meters (1999 built). Chartered by 2000

4 Supply (fast combat support ships)
(Supply, Rainier, Artic, Bridge). 20 000/50 000 tons, 229 meters. Commissioned by 1994/1998.

4 Paul Buck transport tankers
(Paul Buck, Samuel L Cobb, Richard G Matthiesen, Lawrence H Gianella). 9000/39 000 tons, 187 meters (1980's built). Commissioned by 1985/1986.

1 TSV-101 (theater logistic Vessel)
(Westpac Express). 101 meters. Chartered by 2001.

2 Samuel Gompers (destroyers tenders)
(Puget Sound, Acadia). 14 000/20 000 tons, 196+ meters. Commissioned by 1968/1981.

1 Zeus (cable ship)
(Zeus). 9000/14 000 tons, 153 meters. Commissioned by 1984.

4 Safeguard (salvage ships)
(Safeguard, Grasp, Salvor, Grapple). 2400+ tons, 77+ meters. Commissioned by 1985/1986.

1 Kellie Chouest (deep submergence rescue tender)
(Kellie Chouest). 1500+ tons, 94 meters. Commissioned/Chartered by 1996.

Harbor & Miscelanous Crafts

Hundreds of Floatting dock, floatting crane, personnal launch, rescue boats, utility boats, barracks barge, oil barges, target rafts & so...

READY RESERVE FORCE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Few Cape class
14 000/33 000+ tons, 208 meters.

5 Tombarra (Ro-Ro vehicle cargo)
(Cape Ducato, Cape Douglas, Cape Domingo, Cape Decision, Cape Diamond). 13 000/34 000 tons, 207 meters. Transferred by 1985.

1 Parralla (Ro-Ro vehicle cargo)
(Cape Edmont). 12 000/32 000 tons, 199 meters. Transferred by 1987.

1 Admiral Wm M Callaghan (vehicle cargo)
(Admiral Wm M Callaghan). 13 000/26 000 tons, 211 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1987.

1 Meteor (vehicle cargo)
(Meteor). 9000/21 000 tons, 164 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1985.

1 Comet (vehicle cargo)
(Comet). 7600/18 000 tons, 152 meters (1950's built). Transferred by 1985.

2 C6SMA60d (crane ship)
(Green Mountain State, Beaver State). 11 000/27 000 tons, 193 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1992/1997.

2 C6SMA1xb (crane ship)
(Diamond State, Equality State). 15 000/25 000 tons, 203 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1989.

3 C5S73C (crane ship)
(Gopher State, Flickertail State, Cornhusker State). 15 000/25 000 tons, 185 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1987/1988.

Some Cape Farewell
Uncertain data ?

2 C5S75a (cargo ship)
(Cape Girardeau, Cape Gibson). 9000+/31 000 tons, 184 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1988.

1 C4S1u (cargo ship)
(Cape Jacob). 9000+/22 000 tons, 172 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1980.

2 Chesapeake (tankers)
(Petersburg, Chesapeake). 48 000/65 000 tons, 224 meters (1960's built). Transferred by 1991/1994.

4 Powhatan (Fleet Ocean Tugs)
(Catawba, Navajo, Sioux, Apache). 1300/2200 tons, 69 meters. Commissioned by 1980/1981.

1 Hayes (Acoustic Survey Ships)
(Hayes).

2 Blue Ridge (Command Ship)
(Blue Ridge, Mount Whitney). 18 500+ tons, 190 meters (modified late 1950's LPH hull). Commissioned by 1970/1971, likely to remain in service until late 2020's.

Missile Instrumentation ships
(Invinvible, Howard O Lorenzen).

1 Observation island (Missile Instrumentation ships)
(Observation island). 17 000 tons, 172 meters. Commissioned by 1958.

1 Waters (Navigation test suport ships)
(Waters). 12 200 tons, 139 meters. Commissioned by 1993.

2 Emory S Land (Submarine Tenders)
(Emory S L and, Frank Cable). 9000/ 22 000 tons, 198 meters. Commossioned by 1979.

Survey Ships
(John McDonnel)

7 Pathfinder (Survey Ships)
(Pathfinder, Sumner, Bowditch, Henson, Bruce C Heezen, Mary Sears, Maury). 4700 tons, 100+ meters (the 7th ship "Maury" is a enlarged model). Commissioned by 1994/2012.

I apologize for this "incomplete" review, but I ran out of time to fully achieve it. It will be completed as soon as possible (likely by...late 2012 ...).

Next Fleet Review: Future of the Russian Navy (part 1: combattants ships)...please to be patient...