2. Introduction
PCU America (LHA-6), the fourth American warship to be named for the United States of
America, will be the first of the America-class amphibious assault ships for the U.S. Navy.
As of 2014 she will be delivered in spring of 2014.
Her mission is to act as the flagship of an expeditionary strike, V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft,
supported by F-35B Lightning II aircraft and helicopter gunships.
The ship's design is based on USS Makin Island (LHD-8), but to allow more room for aviation
facilities she does not have a well deck, and has smaller medical spaces.
With a displacement of 45,000 tons, she is as large as the aircraft carriers of many other
nations, and can fulfil similar missions when configured with 20 F-35B strike fighters.
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5. Design
The design is based on the USS Makin Island (LHD-8), itself an improved version of the
Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.
Approximately 45% of the Flight 0 design is based on LHD-8, with the well deck
removed to allow more room for aircraft and aviation fuel.
The removal of the well deck for landing craft allows for an extended hangar deck
with two significantly wider high bay areas, each fitted with an overhead crane for
aircraft maintenance.
These changes were required in order to operate the F-35B and MV-22, which are
considerably larger than the aircraft they replace.
