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Old 9th Jul 2011, 04:12
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GreenKnight121
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: by the Great Salt Lake, USA
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Lets see... "11 decks".

8 Wasp-class LHDs*, all in commission.

1 Tarawa-class LHA** in commission.

I only count 9 right now, but in the future we will see:

at least 2 LHA(R) (one of which will replace the last Tarawa-class LHA in 2012), which brings us to 10... but more are planned, "up to 12" (to replace the LHDs as well).


I still don't see 11... and I expect that we will see 9-10 as the real sustained force.

However, 2 of those will be capable of that "22 F-35B" air-wing, and the Wasp-class LHDs are better suited for F-35B ops than the lone remaining Tarawa-class LHA.




* well, 7 to the original design with boilers and the 8th to a modified design using GTs instead.

** Of the 5 built, 1 was sunk as a target in 2006, 1 was sold for scrap in 2009, and 2 are decommissioned (1 in 2009 and designated for "other use" and the other in March 2011 and "in reserve").
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