As for the F-35B’s place in the Navy. Work said the service remains committed to
the massive fleet planned for the F-35B to go along with the doubling the number
of aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy.
“Because of [the F-35B] we’re
going from 11 aircraft carriers to 22,” Work said."
Typical pol, playing fast and loose with terminology.
The American Navy typically assigns the term "Amphibious Assault Ship" to what other countries call "helicopter carriers" whereas an 'Aircraft Carrier" has to be able to launch and recover jets that don't hover.
Tarawa class (LHA)
USS Tarawa (LHA-1) [I]
USS Saipan (LHA-2) [I]
USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) [I]
USS Nassau (LHA-4) [I]
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) [A]
America class (soon to be on line)
USS America (LHA-6) [P] **
USS Tripoli (LHA-7)
Amphibious Assault Ships (LHD)
USS Wasp (LHD-1) [A]
USS Essex (LHD-2) [A]
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) [A]
USS Boxer (LHD-4) [A]
USS Bataan (LHD-5) [A]
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) [A]
USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) [A]
USS Makin Island (LHD-8) [A]
** = Ages ago, I served on CV-66, USS America. I am disappointed that a CVN was not named America as the new ones were being put together ... grrrrrrrrr
Anyhoo, the civ noisemaker in question attempts to claim a non Cat and Trap aircraft carrier as an aircraft carrier.
In the USN, it just ain't so.