What is the point of this ship? What can it do that previous

>>31051959
YOU DONT NEED ALL THAT DECK SPACE

BAN ASSAULT SHIPS

It's good for different roles, if you have one you can land anywhere. You can stage other landing forces thru it's resources. It can fly ASW helos.

>>31051959
>What can it do that previous assault ships couldn't?
Sail a deployment and not fall apart. The Tarawa, which it replaced, was commissioned in 1976.

File: F-35B STOVL take off landing.webm (3MB, 1280x720px) Image search: [Google]

3MB, 1280x720px

>>31051959
How well protected are these compared to a CBG? Tico & Burkes + Sub(s) or something less robust?

File: Esg_3.jpg (81KB, 800x640px) Image search: [Google]

81KB, 800x640px

>>31052997
ESGs might get 2 Burkes instead of 2 to 3, but they still get the Tico and at least one sub. Sometimes they travel with a CSG to save on escort resources, but generally they have their own assigned escorts. And ESG also includes other assault ships on top of the LHA/LHD.

Pic related is an old TO&E for ESG-3; the Saipan and the OHP have since been decommissioned, but it gives you an idea. Now the ESGs are named after their LHD/LHAs (ESG America, etc.). This is the main reason the USN keeps all 22 Ticos around (9 ESGs plus 10 CSGs plus a margin for detached SAGs and unforeseen drydock adventures) and thinks it needs more than 62 Burkes operational (2.5 Burkes * 19 ESG/CSGs = 47.5 MINIMUM Burkes, with none left over to swap out for drydock or have some for SAGs/detached duty) and is worried about how many SSNs it has (19 total are tied up with ESGs/CSGs, and the thirst for secret squirrel work and offensive anti-ship capability is huge).

>>31051959
>What can it do that previous assault ships couldn't?
One big thing no one gives a shit about is the diesel-electric power and propulsion system. The Wasp-class used steam turbines, the newer system provides numerous benefits.

>>31051959
>What can it do that previous assault ships couldn't?

Cost billions more than expected.

>>31051959
>It has NO FUCKING WELL DECK
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

>>31053099
Wait, we have a ship that is literally a 'ponce'?

Is its official theme song 'in the navy'?

>>31053863
Yup. It was also the first ship ever deployed with Directed Energy Weapon (LASER) CIWS for development testing. It tested it for an entire deployment.

File: 1449969533912.jpg (376KB, 2606x1749px) Image search: [Google]

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>>31053853

Seriously though.

What's up with that?

>>31053853
>>31053909
Air assault, CAS, strike, limited CAP, general rotary wing logistics are all much more prominent now than they were when the Tarawas were built. Think about Afghanistan, and what the Marines needed there. So they made the first two ships of this class (the remaining will all have well decks) as air assault/support specialists so one will always be available for inland operations if necessary. The F-35B also makes this decision much easier to make.

>>31053996
>The F-35B also makes this decision much easier to make.
And the Osprey, of course.

>>31051959
That is a very aesthetic boat.