The America-class amphibious assault ship future USS Tripoli (LHA-7) successfully finished builder’s trials on July 19, shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] and the Navy said Monday.
During the four-day trials, the Navy assessed the ship’s operational readiness during dock trials at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and 200 at-sea test events in the Gulf of Mexico.
HII said the at-sea portion tested main propulsion, combat and other systems.
Tripoli is the second ship in the America-class and last Flight 0 vessel. The Navy noted it features an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, an increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity
LHA-7 will be 844 feet long, have a displacement of about 45,000 long tons, and travel at over 20 knots.
Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias congratulated the HII-Navy team “for a solid LHA 7 builder’s trials.”
He said the HII team will prepare the ship for acceptance trials and delivery to the Navy. He underscored that “flight deck modifications to support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft provide an increased aviation capacity and demonstrate how an experienced team can evolve the platform to meet the current threats across the globe.”
HII is currently building the future Bougainville (LHA-8), which will be the first Flight I ship and will reincorporate a well deck.