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Newsweek
6 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
US Sends Amphibious Warship to Pacific Front Line
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States amphibious warship capable of projecting military power from sea to shore has begun its transit to Japan—the U.S.'s ally in Northeast Asia—for forward deployment. The deployment of USS Tripoli—an America-class amphibious assault ship—demonstrates Washington's commitment to the defense of Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Monday. It added, "The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships." Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense and Foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters According to the U.S. Navy, amphibious warships are "capable of sailing in harm's way" and enabling rapid combat power buildup ashore in the face of opposition. The Tripoli and other U.S. amphibious assault ships resemble small aircraft carriers, as they can carry fighter jets. China, which challenges the U.S.'s naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean with the world's largest navy by hull count, has been rapidly building its own amphibious force for a potential island-landing campaign across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Japan, which hosts 55,000 U.S. military personnel, is part of the first island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—under the U.S.'s maritime containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean through U.S.-aligned territories. What To Know The Tripoli departed Naval Base San Diego in California on May 19 to forward-deploy to Sasebo in Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced, adding that the deployment was part of a "scheduled rotation" of forces in the region, as the Tripoli would replace its sister ship, USS America. Photos taken by ship spotters show that the Tripoli arrived in Seal Beach—located north of San Diego—the following day, where it stayed for over a week before departing on May 29. Captain Eddie Park, who has served as the Tripoli's commanding officer since mid-April, said the warship was ready to defend U.S. interests and strengthen the U.S.-Japan partnership. His deputy, Captain Patrick Sullivan, described the U.S.-Japan relationship as "vital." The United States Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli transiting San Diego Bay in California on May 19. The United States Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli transiting San Diego Bay in California on May 19. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sara L. Eshleman The forward presence of the Tripoli in Japan enhances U.S. national security and strengthens its ability to protect strategic interests, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a news release. Meanwhile, officially released photos show the America—set to change its home port from Sasebo to San Diego—operating in the Philippine Sea as of Tuesday. The warship was seen conducting missile loading and flight operations with F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets. What People Are Saying Captain Eddie Park, the commanding officer of USS Tripoli, said in a news release: "I am extremely proud to lead this hard-working and motivated team of Sailors and Marines overseas to support security, stability and prosperity in this vital region." Captain Patrick Sullivan, the executive officer of USS Tripoli, said: "I'm honored and excited to return as the XO of such a highly capable warship to honor our nation's security commitment to Japan." What Happens Next It is unclear whether the Tripoli and the America will have an opportunity to conduct joint operations in the western Pacific Ocean before reaching their respective new home ports.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Stealth Jet Carrier Patrols Waters Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An American amphibious warship—capable of carrying stealth fighter aircraft—has been patrolling the East China Sea, where Japan, a United States ally, has territorial disputes with China. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Ministry of Defense for comment via email. Why It Matters The East China Sea lies to the west of the First Island Chain—formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. This defensive line, conceived as part of a U.S. containment strategy, aims to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean by using U.S.-aligned territories. Japan has accused China of constructing a structure in the East China Sea for potential fossil fuel production, violating an unimplemented agreement. Meanwhile, China has claimed Japan's Senkaku Islands in the region—also known as the Diaoyu Islands—as its territory. What To Know According to photos released by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious assault ship USS America—homeported in Sasebo, Japan—conducted flight operations with a group of F-35B stealth fighter jets while underway at an undisclosed location in the East China Sea on Tuesday. An amphibious warship is a vessel designed to transport and deploy troops, vehicles, and equipment from the sea to land during amphibious operations. Two United States Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America in the East China Sea on May 20, 2025. Two United States Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America in the East China Sea on May 20, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sam McNeely/U.S. Navy The America, with a full displacement of about 45,000 tons, was spotted departing Sasebo the previous day. It arrived in the Philippine Sea—located to the east of the First Island Chain—on Wednesday and continued to support flight operations of U.S. Marine Corps fighter jets. It was not immediately clear whether this will be the America's final deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean prior to its planned homeport shift to San Diego in California. The warship is scheduled to be replaced by its sister ship, the San Diego-based USS Tripoli. Meanwhile, the Tripoli left its home port on Monday and arrived at Seal Beach—located north of San Diego—the following day. The U.S. Navy has yet to announce the official departure dates for either of the two amphibious warships from their respective home ports. USS Tripoli (LHA 7) America-class amphibious assault ship coming into Seal Beach, California - May 20, 2025 SRC: TW-@BulletOneOneTwo — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) May 20, 2025 The rotation of U.S. amphibious warships comes amid an expansion of China's amphibious fleet in support of potential island-landing operations in contested waters such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. A flotilla of five Chinese naval vessels—including a Type 075 amphibious assault ship—was observed by the Japan Self-Defense Forces last week transiting the Miyako Strait in Japan's southwestern waters, moving from the East China Sea into the Philippine Sea. What People Are Saying The public affairs office of the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS America said: "America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet area of operations. U.S. [Seventh] Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region." The U.S. Pacific Fleet previously said: "The forward presence of [USS] Tripoli supports the United States' commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests. Tripoli will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region." What Happens Next It remains uncertain whether the America will enter the South China Sea, where China's sweeping sovereignty claims overlap with those of several neighboring countries.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Look Back: West Side Catholic basketball standout killed during the Vietnam War
May 18—At 12, Bernard Francis Rupinski was named to the Edwardsville Little League All-Star team that won the district championship in August 1955. As a student at West Side Central Catholic High School, Rupinski was known as one of the best male dancers and a standout on the basketball court, being named to the first team of the Catholic League Central Division his senior season in 1961. After high school, Rupinski attended King's College where he was also a standout on the college's basketball team. Following college graduation, Rupinski became a Naval Aviator, commissioned a lieutenant and flew as a Navy Flight Intercept Officer on the F-4 Phantom jet, stationed on the USS America during the Vietnam War. Lt. Rupinski and pilot Lt. Walter E. Wilber were shot down over North Vietnam on June 16, 1968. While Wilber survived and was taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese, the body of Rupinski has never been found and is listed by the U.S. Defense Department as killed-in action. "On June 16, 1968, a F-4 Phantom with a crew of two was the lead aircraft in a flight of two on a combat air patrol mission over the Gulf of Tonkin. The flight was directed inland to repel enemy aircraft reported to be south of the 19th parallel and encountered enemy MiGs over Nghe An Province, North Vietnam. During the ensuing combat, a MiG-21 fighter fired a missile which hit the Phantom in the fuselage, causing it to explode and crash. The pilot ejected, parachuted to the ground and was captured by enemy forces. The second crew member was not seen to eject and is believed to have died in the crash," according to an article on the U.S. Defense Department's POW/MIA Accounting Agency's website. Rupinski was only 24 when killed and had been in Vietnam for more than one month. Prior to being deployed, Rupinski and his wife, a native of Norway, were living in Virginia Beach, Va., and had a daughter, Michelle. Nearly four years after being shot down, the U.S. Defense Department listed Rupinski, "killed from hostile action," according to a story in the Times Leader Evening News on May 25, 1972. "Fragments of information collected from escaped and a small number of released POWs along with Navy intelligence revealed Bernie had apparently catapulted from the aircraft but never had been reported on the ground," the Evening News reported. Rupinski's name along with 81 other veterans from Luzerne County killed during the Vietnam War are listed on the Vietnam Memorial on the south lawn of the Luzerne County Courthouse, which was dedicated on Feb. 21, 1988.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The USS Tripoli, the Navy's newest F-35 'lightning carrier,' is headed to the Indo-Pacific, bolstering US air power near China
The US Navy forward-deployed the USS Tripoli to the Indo-Pacific to counter China. It replaces USS America as the Navy's amphibious assault ship based in Japan. The Tripoli played a central role in the F-35B 'lightning carrier' concept. The US Navy is stationing its new "lightning carrier" in the Indo-Pacific to counter China's growing military influence. America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli will replace the first-in-class USS America at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, as the forward-deployed amphibious flattop in the region. Both the Tripoli and the America operate as mini flattops, carrying fixed-wing and rotary aircraft flown by Marine and Navy aviators, such as MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors, MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters, and F-35B stealth jets. The Tripoli has been central to the Navy's experimental "lightning carrier" concept, demonstrating its flexibility to fulfill some of the missions of the much larger carrier air wings on aircraft carriers. During its maiden deployment in 2022, the Tripoli carried 20 F-35B stealth fighters on board — the most F-35B jump-jets ever aboard a big-deck amphibious ship. Named after the first recorded land battle fought by the US overseas In May 2012, Huntington Ingalls Industries was awarded the contract to build USS Tripoli, and the warship launched five years later in 2017 from Pascagoula, Mississippi. It is the third vessel to bear the Tripoli name, a tribute to the first recorded land battle the US fought overseas when Marines landed on Tripoli's shores in 1805. Initially planned to join the Navy's fleet a year behind schedule in 2019, the Tripoli's commissioning was pushed to 2020 due to "unspecified technical difficulties" and delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Second-in-class assault ship The Tripoli is the second America-class amphibious assault ship delivered to the US Navy. The 45,000-ton vessel measures 844 feet in length and 106 feet in width, similar in size to its predecessor, the Wasp-class amphibious warships. Powered by two marine gas turbines, the warship has a speed of 22 knots or about 25 mph. The assault carrier is armed with surface-to-air missile systems, two automated gun-based close-in weapon systems, and seven heavy twin machine guns. Prioritizing aviation capabilities The America-class fleet was designed to prioritize aviation capabilities and lacks a well deck to launch amphibious craft. In its place, the assault carriers have an extended hangar deck and wider high bay areas, which allow more room for aircraft and aviation fuel. The ships also have two aircraft elevators and additional space for aviation maintenance facilities. The Tripoli's flight deck can accommodate up to nine CH-53K King Stallion heavy transport helicopters flown by Marines. In a standard configuration, the Tripoli can carry up to 10 F-35B fighters, 12 Ospreys, and 16 military helicopters. Amphibious warships typically operate as helicopter carriers designed to support near-shore operations. The America-class vessels, however, were modified with a more durable, heat-resistant flight deck to launch F-35B stealth fighters. The 'Lightning carrier' concept Taking its aviation capabilities even further, the US Navy used the Tripoli to test the "lightning carrier" concept, tasking the amphibious assault ship to function as a full-fledged carrier. In 2022, the Tripoli departed its homeport in San Diego for the Western Pacific, spending the first few months of its seven-month maiden deployment putting the experimental concept to the test. The assault carrier carried 20 F-35B stealth fighters on board — the most ever loaded aboard a big-deck warship. "We refer to the ship as 'assault carrier 7,' and 'assault' is traditional for an LHD and LHA," Capt. Joel Lang, then-commander of the Tripoli, told reporters at the time. "Typically, the air combat element is a blend of rotary and tilt-rotor in order to enable that assault force to go ashore. We are proving the tactics and the techniques and the procedures to employ the 'lightning carrier' concept." Produced by US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the fighter jet has a stealth design to vastly reduce its ability to be tracked by radar and is touted as one of the world's most advanced fighters. The F-35B variant has a powerful propulsion system that gives it the unique capability of vertical takeoff and landing. Developed by Rolls-Royce, the lift fan delivers an additional 20,000 pounds of thrust on top of the aircraft's engine thrust, allowing it to land and take-off like a helicopter. The F-35B allows Marine aviators to operate aboard smaller flattops and makeshift airstrips, especially on expeditionary missions. With far more advanced capabilities and avionics, the F-35B is set to replace the US military's only other STOVL fighter jet, the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier, which is expected to retire by 2027. Strengthening US air power in the Indo-Pacific While the Navy doesn't intend on substituting full-fledged carriers with "lightning carriers," operating smaller flattops bolsters the fleet's air power — at a much lower cost. An America-class assault ship costs about $3.4 billion, nearly a quarter of the cost to manufacture a new Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, which costs around $13 billion, though the latter possesses more advanced capabilities and carries over 60 aircraft. "One day, you can have F-35Bs on the flight deck; the next day, you could have MV-22s, and you can be putting Marines ashore," Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, then-commander of the US 7th Fleet, said following the concept testing. "And so it just is a very versatile instrument." The "lightning carrier" concept could play a larger role in deterring China, which now has the world's largest navy. Despite still being in the experimentation phase, Thomas said he believes that an assault carrier carrying 14 F-35Bs is "much more capable" than either of China's operational aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, "both from a sortie-creation perspective as well as just a sheer capability." Last December, China unveiled its own massive assault ship, the Sichuan, which can launch fighter jets or drones. The first Yulan-class landing helicopter assault ship has a flight deck as large as three football fields, about as long as the US Navy's America-class LHAs but 60 feet wider. China, however, does not have a carrier-based stealth fighter yet. Expanding the Navy's amphibious fleet Recognizing the operational flexibility of assault warships, the Navy aims to expand its amphibious fleet to at least 31 vessels — 10 of which must be big-deck LHAs. Two more America-class LHAs — USS Bougainville and USS Fallujah — are currently being built at HII's Mississippi shipyard. The fifth-in-class USS Helmand Province was named last May and has yet to start construction. Last May, HII was awarded a $9.6 billion contract to ramp up construction on the Navy's amphibious fleet. The deal includes the construction of three San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks and the next America-class big-deck ship. "Upgrading our fleet with amphibious combat vehicles capable of supporting sea denial and maritime operations will further bolster our ability to support deterrence efforts and respond to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific," Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, said in a statement. Read the original article on Business Insider
