The MLP. Mobile Landing Platform.
We have it, so what are we gonna do with it?
We've seen major exercise after major exercise occur and they've all been conducted without the MLP making an appearance. This can be looked at as a minor issue since the first has only recently come into service but two things make this a concern. via Wikipedia.
In March 2012 the USN requested a fourth ship in the FY14 budget of the National Defense Sealift Fund, and proposed that both MLP-3 and MLP-4 would be MLP-AFSB variants.[8] Congress rejected both requests on the grounds that the Ponce could do the job and AFSB's should in any case be funded out of the main Navy account.[14] As of March 2013 the Chief of Naval Operations is still planning to buy two MLP and two MLP-AFSB despite the uncertainty caused by the sequester,[5] in fact the late-2012 "Vision for the 2025 Surface Fleet" by the head of Naval Surface Forces envisages buying more MLP variants as a cheap alternative to traditional amphibious ships.[6]I've complained that the Marine Corps has a ship that is based on a concept that is no longer applicable.
I think a look at recent history is proving that to be correct. The second issue (and perhaps the more troubling one) is that the Chief of Naval Operations has floated the idea that these ships can serve as a cheap alternative to traditional amphibious shipping.
Combat vs. Mercantile ship building standards. It should cause concern. The idea that US Marines would be asked to ride into combat aboard ships that are built to Mercantile standards should be an automatic non-starter. The idea that an additional MLP is being produced when doctrine hasn't been aligned with projected (under todays dollars) funding should also raise eye brows.
I don't have the training schedule, but the next major amphibious exercise should include the MLP whether Maritime Prepositioned Ships participate or not. Experience can be gained by simulating the unloading of MPS ships by using amphibs as surrogates.
