Defense Media Network has a must read on the evolution of amphibious ships from WW2 onward.
Pay close attention to the section on the Newport Class Tank Landing Ship. Consider what it could do today. Instead of buying fleets of MLP's, LCACs, LCUs and JHSVs, we would have maybe a dozen or so doing the job of a whole flotilla of smaller boats almost as fast but with a battalion of men and equipment from the MPS ships hovering offshore.
At first glance, outstanding article. Good overview of the development of the amphib. Going to do some more in depth reading and check other resources but a great jump off point for more research. Thank you for the post!
ReplyDeleteSeperate subject...ever thought of having book reviews on your blog or discussions? This is a pretty well read crowd on this blog. Would be interesting to hear peoples take on some of the books out there. My suggestion would be "Savage Wars of Peace" by Max Boot. If I have ever read a book that contains at least the start of 5 other books...this one is it.
i'd aim more for discussions but its a great idea. i haven't read that book but i'm headed to google right now to check it out. thanks.
DeleteAs a Newport sailor, I can tell you their only attribute was speed.Oh and they had more gun tubes than most modern USN Gators (2 twin 3in/50). While they could side load pontoons the lifting gear fowled much deck area. Other than that the class had limited payload capacity 150 tons~ and light duty booms.
ReplyDeleteThe USN learned a lot from the RN before and could again by buying for instance LSD(A) Bay class ships and fast landing craft like LCVP-5s and LCM-10s. And by using davits and cranes (since the idiiots bought the MLP which are almost useless for other than 3 count'em LCACs). The Navy could have put a Flo/Flo in an MPS ron and lifted MANY landing craft, LCU/LCM, INLS pontoons, and LCACs. And they could buy two or more of those for the price of one MLP.
P.S. there are many small fast boat tenders which could be turned into transports, but the USN already has the JHSVs for the later mission.