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Staging Base News

10 May 2021

US Navy Commissions USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5)

The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) sits pierside during the ship’s commissioning ceremony. (Photo: Kevin C. Leitner / U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) Saturday, at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, Calif.Built by General Dynamics NASSCO, the 785-foot USS Miguel Keith is the third ESB variant of the Expeditionary Transfer Dock platform (ESD). Expeditionary Mobile Base was previously known as Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) in the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. ESBs are highly flexible platforms that provide logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations.

16 Jun 2020

Vigor Wins $30 Mln Ship Maintenance Contract

USNS Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5) (U.S. Navy photo)

U.S. West Coast shipbuilder and repair provider Vigor Marine has been awarded a $30,269,098 firm-fixed-price contract for a 120-calendar day post shakedown shipyard availability of the expeditionary sea base ship Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5), owned and operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.Work will be performed in Portland, Ore. and is expected to be complete by December 2020.Work will include the furnishing of general services, shipboard access, clean and gas free tank voids and cofferdams…

16 Aug 2017

US to Commission USS Lewis B. Puller

The Navy will commission the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) during a 5 p.m. AST ceremony Thursday, August 17, at Khalifa bin Salman Port in Al Hidd, Bahrain. The future Lewis B. Puller - currently USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3 )- is the second ship to bear the name of Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, a distinguished combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Puller is the only Marine to have been awarded the Navy Cross on five separate occasions and is the most decorated individual in the history of the USMC. The first Lewis B. Puller (FFG 23), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, served from 1982-1998, and was then transferred to the Egyptian Navy and renamed Toushka (F.906). Vice Adm. Kevin M. Donegan, commander, U.S.

14 Jun 2017

US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?

U.S. Navy forces and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force routinely train together to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Z.A. Landers)

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

30 Jan 2017

NASSCO starts construction of ESB 5

On Wednesday, January 25, General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), began construction on a fifth ship for the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD)/Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program. Designed to provide advanced flexibility and capability for sea-to-shore missions, the newest ESB will include a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel. Serving as a ‘pier at sea,’ the 784-foot-long ship is also designed to support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters and MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft. The ship, ESB 5, is the fifth to be added to a contract between NASSCO and the U.S.

24 Mar 2016

GE Propels the US Navy with Increased Resilience

Approximately 80,000 tons (fully loaded) and 784 feet in length, with a beam of 164 feet—more than a third wider than most ships—Expeditionary Base Mobile (ESB) 4 is an extremely stable platform for sea base operations. Enabled by GE’s electric power and propulsion system, and built by General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), ESB 4 will be able to operate at a speed of 15 knots with an endurance of over 9,500 nautical miles. ESB 4 is the second ship of this type to be outfitted as an Expeditionary Base Mobile, formerly called the Afloat Forward Staging Base. It will be able to accommodate up to 250 personnel. The new 784-foot vessel will feature a 52,000-square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines and mission planning.

05 Jan 2016

NASSCO Makes Three Lead Deliveries in 2015

Isla Bella (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

San Diego based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered three lead ships in 2015: USNS Lewis B. Puller, the Isla Bella and the Lone Star State. Each vessel represents three new and separate ship classes and highlights the builder’s diverse portfolio of commercial and government contracts, the company said. In June, NASSCO delivered the USNS Lewis B. Puller to the U.S. Navy, the first ship in the Expeditionary Base Mobile (ESB) class. Previously classified as a Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base (MLP AFSB)…

19 Oct 2015

CNO, MCPON Visit Sailors in U.S. 5th Fleet

The Navy's 31st Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. John Richardson, made his first visit to the U.S. 5th Fleet, accompanied by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Oct. 18. More than 700 Sailors and Marines attended an all-hands call with the CNO and MCPON at the NSA Bahrain gym. "Today marks my first month as CNO," Richardson said. Richardson went on to share that he viewed Sailors' service in the Navy as one of accountability, ingenuity and creativity. "I've had the chance to work at a lot of joint commands and talk to a lot of joint commanders," Richardson said. "Every one of those commanders I've talked to are super grateful when they get a U.S. Navy Sailor on their team.

15 Oct 2015

NASSCO Begins Construction on ESB Ship

Today General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics began construction on the second ship of the U.S. Navy's newly reclassified Expeditionary Base Mobile (ESB) program. The 784-foot ship will be configured with a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel. The ship will be capable of supporting multiple missions including Air Mine Counter Measures (AMCM), counter-piracy operations, maritime security operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions and U.S. Marine Corps crisis response. It will also support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters, and will be upgraded to support MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft.

28 Aug 2015

NASSCO Invests in Facilities, Equipment and People

General Dynamics NASSCO has invested several hundred million in capital projects as part of its efforts to increase efficiencies via  modular shipbuilding, including: two 300-ton cranes allowing shipbuilders the ability to increase the size of the erectable blocks; a block assembly line to optimize construction of commercial ship blocks; inverted block and grand block outfit areas to more fully install components and equipment on blocks; and a state-of the-art, environmentally-friendly blast and paint facility to paint blocks indoors with high capacity equipment.

15 Jun 2015

NASSCO Delivers USNS Lewis B. Puller

NASSCO Program Manager William McKay and Area Manager Aaron Rockwell present the ship's captain, Jonathan Olmsted, with a photo of the MLP 3 AFSB, USNS Lewis B. Puller. (Photo: NASSCO)

Shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) on Friday, June 12. The ship is named in honor of the late U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated Marine and the only one to be awarded five Navy Crosses. The AFSB modifications add a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel.

09 Apr 2015

MLP3 AFSB NASSCO Delivers for the Navy

Martha Puller Downs, daughter of General Puller christens USNS Lewis B. Puller. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

General Dynamics National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) christened the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) in early February in San Diego. USNS Lewis B. Puller, the third vessel of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class, is the first of which to be configured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). While the Lewis B. Puller is the third in the series, in some respects it has lead ship qualities as it is designated MLP 3 / AFSB, the first to be equipped with a flight deck, a hangar and accommodations for about 250 people.

09 Feb 2015

US Navy Mobile Landing Platform Christened

Martha Puller Downs, daughter of General Puller christens USNS Lewis B. Puller. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

General Dynamics NASSCO christened the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP-3 AFSB), on Saturday during a christening ceremony held at the San Diego builder’s shipyard. This third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) is the first ship of the class to be configured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB), adding a flight deck, berthing, fuel storage, equipment storage, repair spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel. The ship is capable of supporting missions including counter-piracy operations…

30 Jan 2015

NASSCO to Christen Third MLP, Lewis B. Puller

USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) was floated out in late 2014 (Photo: Greg Trauthwein)

Shipbuilder General Dynamics National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. – NASSCO – will christen the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) Saturday, February 7, 2015 in San Diego. General Dynamic’s NASSCO arguably has the most diverse and enviable shipbuilding backlog in the U.S., with its navy and commercial orderbook stretching out for three years. Its new ship, the USNS Lewis B. Puller, is the third vessel of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class, the first of which to be configured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). NASSCO balances a newbuild and repair workload with the U.S.

23 Dec 2014

General Dynamics Bags USN Contract for MLP AFSB

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $498 million contract for the detail design and construction of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). NASSCO is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Under this option, NASSCO will provide the detail design and construction efforts to build the second AFSB of the Mobile Landing Platform-class ships. The work will be performed at NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard and is scheduled to be completed by March 2018. The MLP AFSB is a flexible platform and a key element in the Navy’s large-scale airborne mine countermeasures mission. With accommodations for 250 personnel and a large helicopter flight deck…

09 Nov 2014

Lewis B. Puller Successfully Completes Float-Off

The Navy's third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP), Lewis B. Puller successfully completed launch and float-off at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) shipyard Nov. Lewis B. Puller is the first afloat forwarding staging base (AFSB) variant of the MLP. The ship is designed around four core capabilities - aviation, berthing, equipment staging area, and command and control - and optimized to support a variety of maritime missions. "The maturity and stability of the Mobile Landing Platform shipbuilding program has allowed for the smooth transition to the afloat forward staging base variant," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships.

05 Nov 2014

USNS Choctaw County in 'Exercise Bold Alligator'

Spearhead-class joint high speed vessel USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) is conducting proof-of-concept testing during Exercise Bold Alligator 2014 as an afloat forward staging base style platform. Bold Alligator 2014 is underway in multiple states and along the Eastern Seaboard. In addition to 18 other U.S. Navy and coalition ships, one of the Navy's newest platforms is getting an opportunity to test itself. "That includes the communications portion, launching of small boats and also helicopter operations," said Choctaw County's Chief's Mate Patrick Mullaney. In the last week, Choctaw County hosted members of Special Boat Team 20 (SBT 20) and critical skills operators from U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command to conduct scenario training.

01 Sep 2014

RIMPAC Exercise Puts LCS Through Paces

It was the middle of May, and the littoral combat ship Independence was operating out of San Diego, testing components of the mine warfare mission package. The mission is one that, except for several extended overhaul periods, has consumed much of the ship’s operating time since the class-leading vessel was commissioned in January 2010. Word then came down from the highest levels of US Navy leadership — Independence was going to Pearl Harbor to take part in the world’s largest naval exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). The event, held every two years, was only weeks away from beginning. To get there on time, the LCS would have to rapidly switch gears — offloading the mine equipment…

09 Jun 2014

GD NASSCO Awarded MLP4 Contract Modification

US Department of Defense inform that General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is being awarded a not-to-exceed US$64,056,766 modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2229) to procure advance material for the Mobile Landing Platform 4 (MLP4) Afloat Forward Staging Base platform. DoD explain that this action allows the procurement of ship sets for the purchase specifications supporting integrated propulsion, main diesel generator engines, propeller and shafting, integrated bridge, and voice communications. Work will be performed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (38 percent); Beloit, Wisconsin (37 percent)…

07 Apr 2014

CNO Addresses Payloads, Platforms at Sea-Air-Space

(U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor/Released)

The Navy's top admiral joined his sea service counterparts to discuss the importance of the sea services at the Sea-Air-Space Service Chief Update Panel today. Speaking to members of national and international defense industries, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert encouraged partnership and increased reliance on payload capacity rather than platform designs. "We need lower cost approaches," said Greenert. Citing recent anti-piracy operations that used larger platforms…

12 Mar 2014

NASSCO Delivers USNS John Glenn

Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO

General Dynamics NASSCO today delivered the USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), the second ship of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class, to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named after the Honorable John Glenn for his exceptional and decorated service as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, astronaut and U.S. Senator. Construction of the USNS John Glenn began in April 2012. Throughout the MLP program, NASSCO has incorporated more than 10,000 improvement ideas into its operations which contributed to controlling costs and delivering the MLP 2 on schedule with no open discrepancies.

05 Nov 2013

NASSCO Lays Keel of Third U.S. Navy Platform Ship

Artist rendering of Mobile Landing Platform vessel (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

General Dynamics NASSCO today hosted a keel laying ceremony for the USNS Lewis B. Puller, the third ship in the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class. The ship is named in honor of Lewis B. Puller, the most decorated U.S. Marine in history and the only one to be awarded five Navy Crosses. Mrs. Elizabeth Glueck was the honoree for the keel-laying ceremony. She is the wife of Lieutenant General Kenneth J. Glueck, Jr., deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration; commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command. Mrs.

24 Jun 2013

NASSCO Awarded Navy MLP Contract

The US Department of Defense has awarded a Navy Mobile Landing Platform program modification contract to General Dynamics National Steel & Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif. NASSCO has been awarded an $11,200,000 modification on a not-to-exceed basis to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2229) to accomplish the detail design of Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) modifications for the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program to support the construction of MLP 3 and MLP 4 which will be AFSB variants. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by November 2013. Fiscal 2012 National Defense Sealift funds in the amount of $5,600,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.