The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) was certified for well deck operations April 26, following two days of ship-to-shore maneuvers off the coast of Southern California. Bonhomme Richard launched and recovered a wide variety of landing craft, including amphibious assault vehicles (AAV), utility landing craft (LCU) and combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC). The ship also launched and recovered lightering amphibious recovery craft (LARC) for the first time in almost five years. A month earlier, BHR operated with air cushion landing craft (LCAC). “It takes a lot of training to launch and recover the various landing craft Bonhomme Richard supports,” said Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Mark Cass, deck department leading chief petty officer.