Mobile Landing Platform
|
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| units | up to 4 planned, 2 under construction |
| period of service |
from 2015 |
| Technical specifications | |
| displacement |
fully loaded 24,900 ts |
| length |
255 meters |
| width |
50 meters |
| speed |
15 knots |
The Mobile Landing Platform ships are a new class of US Navy landing craft . In May 2015 it was announced that the Navy of the People's Republic of China had commissioned some MLP of the type H1138. With 5000 gross register tons , the Chinese MLP is much smaller than the US version - but represents an addition to the Chinese fleet in the operational area near the disputed island groups off Japan and Taiwan .
MLP enable the reloading of large cargo ships or roll-on / roll-off ships via a ramp. During the reloading, both ships lie alongside and the vehicles drive from the roll-on / roll-off ship over the ramp onto the deck of the Mobile Landing Platform. There the vehicles are loaded onto LCAC landing craft.
history
The MLP concept was tested for the first time in September 2005, and the Navy used the Mighty Servant for the reload attempt. In 2011 construction began on the first ship of the new class, the USNS Montford Point (T-MLP-1), and the second ship, the USNS John Glenn (T-MLP-2), has been in construction since April 2012. The name USNS Lewis B. Puller has already been determined for the third ship. A fourth ship has been planned since 2012.
Afloat Forward Staging Base Variant (AFSB)
_at_Naval_Station_Norfolk_on_20_April_2016.JPG)
The third and fourth units of the MLP ships are being built as afloat staging bases to support special forces and mine clearance operations. The structure of the ships differs in a flight deck for two helicopters of the type CH-53 and additional space for two additional CH-53 on deck plus a hangar, ammunition bunker and supply facilities for on the way. The crew increases by 298 men.
In 2014, the use of V-22 Osprey on the ships was also examined.
period of service
The USNS Montford Point entered service on May 14, 2013 as the first ship of its class. This was followed by the USNS John Glenn on March 12, 2014.
technology
hull
The hull of the ships is 255 m long and 50 m wide. The middle part of it is a large platform for reloading vehicles and cargo.
Embarked vehicles and aircraft
3 LCAC transverse to the direction of travel of the ship.
Mission profile
The MLP ships serve as a base at sea during a landing operation and enable troops, vehicles and cargo to be reloaded from large cargo ships onto the LCAC landing hovercraft, three of which are carried. The LCAC then land on the coast.