I am wondering how many LHA and LHD ships are now just sitting and waiting to be scrapped? It was brought up that these are steam ships and therefore not really all that important. I suspect that those ships that haven't already become totally rotted out could be reconditioned and put back to use. These ships don't need to be nuclear powered as the larger carriers are, and should be put back into service. Just my opinion.
One ship would probably not be worth setting up the maintenance program for repairs. Is the Peleliu still in service or out of commission? Are there any LHA or LHD ships that could be available?
Respectfully remind the 2 USN Captains Retired, currently serving as the Acting SecNav and PTDO Under Sec Nav of your concerns. Remind them that the Department of the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy honors the USMC by it’s Precedence in the Department by placing Our Colors, and Our Marines and the Marine Corps before the USN in march and in referring to Marines and Sailors in speech and writing. Grok Expert”As of July 2026, the US Navy’s amphibious warfare ship fleet totals approximately 31–32 ships (meeting the statutory minimum of 31, which requires at least 10 big-deck LHA/LHD amphibious assault ships plus 21 LPD/LSD-type ships). navytimes.com
The fleet faces ongoing readiness challenges. Reports from 2025 noted readiness rates around 41%, with roughly half the ships in poor material condition due to age, deferred maintenance, and high operational tempo. The Navy and Marine Corps are addressing this through service-life extensions (e.g., on Wasp-class ships), optimized maintenance cycles, and new construction. navytimes.com
“Big deck” refers to the large amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD classes) with full-length flight decks capable of operating fixed-wing aircraft like the F-35B alongside helicopters and supporting a full Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). These form the core of Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs).
Big-Deck Amphibious Assault Ships (LHA/LHD) — 9 Active
These are the primary focus (“big deck only”).
America-class LHA (2 active):
• USS America (LHA-6): Homeport Sasebo, Japan (forward-deployed). Operational in standard forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) rotation.
• USS Tripoli (LHA-7): Homeport San Diego. As of July 2026, operating in the Indian Ocean as flagship of the Tripoli ARG with elements of the 31st MEU. Operational/deployed. news.usni.org
Wasp-class LHD (7 active):
• USS Wasp (LHD-1): Homeport Norfolk, VA. Service life extended by 5 years to 2034 following a study. Status typical of maintenance/operational cycle.
• USS Essex (LHD-2): Homeport San Diego. Participating in RIMPAC 2026 near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (July 2026). Operational. news.usni.org
• USS Kearsarge (LHD-3): Homeport Norfolk. Recently participated in events in New York City; preparing to depart (operational as of early July 2026). news.usni.org
• USS Boxer (LHD-4): Homeport San Diego. Operating in the Arabian Sea as flagship of the Boxer ARG with the 11th MEU (as of July 2026). Operational/deployed. news.usni.org
• USS Bataan (LHD-5): Homeport Norfolk. In standard rotation (specific recent location not detailed in public trackers).
• USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7): Homeport Mayport, FL. Completed a 10-month deployment with the 22nd MEU and returned to homeport area in early June 2026. Post-deployment/reset phase (operational overall). news.usni.org
• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): Homeport San Diego. Returned to homeport on or around July 3, 2026 (post-deployment). news.usni.org
Notes on big decks: One Wasp-class ship (USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD-6) was decommissioned after a 2020 fire. No big-deck ships are publicly listed as fully inactive or stricken beyond normal cycles. A significant portion of the older Wasp-class fleet spends time in maintenance/repair due to age and backlog, contributing to overall low readiness. Deployments typically support 2+ ARGs/MEUs at a time, though demand often exceeds availability.
Under construction / being built (big decks):
• USS Bougainville (LHA-8): Under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries (Ingalls Shipbuilding) in Pascagoula, MS. Launched September 2023, christened December 2023. Delivery delayed multiple times (recent estimates point to 2026–2027 window); still in outfitting/fitting-out phase as of mid-2026. Pre-commissioning unit (PCU) crew is active and training. news.usni.org
• USS Fallujah (LHA-9): Under construction (laid down earlier); launch/delivery further out (planned ~2027+).
• USS Helmand Province (LHA-10): Advanced procurement and planning stage; construction start targeted around 2026.
Future LHA procurement continues at a measured pace (one roughly every few years).
Other Amphibious Classes (for completeness)
San Antonio-class LPD (Amphibious Transport Docks): 13 active (LPD-17 through LPD-29, including recent Flight I ships like USS Richard E. McCool Jr., LPD-29, commissioned 2024). Many actively support ARGs (examples as of July 2026: USS Portland (LPD-27) with Boxer ARG; USS New Orleans (LPD-18) with Tripoli ARG; USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) in Caribbean; USS San Antonio (LPD-17) operating in Caribbean after brief maintenance). news.usni.org
Flight II ships are in production: USS Harrisburg (LPD-30) launched ~2024 and fitting out; USS Pittsburgh (LPD-31) under construction; additional ships on order. These will help replace older LSDs.
LSD (Dock Landing Ships — Whidbey Island and Harpers Ferry classes): Roughly 8–10 remaining active (1980s–1990s vintage). Some still support ARGs (e.g., USS Comstock (LSD-45) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) mentioned in recent trackers). Many face decommissioning in the 2024–2026 timeframe (e.g., USS Germantown (LSD-42) planned for September 2026) as the class is phased out in favor of LPDs and future Medium Landing Ships (LSMs). news.usni.org
Command Ships (LCC): USS Blue Ridge and USS Mount Whitney remain active in their roles but are not core amphibious assault platforms.
Summary of Status Categories
• Operational/Deployed: Several big decks and LPDs/LSDs actively supporting ARGs/MEUs in the Middle East/Indian Ocean, Pacific (RIMPAC), and Caribbean as of July 2026.
• In for repair / awaiting repair / maintenance: Not all ships have public ship-by-ship breakdowns, but a substantial share of the fleet (especially older vessels) is in various maintenance phases. This contributes to the noted readiness shortfalls.
• Post-deployment/reset: Ships like Iwo Jima and Makin Island recently returned and entering this phase.
• Being built: LHA-8 (Bougainville) in advanced construction/outfitting; additional LHA and LPD Flight II ships progressing (with some delays due to shipyard capacity/labor issues).
The Navy’s shipbuilding plan continues investment in amphibious ships (LHA, LPD Flight II, and new LSMs) to sustain and grow the force while extending existing hulls. Marine Corps leadership has emphasized that current numbers and readiness fall short of combatant commander demands. breakingdefense.com
For the most granular real-time ship locations or maintenance status, official sources like USNI News Fleet Trackers or Navy.mil provide periodic updates. Specific maintenance details for individual ships are often not publicly detailed until after the fact.“
Does Compass Points believe USMC must be amphibious as part of being a middleweight force?
The question matters because when the 37th CMC bought the very short-range ACV, when the 38th CMC formally permitted decrease of USN amphibs to 31, when apparently no one is doing anything about replacing LCAC w a fully amphibious log vehicle, it seems like USMC has given up on amphibious warfare.
Hussar6, you will make folks here uncomfortable asking such questions. Carry on.
While you at it, add this one… does JCS still consider a MEF-sized amphib op against a peer adversary viable, in the age of continuous satellite reconnaissance and tactical nuclear weapons?
One more… given how the USMC forces have been employed since Desert Storm, haven’t we become Army Lite with yellow footprints?
I am wondering how many LHA and LHD ships are now just sitting and waiting to be scrapped? It was brought up that these are steam ships and therefore not really all that important. I suspect that those ships that haven't already become totally rotted out could be reconditioned and put back to use. These ships don't need to be nuclear powered as the larger carriers are, and should be put back into service. Just my opinion.
Let's wrap this up. Of the 5 Tarawas in question the only ship still in existence is Peleliu.
One ship would probably not be worth setting up the maintenance program for repairs. Is the Peleliu still in service or out of commission? Are there any LHA or LHD ships that could be available?
Respectfully remind the 2 USN Captains Retired, currently serving as the Acting SecNav and PTDO Under Sec Nav of your concerns. Remind them that the Department of the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy honors the USMC by it’s Precedence in the Department by placing Our Colors, and Our Marines and the Marine Corps before the USN in march and in referring to Marines and Sailors in speech and writing. Grok Expert”As of July 2026, the US Navy’s amphibious warfare ship fleet totals approximately 31–32 ships (meeting the statutory minimum of 31, which requires at least 10 big-deck LHA/LHD amphibious assault ships plus 21 LPD/LSD-type ships). navytimes.com
The fleet faces ongoing readiness challenges. Reports from 2025 noted readiness rates around 41%, with roughly half the ships in poor material condition due to age, deferred maintenance, and high operational tempo. The Navy and Marine Corps are addressing this through service-life extensions (e.g., on Wasp-class ships), optimized maintenance cycles, and new construction. navytimes.com
“Big deck” refers to the large amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD classes) with full-length flight decks capable of operating fixed-wing aircraft like the F-35B alongside helicopters and supporting a full Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). These form the core of Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs).
Big-Deck Amphibious Assault Ships (LHA/LHD) — 9 Active
These are the primary focus (“big deck only”).
America-class LHA (2 active):
• USS America (LHA-6): Homeport Sasebo, Japan (forward-deployed). Operational in standard forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) rotation.
• USS Tripoli (LHA-7): Homeport San Diego. As of July 2026, operating in the Indian Ocean as flagship of the Tripoli ARG with elements of the 31st MEU. Operational/deployed. news.usni.org
Wasp-class LHD (7 active):
• USS Wasp (LHD-1): Homeport Norfolk, VA. Service life extended by 5 years to 2034 following a study. Status typical of maintenance/operational cycle.
• USS Essex (LHD-2): Homeport San Diego. Participating in RIMPAC 2026 near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (July 2026). Operational. news.usni.org
• USS Kearsarge (LHD-3): Homeport Norfolk. Recently participated in events in New York City; preparing to depart (operational as of early July 2026). news.usni.org
• USS Boxer (LHD-4): Homeport San Diego. Operating in the Arabian Sea as flagship of the Boxer ARG with the 11th MEU (as of July 2026). Operational/deployed. news.usni.org
• USS Bataan (LHD-5): Homeport Norfolk. In standard rotation (specific recent location not detailed in public trackers).
• USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7): Homeport Mayport, FL. Completed a 10-month deployment with the 22nd MEU and returned to homeport area in early June 2026. Post-deployment/reset phase (operational overall). news.usni.org
• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): Homeport San Diego. Returned to homeport on or around July 3, 2026 (post-deployment). news.usni.org
Notes on big decks: One Wasp-class ship (USS Bonhomme Richard, LHD-6) was decommissioned after a 2020 fire. No big-deck ships are publicly listed as fully inactive or stricken beyond normal cycles. A significant portion of the older Wasp-class fleet spends time in maintenance/repair due to age and backlog, contributing to overall low readiness. Deployments typically support 2+ ARGs/MEUs at a time, though demand often exceeds availability.
Under construction / being built (big decks):
• USS Bougainville (LHA-8): Under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries (Ingalls Shipbuilding) in Pascagoula, MS. Launched September 2023, christened December 2023. Delivery delayed multiple times (recent estimates point to 2026–2027 window); still in outfitting/fitting-out phase as of mid-2026. Pre-commissioning unit (PCU) crew is active and training. news.usni.org
• USS Fallujah (LHA-9): Under construction (laid down earlier); launch/delivery further out (planned ~2027+).
• USS Helmand Province (LHA-10): Advanced procurement and planning stage; construction start targeted around 2026.
Future LHA procurement continues at a measured pace (one roughly every few years).
Other Amphibious Classes (for completeness)
San Antonio-class LPD (Amphibious Transport Docks): 13 active (LPD-17 through LPD-29, including recent Flight I ships like USS Richard E. McCool Jr., LPD-29, commissioned 2024). Many actively support ARGs (examples as of July 2026: USS Portland (LPD-27) with Boxer ARG; USS New Orleans (LPD-18) with Tripoli ARG; USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) in Caribbean; USS San Antonio (LPD-17) operating in Caribbean after brief maintenance). news.usni.org
Flight II ships are in production: USS Harrisburg (LPD-30) launched ~2024 and fitting out; USS Pittsburgh (LPD-31) under construction; additional ships on order. These will help replace older LSDs.
LSD (Dock Landing Ships — Whidbey Island and Harpers Ferry classes): Roughly 8–10 remaining active (1980s–1990s vintage). Some still support ARGs (e.g., USS Comstock (LSD-45) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) mentioned in recent trackers). Many face decommissioning in the 2024–2026 timeframe (e.g., USS Germantown (LSD-42) planned for September 2026) as the class is phased out in favor of LPDs and future Medium Landing Ships (LSMs). news.usni.org
Command Ships (LCC): USS Blue Ridge and USS Mount Whitney remain active in their roles but are not core amphibious assault platforms.
Summary of Status Categories
• Operational/Deployed: Several big decks and LPDs/LSDs actively supporting ARGs/MEUs in the Middle East/Indian Ocean, Pacific (RIMPAC), and Caribbean as of July 2026.
• In for repair / awaiting repair / maintenance: Not all ships have public ship-by-ship breakdowns, but a substantial share of the fleet (especially older vessels) is in various maintenance phases. This contributes to the noted readiness shortfalls.
• Post-deployment/reset: Ships like Iwo Jima and Makin Island recently returned and entering this phase.
• Being built: LHA-8 (Bougainville) in advanced construction/outfitting; additional LHA and LPD Flight II ships progressing (with some delays due to shipyard capacity/labor issues).
The Navy’s shipbuilding plan continues investment in amphibious ships (LHA, LPD Flight II, and new LSMs) to sustain and grow the force while extending existing hulls. Marine Corps leadership has emphasized that current numbers and readiness fall short of combatant commander demands. breakingdefense.com
For the most granular real-time ship locations or maintenance status, official sources like USNI News Fleet Trackers or Navy.mil provide periodic updates. Specific maintenance details for individual ships are often not publicly detailed until after the fact.“
Does Compass Points believe USMC must be amphibious as part of being a middleweight force?
The question matters because when the 37th CMC bought the very short-range ACV, when the 38th CMC formally permitted decrease of USN amphibs to 31, when apparently no one is doing anything about replacing LCAC w a fully amphibious log vehicle, it seems like USMC has given up on amphibious warfare.
Hussar6, you will make folks here uncomfortable asking such questions. Carry on.
While you at it, add this one… does JCS still consider a MEF-sized amphib op against a peer adversary viable, in the age of continuous satellite reconnaissance and tactical nuclear weapons?
One more… given how the USMC forces have been employed since Desert Storm, haven’t we become Army Lite with yellow footprints?
Who, other than me, is reaching out to President Trump, VPOTUS, SECWAR, SECNAV to ask them to save USMC like they are saving USN shipbuilding?
Why is Chowder II only excoriating FD(2030) when they should also advocate for 21st C Amphibious Warfare?