Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship

The well deck was designed to hold four LCAC hovercraft, five if the vehicle ramp is raised, for landing Marines.The Whidbey Island class of ship also uniquely benefits from multiple cranes and a shallow draft that further make it ideal for participating in amphibious operations.As of 2009, all ships of the class are scheduled to undergo a midlife upgrade over the next five years to ensure that they remain in service through 2038.[1] Major elements of the upgrade package include diesel engine improvements, fuel and maintenance savings systems, engineering control systems, increased air conditioning and chill water capacity, and replacement of air compressors.The ships also replaced steam systems with all-electric functionality that will decrease maintenance effort and expense.
Stern view of USS Tortuga with open well deck
USS Germantown (LSD-42)Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction CompanyUnited States NavyAnchorage classHarpers Ferry classDock landing shipLCM-6sPhalanxRolling Airframe Missilewell deckUnited States Marine CorpsV-22 OspreysNational Steel and Shipbuilding CompanyUSS TortugaWhidbey IslandLockheed, SeattleGermantownSan Diego, CaliforniaFort McHenryGunston HallAvondale ShipyardLittle Creek, VirginiaComstockTortugaRushmoreSasebo, JapanAshlandAssistant Secretary of the NavySean StackleyUnited States Senate Committee on Armed ServicesNaval Vessel Registerpublic domainList of United States Navy amphibious warfare shipsship classesAircraft carriersNimitzGerald R. FordFreedomIndependenceArleigh BurkeZumwaltTiconderogaConstellationAmphibious warfareSan AntonioHarpers FerryAmericaBlue RidgeLewis B. PullerSubmarinesLos AngelesSeawolfVirginiaColumbiaAvengerEmory S. LandMilitary Sealift CommandSupplyLewis and ClarkJohn LewisHenry J. KaiserBob HopeWatsonHospitalPathfinderVictoriousNavajoSafeguardSpearheadMontford PointBlack PowderMatej KocakList of current ships of the United States Navy