The USS Tripoli, the Navy’s latest amphibious assault service, returned to Naval Base San Diego on Tuesday following its preliminary deployment.
The Tripoli left San Diego with 16 Marine F-35B Lightining II stealth fighters in addition to helicopters and tiltrotors to assist the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit throughout a 7-month deployment within the Indo-Pacific area.
The warship made half calls in Australia, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines, traveled 40,300 nautical miles and accomplished 2,052 hours of flight operations
“I’m pleased with Tripoli for a profitable first deployment,” mentioned Rear Adm. James Kirk, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3. “The ship and crew are on the vanguard, setting the instance and testing the boundaries of the assault service.”
“LHAs are designed to assist the way forward for the Marine Corps Air Fight Component, and Tripoli has performed simply that. I’m excited to see what else they’ll deliver to the battle,” Kirk mentioned.
Capt. John C. Kiefaber, the Tripoli’s commanding officer, mentioned the deployment demonstrated the “distinctive capabilities” of the brand new warship.
Through the the deployment, the Tripoli examined the power of the brand new assault service to assist a big power of F-35s — what the Navy calls the “Lightning service” idea.
“Whether or not it was launching and recovering plane at night time, performing as a base of operations for the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct operations ashore, or serving as an instrument of diplomacy to our ally and companion nations, the crew carried out their duties professionally and demonstrated why they’re the Navy’s biggest asset,” Kiefaber mentioned.
The Tripoli, an America-class amphibious assault service, was commissioned in July 2020.
