The Big Picture: The America-class amphibious ship Fallujah (LHA 9) reached a key milestone with the successful landing of the main reduction gear.
Why It Matters:
- The main reduction gear is the key part of the propulsion system, connecting the main engine to the ship’s propeller shaft
- By reducing the rotational speed of the engine, it enables the ship to operate more efficiently
What They're Saying:
Rodney Grace, LHA 9 Construction Manager: “This installation is the first major machinery component to be landed on Fallujah, marking both a technical and collaborative achievement for the team and setting the stage for future milestones.”
Tonya Boney, LHA 9 Ship Program Manager: "The teamwork across different groups — from all of the various crafts to Quality & Engineering, Supply Chain Management, our supplier Philadelphia Gear and more — was critical in ensuring the success of this installation.”
What’s Next:
Construction is progressing and the team is installing generators in the aft machinery room
About the Ship:
- LHA 9 is the first U.S. ship named to commemorate the first and second battles of Fallujah, American-led offenses during the Iraq War
- The name selection follows the tradition of naming amphibious ships after U.S. Marine Corps battles
- Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy, including two previous America-class ships:
- USS America (LHA 6) was delivered in 2014; USS Tripoli (LHA 7) was delivered in 2020
- Bougainville (LHA 8) and Fallujah (LHA 9) are currently under construction
Similar to LHA 8, Fallujah retains the aviation capability of the America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft