The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) has returned to the United States after six years forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.
Returning Strong: The Ingalls-built vessel first arrived stateside at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, marking only the second time a “big deck” amphib has visited the base’s new ammunition pier. After conducting munitions transfer operations, the ship made its way south to Naval Base San Diego, where it is homeported.
Raising the Standard: LHA 6 played a critical role in the Pacific over the course of its deployment. As flagship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, the ship and its crew supported multilateral exercises, from amphibious assault training in Australia to integrated drills with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The vessel also stood watch in contested waters, responding to escalating shows of force from China and monitoring tensions in the South China Sea.
What’s Next: LHA 6 is now set to begin a maintenance period. USS Tripoli (LHA 7), also built at Ingalls, has replaced LHA 6 in Japan as the forward-deployed amphibious flagship.
Why It Matters: U.S. Marines and Sailors depend on Ingalls shipbuilders to do what is right for the warfighter—delivering ships that provide the tools needed to protect peace and defend our freedom.