After six months at sea, two ships with Gulf Coast roots arrived in Okinawa, Japan, bringing the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit back from a deployment spanning the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.
Built at Ingalls, the America-class USS Tripoli (LHA 7) and the Avondale-built Whidbey Island-class USS Rushmore (LSD 47) pulled into White Beach Naval Facility in July to offload Marines, vehicles and equipment. It marked the end of a deployment that took the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group across two fleet areas.
BUILT ON THE GULF COAST
For Ingalls shipbuilders, LHA 7 represents the work happening in the yard today. The second America-class amphibious assault ship was built at Ingalls, where its keel was laid in 2014. The ship was christened in 2017 and delivered to the Navy in February 2020.
Alongside it was LSD 47, built at Avondale and commissioned in New Orleans in 1991. More than three decades after entering service, the ship continues operating forward in the Indo-Pacific.
READY WHEN CALLED
Together, these ships support Navy and Marine Corps operations in one of the world’s most important regions. From crisis response to combat operations, the work they perform depends on ships built to serve far from home and ready to answer the call.
Today, Ingalls shipbuilders continue to support these ships through Planning Yard Services, ensuring they are always ready for the mission.
Whether a ship left the Gulf Coast 30 years ago or just a few years ago, seeing our ships side-by-side is a reminder that the work of shipbuilders does not end at delivery. It sails forward with the fleet.