America-class amphibious assault ship

The America class, formerly the LHA(R) class, is a class of landing helicopter assault (LHA) type amphibious assault ships for the United States Navy, designed to put a Marine Expeditionary Unit ashore by helicopter and MV-22B Osprey, supported by AV-8B Harrier II or F-35 aircraft and attack helicopters. The first ship, USS America, was commissioned in 2014 to replace USS Peleliu of the Tarawa class, and as many as eleven will be built. The design is based on USS Makin Island, the last ship of the Wasp class, but the Flight 0 ships have no well deck and smaller sick bays to make room for aviation. The ships can use gas turbines for high speed and diesel-electric engines when required. With a displacement of about 45,000 long tons they are of comparable displacement to the former Midway-class aircraft carriers.