In the event the Tarawa SLEP is not funded, and if possible further units of the LHA-1 Wasp class are not authorized, the first of the LHX class is planned for authorization 2005 with commissioning in 2011, with at least five units to be constructed. The design would probably be based on the Wasp design, apart from the use of a dry deck for hovercraft instead of a docking well.
Specifications | |
| Power Plant | Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 shaft horsepower |
| Length | 844 feet (253.2 meters) |
| Beam | 106 feet (31.8 meters) |
| Displacement | Approx. 40,500 tons (36,450 metric tons) full load |
| Speed | 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour) |
| Aircraft |
Assault -- 42 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters Sea Control -- 20 AV-8B Harrier attack planes; Six ASW helicopters |
| Crew |
Ships Company 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted Marine Detachment: 1,894 |
| Armament | Two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts; eight .50 cal. machine guns |
Ships | |||||||
| Hull | Name | Builder | Authorized | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Striken |
| LVX 1 | ( Tarawa ) | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2011 | 2046 | |
| LVX 2 | ( Saipan ) | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012 | 2047 | |
| LVX 3 | ( Belleau Wood ) | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2048 | |
| LVX 4 | ( Nassau ) | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2049 | |
| LVX 5 | ( Peleiu ) | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2050 | |
