As part of the contract between General Dynamics NASSCO and the U.S. Navy to build two Expeditionary Transfer Docks (formerly known as Mobile Landing Platforms), the U.S. Navy added a third ship to be constructed and configured as an Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), or formerly known as an Afloat Forward Staging Base. A fourth ESB has been added to the original contract, and long lead time material for a fifth ESB has been awarded to NASSCO.
The ESBs are configured with a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel. The ships are capable of supporting multiple missions including Air Mine Counter Measures (AMCM), counter-piracy operations, maritime security operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions and U.S. Marine Corps crisis response. It will also support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters, and will be upgraded to support MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft.
- Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3)
- Hershel Williams (ESB 4)
- Miguel Keith (ESB 5)
Download: Fact Sheet – Expeditionary Sea Base
