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Navy Tests Mobile Landing Platform Concept

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100304-18
Release Date: 3/4/2010 3:36:00 PM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- The Navy completed an at-sea exercise Feb. 15 to demonstrate the transfer of vehicles between a surrogate Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship and a Large Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off (LMSR) ship.

The test, led by the Strategic Theater Sealift Office within the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships), is part of risk-reduction efforts for the Department of Defense Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) when transferring military vehicles between ships at sea. The goal of the testing and the program is to provide the capability to the U.S. military for large-scale logistics movements from sea to shore without dependency on foreign ports.

The test demonstrated a self-deploying ramp system installed on the surrogate MLP, M/V Mighty Servant 3, and a new self-deploying sideport platform installed on USNS Soderman, an LMSR ship. Personnel and vehicles were successfully transferred between the ships in high sea state three and low sea state four during multiple days of testing in the Gulf of Mexico. Vehicles transferred included High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMWVVs), HMWVVs with trailers, medium tactical vehicle replacements, logistics vehicle system wreckers, amphibious assault vehicles, M88 tank recovery vehicles, and M1A1 main battle tanks.

This landmark capability will be a significant enhancement for future sea-basing logistics operations.

PEO Ships manages the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships, and is currently acquiring several major ship classes and a variety of small boats and craft for the Navy. These platforms range from major warships, such as frontline surface combatants and amphibious assault ships, to air-cushioned landing craft, oceanographic research ships and special warfare craft. Since its creation in November 2002, PEO Ships has procured numerous major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 20 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.