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Employment Guide for New LHA 6-Class Released by Navy and Marine Corps Commands

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS131216-04
Release Date: 12/16/2013 10:17:00 AM

From Navy Warfare Development Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC), in concert with the U.S. Marine Corps Capabilities Development Directorate, published an LHA 6 Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) Employment Guide tactical memorandum (TACMEMO), now available through the Navy Doctrine Library System (NDLS), officials announced Dec. 16.

As part of the Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) program, more than 30 organizations, including commanding officers and staffs from Amphibious Squadron 8, 11th MEU, and Pre-Commissioning Unit America, participated in a May 2013 war game hosted by NWDC that examined capabilities and limitations of the LHA 6. The results of this war game directly contributed to the development of the TACMEMO.

When USS America (LHA 6) joins the Navy next year, a new design of amphibious assault ships will be introduced to the fleet incorporating enhanced expeditionary aviation capabilities. LHA 6 will be the first warship designed from the keel up to operate and maintain the F-35B Lightning II short take-off and vertical landing fighter aircraft, as well as the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport. LHA 6 encompasses numerous modifications throughout the ship that will change the way ARG/MEU operations are currently conducted and sustained; most notably, with increased aviation maintenance spaces in lieu of a well deck.

'The America-class will be a key enabler for future joint forces and will change the way we employ our 'big decks',' said Rear Adm. Scott B. Jerabek, commander, NWDC. 'Because of the new design, we needed to take a fresh look at how we plan and execute the specific missions that ARG/MEU operators are typically called upon to support. This guide is critical for Navy and Marine Corps leaders to prepare for America's first deployment.'

The FLEX program, managed by NWDC on behalf of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet, supported the development of the LHA 6 Employment Guide TACMEMO. FLEX designs and executes collaborative, synchronized and relevant experiments based on near-term fleet priorities and capability gaps. These experimentation efforts result in tangible products for the fleet, frequently in the form of new or updated doctrine.

The LHA 6 ARG/MEU Employment Guide, TACMEMO 3-02.1-13, is primarily intended for use by senior Navy and Marine Corps leadership, ARG/MEU commanders and their staffs, and units of LHA 6-configured ARG/MEUs. It can be accessed on NDLS at https://ndls.nwdc.navy.mil/. With more than 750 Navy doctrine and tactics publications, tactical memoranda, and Fleet Concept of Operations, NDLS is the one-stop repository for all Navy doctrine, tactics, and related products.