_F-35B_loaded.jpg) Lead of the class USSAmerica | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Helmand Province |
| Namesake | Helmand province campaign |
| Builder | Huntington Ingalls Industries |
| Identification | Hull number: LHA-10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | America-classamphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 44,971 long tons (45,693 t) |
| Length | 844 ft (257 m) |
| Beam | 106 ft (32 m) |
| Draft | 26 ft (7.9 m) (7.9 meters) |
| Propulsion | Two marinegas turbines, two shafts, 70,000 bhp (52,000 kW), two 5,000 hp (3,700 kW) auxiliary propulsion motors. |
| Speed | Over 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | |
USSHelmand Province (LHA-10) will be the fifthAmerica-classamphibious assault ship of theUnited States Navy. The ship is named after the AfghanHelmand Province, the site of aUS Marine Corpscampaign during theWar in Afghanistan.
The design ofHelmand Province is based onUSS Makin Island, which is an improved version of theWasp-class amphibious assault ship. WhileMakin Island has a well deck, the earlier two Flight 0America-class shipsUSS America andUSS Tripoli were designed and built without a well deck to make space for aircraft and aviation fuel.[1]
She will be the third Flight IAmerica-class ship, and as such will include awell deck. The design of the Flight IAmerica-class ships, including that ofHelmand Province, adopts a compromise, incorporating a slightly smaller aircraft hangar as well as smaller medical and other spaces to fit a small well deck for surface connector operations.[2] The island structure will also be modified to free up more room on the flight deck to accommodate maintenance ofV-22s, compensating for some of the lost aircraft hangar space.[2]
The then-LHA-10 was authorized by the United States Congress in 2023, providing$US 1.38 billion for her procurement.[3]
The ship was named bySecretary of the NavyCarlos Del Toro on 2 May 2024, intending to honor the US sailors and marines who fought in the strategicHelmand Province Campaign during theWar in Afghanistan.[4]