Navy Tag

We have been documenting the U.S. Navy's troubles with one of its premier amphibious assault ships, USS Boxer (LHD-4). This Wasp-Class ship, per the Navy's description, is "[t]he largest of all amphibious warfare ships [and] resembles a small aircraft carrier." It is capable of Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) fighter jet operations, meaning that because Boxer does not have launch catapults, it can't launch classic aircraft carrier fighter jets like the F/A-18, but it can launch the venerable Harrier jump jet and the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It also carries helicopters and can launch LCACs (Landing Craft, Air Cushioned), which are high-speed, water-borne vehicles used to transport Marines to shore.