TSAMTO, March 7. On March 1, the US Navy Command received a new expeditionary naval base (ESB-6) "John L. Canley", built at the shipyard of General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (GD-NASSCO).
Expeditionary marine bases are flexible modular platforms designed to perform various support tasks, including equipment placement, management, mooring, helicopter reception, support for mine clearance and MTR operations, reconnaissance, maritime security, anti-piracy operations, crisis response support, humanitarian operations, assistance to victims in natural disasters.
They are part of a critical infrastructure that ensures the deployment of forces by placing the necessary equipment and support facilities in advance.
As reported by TSAMTO, in May 2011, a contract worth $744.1 million was signed with NASSCO. to create a working project and build the first two mobile amphibious platforms/advanced floating bases in position (MLP/AFSB). In June 2011, NASSCO signed a contract with the US Navy for the purchase of equipment with long production times for the construction of the third platform (Lewis B. Puller) in the version of the "advanced floating base in position" (AFSB), and in June 2014 – for the fourth AFSB ship, the Herschel Woody Williams.
The ceremony of laying the keel of the head platform, (MLP-1) "Montfort Point", took place on January 19, 2012. In May 2013, she was transferred to the US Navy.
Currently, the US Navy is armed with platforms previously built in two versions (after changing the classification of ships) (T-ESD 1) "Montfort Point", (T-ESD 2) "John Glenn", (ESB-3) "Lewis B.Puller", (ESB-4) "Herschel Woody Williams" and (ESB-5) "Miguel Keith".
In August 2019, the US Navy signed a contract with General Dynamics NASSCO for the development of a working project and the construction of the 6th and 7th expeditionary naval bases. The baptism ceremony (ESB-6) "John L. Canley" took place in June 2022. Construction of the ESB-7 continues at the NASSCO facility in San Diego. In August 2022, the US Navy signed a contract with GD-NASSCO for the development of a working project and the construction of the 8th expeditionary naval base.
In addition to the flight deck, which allows receiving four MH-53E helicopters, the ESB platform is equipped with a hangar that provides storage and maintenance of two helicopters, living quarters, workshops and ammunition depots, advanced command and combat command communications, computerization and intelligence (C4I).
