Harpers Ferry-class

Summary

Description

The Harpers Ferry class is a series of dock landing ships that serve in the United States Navy, conceived as modified versions of the Whidbey Island class. These ships were completed in the early 1990s and are designed to offer a compromise between traditional dock landing ships and amphibious transport docks, favoring cargo space over landing craft capacity. Although they lean toward the latter type, they have not been officially designated as amphibious transport docks.

In terms of armament, the primary features of the Harpers Ferry class consist a Phalanx CIWS and the RAM launcher, designed to provide defensive capabilities against various aerial threats.

A significant milestone in the operational history of the Harpers Ferry class was the initiation of a midlife upgrade program in 2009. The objective of this program is to extend the service life of these ships up to 2038. These upgrades were planned to be executed annually through 2013, with the final ship receiving its modernization in 2014. Depending on their homeport, the ships are set to receive these upgrades at different facilities: those on the East Coast at Metro Machine Corp., and West Coast-based ships at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego.

The upgrade package boasts several key enhancements. The ships' diesel engines are to be improved, systems that save on fuel and maintenance are to be installed, together with new engineering control systems. Additionally, the ships' capacity for air conditioning and chill water is to be increased, and air compressors will be replaced. In pursuit of efficiency and reduced maintenance, the ships are also transitioning from steam systems to all-electric systems.

Technical specifications