Mid-Life Extensions for USN LSDs
May 17, 2011 11:27 EDT
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Extra funding USS Ashland [LSD 48]. (May 17/11)
The LSD MSMO was developed to provide extended dry docking, modernization, upgrades, and repairs to the LSD-41 Whidbey Island and related LSD-49 Harpers Ferry Classes of amphibious landing ships, which were commissioned between 1985-1998. The classes are highly similar, but the slightly larger Harpers Ferry Class reduces the number of onboard LCAC hovercraft from 4 to 2, in exchange for more cargo capacity. Two ships of these classes are being upgraded each year through 2013, and the last ship will be modernized in 2014. LSD MSMO aims to keep all 12 remaining ships of these classes in service and mission-capable to 2038.
These 186-190m, 14,460-14,850 tonne US Navy LSD ships are designed to carry Marines and equipment close to shore, then land them by launching onboard craft from their well decks. They’re similar in size to the earlier Austin/Cleveland Class LPDs, but are much smaller than either the new LPD-17 San Antonio Class, or the carrier-size LHA-1 Tarawa and LHD-1 Wasp Classes. Despite these characteristics, or perhaps because of them, their flexibility and numbers have made them among the US Navy’s most-used ships for several years running…
Contracts & Key Events
APS-West, off Ghana
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LSD MSMO Work will include normal repair and refurbishment, as well as major alterations to several ship systems. This includes improvements to the ships’ diesel engines, onboard networks, engineering control systems, and power management, and improved capacity for air conditioning and chilled water distribution. The biggest long-term change, however, will involve the replacement of high-maintenance steam systems with all-electric functionality.
Under the LSD MSMO program, ships homeported on the East Coast will undergo upgrades at Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA. Ships based on the West Coast will receive upgrades at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, CA.
May 17/11: Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA receives a $7.4 million contract modification for additional repairs and preservation of 33 ballast tanks on board USS Ashland.
Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA, and is expected to be complete by February 2012. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11. The US Navy’s Norfolk Ship Support Activity in Norfolk, VA manages the contract (N00024-09-C-4416).
May 9/11: Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA receives a $78.8 million contract modification for the USS Ashland’s [LSD 48] MSMO life extension and modernization. In April 2010, Ashland found herself in the news after destroying a Somali pirate skiff that was crazy enough to fire on her.
Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA, and is expected to be complete by Jan 25/12. $45.4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12. The US Navy’s Norfolk Ship Support Activity in Norfolk, VA manages the contract (N00024-09-C-4416).
May 28/10: Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA receives a $114 million contract modification to exercise the US Navy’s multi-ship multi-option (MSMO) mid-life extension of USS Fort McHenry [LSD 43]. The ship recently spent time on station as part of Operation Unified Endeavor in Haiti.
Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be complete by May 2011. $68.7 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, On Sept 30/10. The Norfolk Naval Ship Support Activity in Norfolk, VA manages this contract (N00024-09-C-4416).
May 21/09: USS Gunston Hall [LSD 44] successfully completes sea trials, becoming the Navy’s first dock landing ship to complete its comprehensive midlife modernization availability. Work on the ship began in July 2008 at Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA.
Naval Sea Systems Command’s Surface Warfare directorate (US NAVSEA SEA 21) manages the complete life cycle support for all non-nuclear surface ships, and is responsible for the maintenance and modernization of non-nuclear surface ships currently operating in the fleet. The SEA 21 group also oversees the ship inactivation process, including transfers or sales to friendly foreign navies, inactivation and or disposal. US Navy.
Jan 20/09: General Dynamics NASSCO announces an initial $26.3 million contract to modernize the amphibious assault ship USS Germantown [LSD 42], by upgrading her electrical generation and power distribution systems. The contract follows a $100,000 award to NASSCO in July 2008 for preparatory work, and additional contracts are expected for other hull, mechanical and engineering work on the ship.
Modernization work aboard the Germantown began in December 2008, and is scheduled to end in August 2009. The 610-foot-long ship was commissioned in February 1986, and is homeported in San Diego, CA. GD NASSCO.
Aug 8/08: Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, VA receives an $80.9 million contract modification for LPD Multi-Ship Multi-Option (MSMO) Mid-Life extension work on the USS Gunston Hall [LSD 44].
Work will be performed in Norfolk, VA, and is expected to be complete by March 2009. $62.7 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/08. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, VA manages this contract (N00024-08-C-4406).
Oct 25/07: Woodward Governor Co. in Fort Collins, CO received an $11.9 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for 52 Power Management Platforms, and 100 Control Actuators. They will be installed in the Generator Control and Distribution Control Subsystems of the Electrical Plant Generation and Distribution Systems for USS Whidbey Island Class ships, in support of the LSD Midlife Program.
Work will be performed in Fort Collins, CO, and is expected to be complete in October 2012. The contract was not competitively procured by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in Philadelphia, PA (N65540-08-D-0001).
Sept 26/07: Kato Engineering, Inc. in Mankato, MN received a $24 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for an estimated 55 ship service generators to replace the existing generator end of the current ship service diesel generator for USS Whidbey Island [LSD 41], in support of the LSD 41/49 Midlife program. The ship service generators increase electrical generating capacity, and increase reliability, maintainability and efficiency.
Work will be performed in Mankato, MN, and is expected to be complete in September 2012. The contract was competitively procured and advertised via the Internet, with 2 proposals received by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in Philadelphia, PA (N65540-07-D-0022).
Sept 11/07: L3 Communications Henschel Inc. in Newburyport, MA received an $11.3 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract. They will provide various quantities of Digital Ship Control Systems, Remote Displays and Navigation Converters in support of LSD 44’s Midlife Program. The contract will also provide engineering and technical services related to all LSD Ship Control Systems and associated hardware.
Work will be performed in Newburyport, MA, and is expected to be complete by September 2012. This contract was competitively procured and advertised on the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 3 proposals received by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in Philadelphia, PA (N65540-07-D-0019).
Additional Readings
- US Navy – Fact File: Dock Landing LSDs
