AOL has an article on the MLP that I find a bit difficult to stomach. Read it all here, but a tidbit.
Saturday saw the formal christening of the USNSMontford Point, the first of a new class of Navy vessel, theMobile Landing Platform, meant to revolutionize the conduct of amphibious operations. By serving as a kind of floating pier, the MLP allows an amphibious force to offload heavy combat vehicles and bulk supplies at sea, without having to capture a major seaport -- which can be a bloody chokepoint in seaborne operation.Revolutionize the conduct of amphibious operations?
I don't know about that! What I do know is that instead of acting to get new LSD's, the Marine Corps and Navy instead chose to procure a ship that is of questionable value with regard to the near term Amphibious Fleet.
In an era of declining budgets, a smaller Marine Corps and fewer hulls in the water was this really the ship that the nation needs?
While you consider that, take a look at JLOTS and consider some of the modifications that could be made to make that system more useful for offload. I don't know what the platform at the bottom of the ship's ramp (in the pic below) is called but a half dozen of those lined up side by side would allow multiple off/on loads of vehicles from ships to LCACs simultaneously.
We could have and should have spent this money more wisely.
NOTE: This is just another procurement issue that the Marine Corps has been silent on. We hear next to nothing from them on the MPC, ACV and now MLP. I like the F-35 but it isn't the Marine Corps' universe. Neither is the MV-22. Time to get this shop in order. Take care of these equipment issues!
