General Dynamics NASSCO showcases the Afloat Forward Staging Base at Sea-Air-Space 2014

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Sea-Air-Space 2014 Show Daily News - AFSB
 
 
 
General Dynamics NASSCO showcases the Afloat Forward Staging Base at Sea-Air-Space 2014
 
At the Navy League’s 2014 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, General Dynamics NASSCO is showing a model of its Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) ship. The ship is designed to facilitate a wide variety of future mission sets in support of special operations.
     
At the Navy League’s 2014 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, General Dynamics NASSCO is showing a model of its Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) ship. The ship is designed to facilitate a wide variety of future mission sets in support of special operations.
AFSB scale model on General Dynamics booth at Sea-Air-Space 2014
     
Speaking to Navy Recognition during the exposition, Tom Wetherald (Director of Business Development at GD NASSCO) explained that there is an accommodation block located forward for up to 250 personnel for the flight crew or other mission personnel such as Navy Seals or Marines. This space also features a hangar capable of fitting two MH-53 helicopters plus aviation maintenance and mission specific spaces.
 
 
At the Navy League’s 2014 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, General Dynamics NASSCO is showing a model of its Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) ship. The ship is designed to facilitate a wide variety of future mission sets in support of special operations.
 
 
At the Navy League’s 2014 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, General Dynamics NASSCO is showing a model of its Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) ship. The ship is designed to facilitate a wide variety of future mission sets in support of special operations.
The AFSB current design could be modified in order to accomodate MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft
     
The ship retains the capability of ballasting down. Eventhough the ship is configured for air mine countermeasure missions with MH-53 helicotpers, NASSCO believes the US Navy is about to order a study on the ability of AFSB to handle the MV-22. It should not be a significant job to modify the existing design in order to handle the MV-22. AFSB will have an endurance of over 9,500 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots.