GD NASSCO Awarded Contract for U.S. Navy’s Fifth Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB-5)

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
GD NASSCO Awarded Contract for U.S. Navy’s Fifth Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB-5)
 
General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, was awarded a $106 million contract by the U.S. Navy to procure long lead time material and engineering support for the Expeditionary Mobile Base 5 (ESB-5), formerly known as the Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base program.
     
General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, was awarded a $106 million contract by the U.S. Navy to procure long lead time material and engineering support for the Expeditionary Mobile Base 5 (ESB-5), formerly known as the Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base program.The USNS Lewis B. Puller, T-ESB 4 undergoes Builders Trials April 9th, 2015.
     
In 2011, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first two ships in the newly created Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program, the USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn. In 2012, the program expanded to a third MLP, reconfigured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB), the USNS Lewis B. Puller. With the first three ships delivered, NASSCO is currently constructing the fourth ship in the program, an AFSB reclassified as an ESB, the USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams.

Procurement of long lead time materials is expected to be completed by March 2017. The ESB is designed to serve as a flexible platform and a key element in the Navy’s airborne mine countermeasures mission, with accommodations for up to 250 personnel and a large helicopter flight deck.
     
General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, was awarded a $106 million contract by the U.S. Navy to procure long lead time material and engineering support for the Expeditionary Mobile Base 5 (ESB-5), formerly known as the Mobile Landing Platform Afloat Forward Staging Base program.The USNS Lewis B. Puller, T-ESB 4 undergoes Builders Trials April 9th, 2015. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is moored in the background.
     
Formerly known as ASFB (Afloat Forward Staging Base) the ESB modifications add a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel. The ship is capable of supporting multiple missions including Air Mine Counter Measures (AMCM), counter-piracy operations, maritime security operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions and Marine Corps crisis response. The ship is designed to support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters, and will be upgraded to support MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft.