Don't let the picture with the article fool you.
The lead ship of the US Navy's (USN's) new aviation-focused amphibious assault ship class has completed acceptance sea trials, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) officials announced on 4 February.
While she might have features of an aircraft carrier, America, the lead ship of the new LHA class ship, is an amphibious warfare ship optimized for aerial operations. She is not an aircraft carrier.
The class can be used as a small aircraft carrier for less demanding missions (or missions too risky for the large true carriers) that require naval aviation, I admit. But that ship class should never be considered a cheaper alternative to our big carriers.
