Marines: Tankers Modified As Floating Bases
November 22, 2016: In late 2016 the U.S. Navy received the USNS Lewis B. Puller, which is the first of two T-ESB ships. The “ESB” part of a recent trend and stands for Expeditionary Mobile Base. This design was previously known as MLP (Mobile Landing Platform) or AFSB (Afloat Forward Staging Base). T-ESB is a 78,000 ton ship that is basically a modified oil tanker. The flight deck can handle the heavy (33 ton) CH-53 transport helicopters as well as the MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft. A structure on the hanger deck mine-clearing gear used by the helicopters (like four mine clearing sleds towed by the helicopters). The hanger deck carries boats and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles weighing up to 11 tons (the max that the cranes can handle.) There are accommodations for an additional 298 personnel (commandos, marines, specialists of any sort). There are plans to add a gym and other facilities for troops. The flight deck can also operate many types of UAVs. There is a lot of cargo space for supplies and fuel. The ship is highly automated and only needs a crew of 34.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htamph/articles/20161122.aspx
