USS Tripoli Moving to Japan to Serve as Forward-deployed Big Deck
Mallory Shelbourne
February 14, 2025 11:39 AM
USS Tripoli (LHA-7) departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022. US Navy Photo
The newest America-class amphibious assault ship will head to its new home in Japan later this year, USNI News has learned.
USS Tripoli (LHA-7) will switch homeports from Naval Base San Diego to Sasebo, Japan, and become the Navy’s forward-deployed big-deck amphibious warship in the Indo-Pacific, Naval Surface Force said in a Thursday news release.
“The forward presence of Tripoli supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests,” the release reads. “Tripoli will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region.”
In turn, USS America (LHA-6) will shift its homeport to Naval Base San Diego. America has been forward-deployed to Sasebo since December 2019.
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/14/uss-tripoli-moving-to-japan-to-serve-as-forward-deployed-big-deck#:~:text=USS%20Tripoli%20%28LHA-7%29%20will%20switch%20homeports%20from%20Naval,Surface%20Force%20said%20in%20a%20Thursday%20news%20release.