The Navy’s America-Class landing helicopter assault (LHA) type amphibious assault ships were designed to replace the earlier Tarawa class and based on the last ship of the Wasp-class- USS Makin Island. USS America, the lead ship in the class, was commissioned by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula Mississippi in 2014, followed by the USS Tripoli and USS Bougainvile.
Although the Constellation-class follows the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships, the introduction of the new frigates appears to be an attempt to rectify the LCS shortcomings.