A buildup of destroyers has begun at Naval Station Mayport as part of a set of homeport changes that are costing the base its amphibious vessels, Navy officials said.
The arrival last weekend of the USS Jason Dunham continues a cycle of ship reassignments that began in November when the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York left Mayport for Norfolk, Va.
Mayport’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima will relocate to Norfolk, too, but the date isn’t clear. The dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry, the station’s other amphibious vessel, was already scheduled to be retired by the end of March.