The U.S. Navy's fleet of 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers stand to be bolstered by nine "small carriers" with the completion of trials proving the Northrop Grumman F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter can fly and fight from two classes of warships originally built to support amphibious invasions by U.S. Marines.

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Extensive sea trials since 2011 have proven the Wasp-class amphibious assault ships (LHD) and the America-class amphibious assault ships (LHA) can launch and recover U.S. Marine F-35B stealth fighters. The F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35. It can also take-off and land vertically like a helicopter from the deck of an LHD or an LHA.

The success in transforming LHDs and LHAs into "small carriers" gives powerful teeth to the new U.S. Navy doctrine of "distributed lethality" that aims to turn as many surface warships as it can into small aircraft carriers.

There are currently eight operational Wasp-class LHDs. There is only one operational America-class LHA but 10 more of these huge ships, which would be full-fledged carriers were this World War II, are planned for construction.

USS Wasp, the lead ship in her class, was used as the test bed for F-35B combat operations. She has had to be modified so her landing deck can cope with the intense heat generated by the F-35B's powerful Pratt & Whitney 135 jet engine.

The Marines plan to purchase some 340 F-35Bs to replace current inventories of both the F/A-18 Hornet (A, B, C and D-models), and the AV-8B Harrier II, in the fighter and attack roles.

The Wasp-class might embark at least six F-35B jets. This class of warship was designed to transport a 1,00 strong Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and land them in hostile territory using landing craft or helicopters.

F-35B trials aboard the USS America, the only operational America-class LHA, were only recently completed and verified the capability of F-35Bs to operate from them.

A much larger carrier than the Wasps, the America should be able to deploy at least a dozen F-35Bs. Her current complement of fixed wing aircraft include six F-35Bs and six Boeing AV-8B Harrier II, which are being retired.

TagsU.S. Navy, small carriers, Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, Northrop Grumman F-35B Lightning II, Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, LHD, America-class amphibious assault ships, LHA, USS Wasp, USS America