USS America (LHA 6)

America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) departed Sasebo, Japan for San Diego, California as part of a scheduled rotation of forces in the Pacific.

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN – Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) concluded joint aviation training with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, boosting interoperability and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region. On Sept. 7 and 11, 2025, off the coast of Pearl Harbor, America served as a floating airfield for rotary-wing aircraft from the Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) and Marine Corps’ Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 268.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled port visit, marking its return to the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations after six years of forward-deployed operations in the Indo-Pacific, Sept. 8, 2025.

In a significant stride toward enhancing environmental awareness and maritime readiness, the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) has deployed four advanced oceanographic and atmospheric data collection devices in support of ongoing naval and atmospheric research. These tools are expected to play a vital role in developing both short-term and long-term weather forecasts, ultimately improving the U.S. Navy’s ability to issue timely warnings and implement protective measures across its global operations. 

Sailors from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in a unique community outreach event at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Brisbane, Australia, on July 11, 2025. This unique collaboration provided U.S. service members with a hands-on opportunity to connect with wildlife conservation efforts, learning about the country’s biodiversity while planting saplings throughout the world’s largest koala sanctuary.

BRISBANE, Australia – The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and embarked U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit July 9 while conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA 242) also known as the “Bats”, with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), have a long-standing history, ranging from taking part in the Battle of Iwo Jima, providing support in Operation Iraqi Freedom, to more recently winning the Robert M. Hanson award for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year. July 1, 2025, they celebrated the 82nd birthday of the squadron with a flyover of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), commemorating the past and looking forward for what is to come in the future of the squadron.

Embarked aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE (HSC-25) Detachment 6 trains hard to carry out one of the Navy’s most demanding and essential missions: Search and Rescue (SAR). Whether someone is lost at sea, injured on land, or caught in a life-threatening situation, HSC-25 is trained and ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the flagship of the America Strike Group, arrived in Sydney, today, June 14, for a scheduled port visit. The ship carries embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and is currently conducting routine operations in the South Pacific.

SOLOMON SEA (June 9, 2025) Elements of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are conducting integrated operations in the Solomon Sea, June 9.

SASEBO, Japan – Sailors and Marines assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) received the 2024 Battle Effectiveness Award, for fiscal year 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year the ship has earned this prestigious recognition.

When the USS America sets sail, nations take note. 44,971 tons of U.S. sovereign territory carving a path through the Philippine Sea is hard to ignore but lost in this the picture is the story of the Sailors who man the mighty vessel.

SASEBO, Japan – Capt. Ethan Rule relieved Capt. Manny “K9” Pardo as commanding officer of the only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), in a change of command ceremony while moored in Sasebo, Japan, Jan. 9, 2025.

SASEBO, Japan – The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America received the 2023 Battle Effectiveness Award, May 17.

Captain Manny Pardo relieved Capt. Shockey Snyder as commanding officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier, USS America (LHA 6), in a ceremony aboard the ship, while moored in Brisbane, Australia, July 14.