USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3)

USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), (formerly USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3), and (T-MLP-3/T-AFSB-1) prior to that) is the first purpose-built expeditionary mobile base vessel (previously classified as a mobile landing platform, and then as an afloat forward staging base) for the United States Navy, and the second ship to be named in honor of Chesty Puller. The lead ship in her class of expeditionary mobile bases, she is also a sub-variant of the Montford Point-class expeditionary transfer docks. Lewis B. Puller replaced USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in fall 2017.

USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3)
Lewis B. Puller departing for its first operational deployment in 2017
History
United States
NamesakeLewis B. Puller, Sr.
AwardedFebruary 2012
BuilderNASSCOSan Diego, California
Cost$650 million
Laid down5 November 2013
Launched6 November 2014
Sponsored byMartha Puller Downs
Christened7 February 2015
Acquired12 June 2015
Commissioned17 August 2017
Identification
MottoCourage, Leadership, Duty
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
DisplacementApprox. 90,000 long tons (100,000 short tons) fully loaded
Length764 ft (233 m)
Beam164 ft (50 m)
Draft25.5 ft (7.8 m)
Installed powerDiesel-electric
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Accommodation barge (298 mission-related personnel max.)
Complement19 officers, 231 enlisted
Armament12 x .50 caliber machine gun stations
Aircraft carriedUp to 4 CH-53 heavy-lift transport helicopters
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter landing deck and hangar
NotesAfloat forward staging base variant

Lewis B. Puller was commissioned on 17 August 2017 in Bahrain, with her prefix changing from USNS to USS and her hull designation changing from T-ESB-3 to ESB-3.

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