U.S. Navy Dock Landing Ship USS Tortuga Undergoes Sea Trials After Decade-Long Overhaul
NORFOLK, Virginia – The U.S. Navy’s dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) has returned to the water for sea trials, marking a significant step in the vessel’s modernization and its first deployment preparations since 2014. The trials, which began from Naval Station Norfolk, are designed to validate extensive upgrades to the ship’s engineering and combat systems.
The Tortuga’s return to service is part of a broader Navy effort to revitalize its aging amphibious fleet, crucial for maintaining expeditionary capabilities. These ships are designed to transport and launch landing craft, vehicles, and Marines, enabling operations from sea to shore.
The modernization program, a multi-year undertaking managed by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center and executed by BAE Systems, involved significant work on the ship’s mechanical and electrical systems, as well as updates to key onboard equipment. While specific details of the upgrades haven’t been publicly released, such programs typically focus on improving propulsion, command and control, and survivability.
During the sea trials, the crew will assess the ship’s performance across a range of functions, including propulsion, navigation, communications, and combat systems, under realistic operating conditions. Successful completion of these tests is essential for the Navy to certify the Tortuga for operational deployment.
The USS Tortuga is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, the second Navy vessel to bear the name referencing the Dry Tortugas islands off the coast of Florida. The Navy continues to balance maintaining an operational amphibious fleet with the challenges of aging platforms and extended maintenance periods.