Israeli Navy Receives First U.S.-Built Landing Ship (Photos)
Israeli Navy officers stand on the INS Nahson landing craft, at the Pascagoula shipyard, Mississippi, August 8, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
On August 8, the Israeli Navy received the first of two newly-built landing ships from a shipyard in the United States.
During a ceremony at the Pascagoula shipyard in Mississippi, an Israeli flag was raised on the new landing ship which was named INS Nahshon.
The landing ships, which have a displacement of 2,500 tons each and are approximately 95 meters in length and 20 meters wide, will “act as a central pillar in adapting the Israeli Navy to the modern and multi-arena battlefield,” according to a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The military added that the two ships, which were bought some four years ago using funds from U.S. military aid to Israel, will also “serve as a logistical axis for transporting equipment as well as the soldiers in near and far areas.”
The crew of each ship will consist of dozens of combat sailors, a quarter of them being female soldiers and officers, the IDF said, adding that they will be commanded by a Navy officer with the rank of lieutenant commander.
Rear Admiral Tal Politis, the commander of the Haifa Naval Base, who led the handover ceremony, said receiving the first landing ships “marks a significant milestone in adapting the Navy to the modern battlefield.”
The Israeli Navy INS Nahson landing craft is seen at the Pascagoula Shipyard, Mississippi, August 8, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
The INS Nahshon will undergo final preparations during the next few months, including training for its crew, before it sets sail for Israel. The ship is expected to be declared operational by the Israeli Navy next year.
Israel decommissioned the last of its old landing ships in 1993. The decision to acquire new ones is likely meant to boost the country’s ability to operate in remote waters, like the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. This will allow Israel to observe and collect intelligence on Iran and its other regional foes more efficiently.
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