So the recent biannual Talisman Saber 2023 exercise had a supercarrier in attendance, at least partially: the forward-deployed (to Japan) Nimitz-class USS Ronald Reagan and her strike group.
However, it also had four “other” non-carrier flattops on hand as well: the 27,000-ton Australian Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Adelaide (L01), the 45,000-ton amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the 27,000-ton Japanese “helicopter destroyer” JS Izumo (DDH 183), and the 20,000-ton Korean Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado (LPH 6112).
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. Contant)
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. Contant)
Three of the four are at least theoretically capable of operating STOVL F-35Bs as “Lightning Carriers”— and indeed, America had a detachment of Marine Lightning Bugs embarked– while the Koreans have been brainstorming running the aircraft from the Dokdo-class.
Sure, it is soft airpower as it would be hard for this quartet, even if fully loaded with all the F-35s they could park, to replicate the “throw weight” of a fully-loaded CVN. However, it is more underway airpower than Japan, South Korea, and Australia had a decade ago.
And the pictures of the complete formation are pretty sweet.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. Contant)
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas B. Contant)
Official caption (emphasis mine)
CORAL SEA (July 29, 2023) The forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA 6), sails in formation with the Royal Australian Navy Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Adelaide (L01), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH 183), Republic of Korea Navy amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado (LPH 6112), amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules (L100), Republic of Korea Navy destroyer ROKS Munmu The Great (DDH 976), guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tank landing ship, JS Shimokita (LST 4002), Royal Australian Navy replenishment oiler HMAS Stalwart (A304) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) during a formation steaming exercise, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, July 29. America, the lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.