Marines and Sailors at Naval Base Coronado participated in commissioning ceremonies for the giant new 100,000-ton ton expeditionary mobile base USS John L. Canley (ESB 6), on Feb 17.
This is the first ship to be named after Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Maj. John L. Canley, Ret., for his actions during the Battle of Hue City in 1968.
Canley (ESB-6) is the fourth Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base (ESB) and is envisioned to support low-intensity missions in remote areas as a sort of modernization of the old Mobile Sea Bases Hercules and Wimbrown 7 from the Prime Chance era. As such, they can support MCM assets, USCG patrol boats, Army aviation types, and all flavors of Marines and Navy special warfare units.
Class leader Lewis B. Puller was home to the SEALs who lost their lives late last month while interdicting stateless dhows smuggling rocket parts to Yemen.