               The LPD-17 will reflect everything that the American shipbuilding industry has learned over the last three decades.  These 12 ships will form the inshore leg of the 21st century AmphibiousReadyGroup and replace 41 other ships.  The LPD-17 will serve as the primary platform for the AAAV, the embarked MEU(SOC)'s fleet of AH-1W attack helicopters, and a detachment of UAV's.  
               The LHD-17 is expected to operate far closer to the enemy coast then any othe Amphibious Ship and it has therefore been designed to be the most defensable and survivable Amphibious ship ever built.  Structurally it will be the worlds toughest warship per ton.  It has been armored and structurally designed to redce damage from mines, fire, and fragmention warheads.  Blankets and coatings of radar-absorbing material will be incorperated into the LHD-17, along with reduced acoustic and infrared signatures.  The LHD-17 will have only 1/100th the radar signature of the LSD-49 class.  
               Active defenses are also formidable: a sixteen-cell Mk41 VLS is fitted forward, its primary purpose is to launch Evolved SeaSparrow missiles altough it is also capable of carring Tomahawk cruise missiles.  The LPD-17 will also carry a pair of Ex-31 RAM launchers and a pair of CIWS for close in defense.  Two 25mm Bushmaster cannon and 4 M2 .50 caliber machineguns will also be fitted.  To back up the shooting defenses an AN/SLQ-32 (V3) ECM system tied to 6 Mk137 SRBOC, and 4 AN/SLQ-49 decoy launchers will be fitted.  
               In addition to its formidable active and passive defenses the LPD-17 is also being designed as one of the most comfortable warships ever laid down as well as one of the first designed to reflect the new Women at Sea program.  
               The first ship in this new class was laid down in 1996 and it is expected to be completed in 2002.  Subsequent ships will be procured at the rate of two a year untill the entire class of 12 ships has been procured.  
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GAME INFO  

ok this is the first of my platforms i am posting.  I think i have found all mistakes but if you find any tell me.I tryed to take my time and not leave any details out but if you find anything email me.  The only non-realistic systems i included are 4, 155mm guns for fire support om the LPD-17.  I think guns are a far better firesupport weapon then missles and that this area has been neglected by the US Navy.  So, if you want strict reality edit the guns out.  I also gave the Javelin ATGM on the AAAV a greater range then it actually has.       

Now in order to make the LHD-17 carry AAAV armored vehicles and LCAC landing craft i made them helicopters. there is a hanger-16xsmall helo  for the AAAV. I included a hanger for 2xmedium helo for the LCAC.  there is also a hanger 4xsmall aircraft for the UAV's.  i included openparking for 4 AH-1W cobras.  

It is a very sloppy way to include these vehicles so if any one knows any other way to include them tell me and i will change it.  

the make up of an ARG is as follows: 1xLHD, 1xLSD-49, and 1xLPD-17
with 16x AAAV , 51x Aircraft(6 Harrier II+, 4 AH-1W NTS, 30-40 Transport Helicopters (MV-22,Ch-53) ), and 7x LCAC

most of my info and the text above comes from Tom Clancys 'Marines'    good book, buy it.  

Bryan Harig
klassikal@yahoo.com        
