
The U.S. Marine Corps' 'Secret' Carrier Fleet: How Wasp-Class Amphibious Assault Ships Became Light Aircraft Carriers
The U.S. Navy's Wasp-class amphibious assault ships can carry up to 20 F-35B stealth fighters in a 'Lightning Carrier' configuration, effectively functioning as light aircraft carriers. This capability allows the Navy to project meaningful air combat power without deploying scarce nuclear-powered supercarriers. As China's anti-ship missile arsenal grows, the strategic value and survivability of these vessels is sparking intense debate.
Source: 19FortyFive Defense Tech










