Bay-class Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary. After long debates, however, the Littoral Strike Ship concept faded away, giving way to the Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS), covering most of the support roles considered for the Littoral Strike Ship, but at the very end it fell too, and now appears that the future fleet will get the initially planned Fleet Solid Support Ships (though much delayed) and dispense with both the LSS and the MRSS concepts, therefore sticking only to the logistic support side of operations. American Solutions The United States operates a comparably large number of merchant vessels for littoral operations, which will astonish nobody. The most relevant units are the five Expeditionary Sea base (originally Afloat Forward Staging Base): very large vessels (81,000 tons, 240 m) heavily modified commercial Alaska-class tankers. The ships provide accommodation, aviation capabilities, command and control, equipment staging area, thanks to about 2,300 m2 cargo deck area and 4,800 m2 flight deck capable of operating MH-53 and V-22 aircraft. In 2017 they were commissioned as USS warships, rather than USNS, with naval personnel. Their possible roles cover special forces support, humanitarian/disaster relief operations, counter piracy, counter trafficking, maritime security, mine counter measures. In the latter role, one of the ESB tested the Littoral Combat Ship Mine Counter-Measure Mission Package equipment in September 2019. Different countries have in programme or in service largely modified merchant vessels, in support of naval operations, ranging from maritime security to littoral strike; from special operations to amphibious operations; from humanitarian/disaster relief to mine counter measures. During the piracy outbreak, the Royal Malaysian Navy modified two small container ships (Bunga Mas-class). The conversion included installation of a helicopter flight deck, modular hangar, communications, medical facilities and light weapons mounts, and facilities for launch/ recover small boats. Both units served during long patrols and are still in service as multi-role support ships. A successful cost-effective measure to improve the operational capabilities. Britain’s Royal Navy has been circling around the concept for some years now. The original MARS programme (Maritime Afloat Reach and Sustainment) has been rewritten many times, continuously changing the time schedule and the scope. Three years ago, the Littoral Strike Ship concept emerged as a new solution, intended to replace part of the auxiliary amphibious vessels, providing a cheaper solution for the forward presence, amphibious assault, littoral manoeuvre, disaster relief, mine warfare support, and unmanned craft mothership roles. The procurement concept covered different possible options, from modifying existing merchant vessels for the new role, to building a new vessel following commercial rules, and on up to converting one of the three existing Massimo Annati Merchant Platforms for Littoral Operations 38 · MT 5/2022 From the Bridge
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