Aviation Logistic Support Ship T-AVB

1. Aviation Logistic Support ShipT-AVB Aviation Logistic Support Ship T-AVB UNCLASSIFIED

2. T-AVB Description Platform Description • Displacement 23,800 lt • Speed (80% power) 18 kts • Length 602 ft • Draft 29.8 ft • Crew 41 (Commercial U.S. Merchant) • Troop Lift 25 Officer/SNCO; 300 Enlisted • Cargo Cube • Operational Mode 300* MFs & 52 Access Modules • Transport Mode 688* 8’x8’x20’ Containers (TEUs) • Flight Deck (Level 2/Class 3) all helicopters (*Notional) including CH-53E except CH-47 and MV-22 (CH-53K is TBD) T-AVB 3 Off Coast of North Carolina Program Status Issues • T-AVB usable life expires 2019 (Curtiss) and 2020 (Wright). • Loss of T-AVB capabilities in 2019 will include the loss of dedicated sea base for employment of a tailored aviation Intermediate Maintenance Activity (IMA) to support fixed and rotary wing aircraft.  • Loss of T-AVB capability will cause an adverse effect on TRR and loss of the following; Ability to exploit T-AVB comm suite, opportune lift, MALSP II node, tailorable off-load, and loss of sea base platforms • Role and Requirement in MALS Future: Aviation Logistics Support Aboard MPF(F) Study 21 Oct 2002 Final Report - Identified T-AVB like-capabilities as required in the Sea basing squadron • Provide a dedicated sea-lift / sea base for the rapid movement of the aviation intermediate level (I-level) maintenance capability to sustain fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. • Provide strategic lift in a conventional container or Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO/RO) configuration • Provides selected, sea-based expeditionary logistics support to a MAGTF ACE. • Maintained in five day Reduced Operating Status-5 (ROS-5) by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), a component of the Department of Transportation (ADCON and OPCON). Upon Activation – OpCon transfers to Military Sealift Command (MSC) (ADCON stays MARAD). UNCLASSIFIED

3. Objectives • Support MALSP Doctrine (last mile support) • Time to Reliably Replenish (TRR) • MARLOG • Pier-side support • Explore MARLOG maximization • Logistics transportation nodes • Leverage opportune lift wherever possible • Enhance training/ joint service value of exercise • Logistical support over the horizon (25 miles) • Roll-on / roll-off (RO/ RO) capability • Maintain staff awareness of T-AVB capability and availability of facilities and resources • VIP tours and briefings • PAO UNCLASSIFIED

4. Exercise • Funding (?????) • Is it enough (Yes/No) • T-AVB exercise re-focus • Realistic training Events • Commit to supporting training exercises from the T-AVB • Evaluate choke points • Lift/parts movement • Air/Sea/Land • Assess flow and repair efforts • Increase efficiency and flexibility • Identify shortfalls or Non-value added events UNCLASSIFIED

5. Issues • We need to build a better USMC understanding, outside the aviation logistics community of what the TAVB capability can bring to the fight. To achieve this, we will have to strengthen TAVB advocacy with the operators and build a better understanding of this war fighting capability at the MEF level and higher. In order to do this, a higher level of buy-in to the exercise commitments is required in order to improve overall understanding of the war fighting capability that our ships bring to the fight. That will require operational commitment for the exercises, which would take them from a logistical centric exercise to an overall warfighting functionality exercise/demonstration. The main reason that the TAVB was not employed during OEF was that the MEF Planners had a very minimal understanding of this capability. Time did not allow for detailed briefings on the specifics of the TAVB UNCLASSIFIED