PHOTOS: USNS Lewis B. Puller Builders Trials

The USNS Lewis B. Puller was captured earlier this month off the coast of San Diego during builders trials from the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard.

Lewis B. Puller is the first Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB), a modification to the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ships for the U.S. Navy.

The Mobile Landing Platform is the basis of the Navy’s new sea-basing capabilities, allowing large-scale logistics movements such as the transfer of light and heavy vehicles and equipment from sea to shore.

At 837 feet long, Lewis B. Puller displaces more than 80,000 tons when loaded, with a maximum speed of 15 knots and range of 9500 nautical miles.

NASSCO will deliver Puller to the U.S. Navy in Summer 2015.

Delivery follows the delivery of USNS Montford Point (MLP-1) and USNS John Glenn (MLP-2) in May 2013 and March 2014, respectively.

All three ships were constructed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego, California.