상륙함 미해군, 와스프급 상륙함 LHD-1 USS 와스프 5년 수명연장

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When Computers Went To Sea | 미해군 상륙함의 절반이 '열악한 상태'에 있음 - Daum 카페

미해군 상륙함의 절반이 '열악한 상태'에 있음

미해군이 와스프급 LHD의 네임쉽 USS 와스프의 수명을 5년 연장해 2034년까지 운영할 예정이며, 다른 상륙함들도 수명연장을 할 예정이라고 하네요. 

증기터빈을 이제 이 배들만 써서 유지보수가 어렵다는데 어떤 조치를 강구하고 있을 지.. 

미 해군, 강습상륙함 USS 와스프 수명 5년 연장
작성자 Riley Ceder
2026년 4월 30일, 오전 9시 03분

2018년 8월 26일 필리핀해에서 일본 해상자위대와의 통과 훈련 중 항해하는 강습상륙함 USS 와스프. (MCS3 Taylor King/미 해군)

미 해군과 해병대는 와스프급 강습상륙함의 선도함인 USS 와스프의 운용 수명을 5년 연장했으며, 상륙함대의 다른 함정에도 동일한 조치를 적용하는 방안을 검토하고 있다.

원정전투국장 Lee Meyer 준장은 워싱턴에서 열린 Modern Day Marine 전시회에서 기자들에게, 와스프급 강습상륙함에 대한 연구 이후 해군이 USS 와스프의 운용 기간을 연장했다고 밝혔다.

“해군참모총장이 USS 와스프의 수명 연장을 승인했다,” Meyer는 말했다. “이를 5년 연장해 2034년까지로 했다. 다른 LHD들도 연장이 가능한지 연구해야 하며, 계획은 그렇게 하는 것이다.”

Meyer는 또한 상륙 도크함에 대한 연구가 며칠 내 해군 해상체계사령부에서 제출될 예정이며, 해당 연구는 이들 함정의 상태와 수명 연장에 대한 권고를 제공할 것이라고 덧붙였다.

관련 기사

해병대, 상륙차 시제기에 ‘크루즈 컨트롤’ 수영 기능 시험
노후 경장갑차를 대체할 차량들이 올해 처음으로 수상 시험을 실시했다.
작성자 Hope Hodge Seck

이 보고서는 또한 상륙함을 40년 운용 수명 동안 유지하고 이를 50년까지 연장하려는 미 해군과 해병대의 계획 수립에 도움을 줄 것으로 예상되며, 이는 군 전력 대비태세를 강화하기 위한 것이다.

Meyer는 와스프의 수명 연장이 다른 함정에도 적용하고자 하는 사례이지만, 구체적으로 어떤 방식이 될지는 아직 분석이 필요하다고 말했다.

해군의 상륙함대는 운용 기간 동안 여러 문제를 겪어왔다.

2024년에는 와스프급 상륙함 3척이 해상에서 공학적 문제를 겪었으며, USS 와스프 역시 기계적 결함으로 인해 배치가 지연된 바 있다.

2023 회계연도 국방수권법은 해군이 최소 31척의 상륙함, 그중 10척의 강습상륙함을 유지하도록 요구하고 있다.

현재 해군은 32척의 상륙전 함정을 보유하고 있지만, 2024년 미 정부회계감사원 보고서에 따르면 그 절반은 상태가 좋지 않고 유지 관리가 부족한 것으로 나타났다.

한 국방 관계자는 2025년 8월 Military Times에 상륙함 가동률이 41%로 떨어졌다고 밝혔으며, 이는 해병대가 임무 수행을 위해 필요하다고 밝힌 80% 수준을 크게 밑도는 수치다.

해병대 사령관 Eric Smith 대장은 2026년 Sea-Air-Space 전시회에서 현재 상륙함 수량이 전투사령관들의 요구를 충족하기에 충분하지 않다고 말했다.

그는 함대 규모 부족 문제를 해결하기 위해 함정 수명 연장을 언급했다.

현재 전 세계에는 USS 트리폴리와 USS 복서를 포함해 4척의 상륙함이 배치되어 있으며, 이들은 ‘오퍼레이션 에픽 퓨리’를 지원하기 위해 중동에 주둔하고 있다.

트럼프 대통령이 제안한 2027 회계연도 1조 5천억 달러 규모 국방 예산에는 새로운 아메리카급 강습상륙함 1척과 샌안토니오급 상륙수송함 1척을 위한 예산 편성이 포함되어 있다.

US Navy to extend service life of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp by 5 years

US Navy to extend service life of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp by 5 years

US Navy to extend service life of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp by 5 years

By Riley Ceder

 Apr 30, 2026, 09:03 AM

The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp sails in the Philippine Sea on Aug. 26, 2018, during a passing exercise with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. (MCS3 Taylor King/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have extended the lifespan of the lead Wasp-class amphibious assault ship by five years and are considering doing the same for other vessels in the amphibious fleet.

Expeditionary Warfare Director Brig. Gen. Lee Meyer told reporters Tuesday at Modern Day Marine exposition in Washington that the Navy lengthened the operability window of the USS Wasp following a study on Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.

“The CNO approved the service life extension of the USS Wasp,” Meyer said. “He extended it by five years until 2034. The other LHDs, we’ve got to study to see if we can extend them and the plan is going to be to do that.”

A study of amphibious dock landing ships is expected to be delivered by Naval Sea Systems Command within several days, Meyers added. The study will provide updates on the status of those landing ship docks and recommendations for service life extensions.

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By Hope Hodge Seck

The report will also help inform the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ plans to sustain amphibious ships across their 40 year service life, with hopes of pushing it to 50, to bolster the service’s military readiness.

The Wasp’s new lease on life is an example of what the Navy and Marine Corps would like to do with other ships, but the services have yet to analyze what exactly that would look like, Meyer said.

The Navy’s amphibious fleet has faced numerous issues during its service life.

Three Wasp-class amphibious warships encountered engineering problems at sea in 2024, with the USS Wasp itself having a deployment delayed as a result of mechanical failures.

The fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law a requirement for the Navy to maintain at least 31 amphibious ships, including 10 amphibious assault ships.

The Navy holds an inventory of 32 amphibious warfare ships, but half of the fleet is in poor condition and poorly maintained, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

A defense official told Military Times in August 2025 that the readiness rate of amphibious ships had dropped to 41% despite the Marine Corps previously stating that the amphibious readiness rate needed to remain at 80% or higher to complete missions.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said at the 2026 Sea-Air-Space exposition that the current number of amphibious ships is not sufficient enough to meet requirements set forth by combatant commanders.

He spoke of extending the service life of ships to help address concerns over lacking fleet size.

Four amphibious ships are deployed across the globe currently, including the USS Tripoli and USS Boxer, which are stationed in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury.

President Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion fiscal 2027 defense budget asks Congress to carve out funds for a new America-class amphibious assault ship and one San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.

About Riley Ceder

Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times, where he covers breaking news, criminal justice, investigations, and cyber. He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation.

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1989년에 취역한 배인데 이 때가 증기 터빈을 쓰던 거의 마지막이었군요.

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순차적으로 추진기관을 개량하거나 할 방법도 없을 것 같은데 어떻게 문제를 해결할 지 모르겠습니다.