Title page 1

Contents 3

Summary 2

Introduction 4

Background 4

U.S. Navy Amphibious Ships 4

Roles and Missions 4

Current Types of Amphibious Ships 5

Amphibious Ship Force-Level Goal Under Navy's 381-Ship Plan 5

Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Program 6

Overview 6

Operational Rationale, Including EABO 6

Program Name and Class Name 6

Ship Design 6

Acquisition Strategy 7

FY2025 Reconciliation Act Funding 9

Procurement Schedule 9

Procurement Cost 9

Issues for Congress 10

Acquisition Strategy 10

Cost, Schedule, and Technical Risk 10

Force Design and EABO Operational Concept 10

Industrial-Base Implications 11

Appendix A. Operational Rationale, Including EABO 12

Appendix B. Articles Regarding Debate on Merits of Force Design and EABO 15

Author Information 19

Disclaimer 19

Figures 3

Figure 1. Rendering of LST-100 Design Selected for LSM 7

Figure 2. Rendering of LST-100 Design Selected for LSM 7

Figure 3. Rendering of LST-100 Design Selected for LSM 8