(MENAFN - GetNews) Renovating a house is essential to increasing its value, restoring damaged areas or simply making the house more comfortable. Whatever the situation, A to Z Renovations has been offering experienced designers, specialists, and installers for over 20 years, combining their skills to provide their clients with unparalleled support to bring all of their renovation ideas to reality.

New York City, NY Renovating a house is essential to increasing its value, restoring damaged areas or simply making the house more comfortable. Whatever the situation, A to Z Renovations has been offering experienced designers, specialists, and installers for over 20 years, combining their skills to provide their clients with unparalleled support to bring all of their renovation ideas to reality.

A to Z Renovations is a leader in renovations in kitchens, bathrooms, complete remodeling, interior design, and commercial renovations among others. They work safely and are reliable with licensed contractors, as they are fully insured to operate in New York City. Their company offers options from Co-Op renovations in New York City to apartments in Manhattan, as well as to houses out in the suburbs.

'We are one of the leading renovation companies in New York City with a showroom in Midtown Manhattan. Our team of designers and in-house licensed contractors are waiting to help make your dream renovation a reality. We will take you through the entire process step by step, from design to accessory selection to execution of the actual construction. There is no need to look anywhere else for subcontractors, as we have you covered, from A to Z! Said the spokesperson for A to Z Renovations, regarding their unrivaled services.

A to Z Renovations operates with a complete stocked showroom in Midtown Manhattan with the highest development and modernity options. In order to help envision one's dream, their showroom consists of cabinets, bathroom vanities, accessories, hardware, and splashback options. They perform installations with a full warranty and are able to explain every step of the process to ensure exact specifications. A to Z Renovations conducts a general eight-step procedure that consists of a free consultation, labor proposal, design, final walkthrough, ordering materials, production/construction, touch-ups, and 1-year warranty, making sure that they are the one-stop-shop for all renovation needs.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling NYC may get very stressful and chaotic, however, A to Z Renovations commits to providing the best possible experience to completely satisfy all of their client's expectations. They focus on creating bathrooms and kitchens that only appear in dreams, demonstrating the passion they have for the remodeling industry. As one of the leading complete interior renovation companies in New York City and Brooklyn, A to Z Renovations excels in professionalism and impeccable services with a satisfying finished product.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling NYC - A to Z Renovations provides services to both Brooklyn and New York City and the main office is strategically located, making it accessible to all major cities. Visit their impressive showroom located at 362 3rd Ave Suite A, Manhattan, NY 10016. Their business hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Sunday by appointment only. To request a service or free quote, contact their team via phone at (212) 652-2204 or send online inquiries via email to . For additional information regarding their services, visit their website.

Media Contact Company Name: A to Z Renovations Contact Person: Yochay Email: Send Email Phone: (212) 652-2204 Address: 362 3rd Ave suite A City: Manhattan State: NY Country: United States Website: https://atozrenovationsny.com/

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A to Z Renovations, a Top Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Company in NYC Announces Expanded Hours - MENAFN.COM

Worldwide Business with kathy ireland and New Bath Today

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) February 27, 2020

Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with New Bath Today Co-Owner Mike Redman and Co-Owner Ryan Redman to discuss their incredible bathroom remodeling projects done in as little as one day.

New Bath Today is a company dedicated to remodeling bathrooms. The company offers outstanding products, top-notch customer service and skilled installation services. The KOHLER walk-in tubs and LuxStone shower wall panels that New Bath Today installs are world-class products that are not only functional and low maintenance, but also incredibly attractive and customizable to suit unique needs and bathroom dcor. Their customer service is second to none, making sure that every customer is satisfied from start to finish. Finally, all of New Bath Today's bath products are installed by highly trained KOHLER-certified professionals who ensure that the project is completed quickly and seamlessly.

Ryan Redman says that New Bath Today approaches bathroom renovations differently than other companies. He explains, "We focus on 'the wet area', which is the shower or the bathtub area. So we focus on the most problematic parts of most bathrooms. We go in and give customers a basic selection of the most popular designs and do the projects in as little as a day or two."

For more information about New Bath Today, visit NewBathtub.com and tune in to Fox Business Network as sponsored content on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 1:00pm EST.

About Worldwide Business with kathy irelandWorldwide Business with kathy ireland is a weekly half-hour show featuring global executives sharing their business insights and framing the opportunities shaping their industries. Hosted by a business mogul, Kathy Ireland interviews some of the brightest minds in business today. The show broadcasts on Fox Business Network as part of their sponsored content line up and globally on Bloomberg Television. Worldwide Business with kathy ireland extends beyond the weekly on-air program with digital content delivered on various video platforms and across social media.

Visit http://www.wwbki.com for detailed airing schedules or check local listings.

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Worldwide Business with kathy ireland: See New Bath Today Introduce Their Beautiful, Spa-Inspired Bathroom Renovations - PR Web

In 1974, a pop song swept the nation with the lyrics dreams can come true again when everything old is new again.

If you remember hearing this song on the radio, you are part of a generation of Americans who are living longer, more active and healthier lives and are planning for retirement.

Today those planning for their golden years have far more housing options while enjoying greater convenience and comfort than previous generations, thanks to new remodeling innovations known as aging-in-place. These innovations can make older homes new again.

More retiring Americans are choosing to remain in their homes and hope to accommodate to the challenges brought on by aging. Therefore, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offers a special certification for remodeling professionals who specialize in making existing homes safer, more convenient and more comfortable as NAHB-Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS).

CAPS remodelers are specially trained to customize existing homes by anticipating and meeting the homeowners current and future needs because their design principles focus on aesthetically enriching barrier-free environments. These changes can also increase the value of an existing home.

Today, many active seniors find it is far more cost-efficient to make home improvements to accommodate the effects of aging rather than seek out a facility that meets all their unique needs.

According to NAHB, moving to a typical assisted living facility can cost upwards of $60,000 per year each year while the cost to widen a bathroom door, put in safety bars and a roll-in shower should typically cost closer to the vicinity of $8,000 which is a one-time expense instead of a yearly drain on a homeowners finances.

The affordability of aging-in-place remodeling is enhanced by the fact that medically-necessary changes such as wider doorways or a roll-in shower may be tax deductible if supported by a doctors letter.

The CAPS designation was created by NAHB in collaboration with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to allow homeowners who wish to modify their existing home as a reliable way to identify the best professionals to make improvements designed to last a lifetime.

CAPS graduates receive training about both the technical and construction aspects of building for aging homeowners while taking formal business training to maintain their credentials through continuing education.

The most popular aging-in-place improvements focus on reducing maintenance and increasing the ease with which homeowners may move around inside and outside the home.

Aging-in-place remodeling projects that saw the largest increases over the past five years were additional lighting (also known as task lighting), showers without curbs, bathtub grab bars, non-slip floors and widened doorways.

The most popular exterior improvements include ramps or zero step entrances, package shelves near front doors, handrails installed at existing steps and porch or front door sidelights.

Because the kitchen is a major focus for home owners, buyers, and sellers, key aging-in-place kitchen improvements include elevating dishwashers and other appliances to protect against back strain. Also included are rolling islands that can be placed under counters when not in use, revolving corner shelves, pull-out shelves and cutting boards, larger cabinet and drawer pulls, and sinks that adjust to different heights.

These are just some of the improvements that can make golden years more golden and can often enhance the value of the home. So, if youre looking for a remodeler to improve a home for an aging-in-place homeowner, make sure you choose one with a CAPS designation from NAHB by visiting http://www.nahb.org and searching remodeling.

A certified CAPS remodeling professional can show you all the ways a remodeling job can make your home an easier place in which to thrive.

The Building Industry Association (BIA) Baldy View Chapter seeks to advance the opportunity to attain the American Dream of homeownership. For more information on buying, selling or just enjoying your home, visit http://www.BIABUILD.com on the web.

Jim Perry is Vice President of Operations for William Lyon Homes and President of the Building Industry Association (BIA) Baldy View Chapter.

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Baldy View Chapter (BIA): The right remodeler is the key to aging-in-place - VVdailypress.com

If youre looking for highly effective, yet affordable carpet cleaning services in Massillon, OH and the surrounding areas, Brahlers Cleaning, Restoration & Remodeling is a great choice.

Massillon, OH - If youre looking for highly effective, yet affordable carpet cleaning services in Massillon, OH and the surrounding areas, Brahlers Cleaning, Restoration & Remodeling is a great choice. Brahlers is a leading contractor in the carpet cleaning industry with over 4 decades of experience offering high-quality carpet cleaning solutions for homeowners and business owners in the region. Their prestigious company is comprised of expert technicians, certified with the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration) which guarantees that their services are performed with the highest-quality products and workmanship.

Owners Todd and Marie Brahler enjoy working with their customers, which are spread all over the area. Todd says, "When we come into your home or business, we want to provide you with a cleaning service that youll be excited about. Whether you have carpet stains, pet odors, deep dirt, or you just want fresher looking carpets, we can help. We use state-of-art professional carpet cleaning equipment that enables us to work with virtually any situation."

Along with premiercarpet cleaning services, Brahlers Cleaning, Restoration & Remodeling offers other services including upholstery cleaning, rug cleaning, tile & grout cleaning, window cleaning and more. They also specialize in home and business restoration after storms, fires or floods. Their expert technicians are available 24/7 for any emergency, offering services such as fire & smoke damage repair, mold remediation, water & flood damage, wind & storm damage, vandalism repair, sewer backups, and crime/death scene clean up.

When it comes to home remodeling services, Brahlers Cleaning, Restoration & Remodeling is the #1 choice for homeowners in the Massillon and Canton areas, as they offer a comprehensive array of services including kitchen upgrades, bathroom upgrades, roofing & gutter repair & installation, siding & window installation, flooring installation, new addition & decks, drywall & painting, as well as many other remodeling services that clients may need.

Their locally-owned and family-operated cleaning, restoration & remodeling company has become one of the best-voted in its field thanks to their great professionalism and fair business practices. For over 4 decades they have been providing customers with peace of mind for both residential and commercial projects, delivering best-of-class services, day and night.

"Everything about the process was seamless. I was never nervous about not being home while the crew from Brahlers Cleaning Restoration and Remodeling was working, as all of their work was absolutely amazing. They were flexible and communicated well throughout the process." Said a past customer, regarding her experience hiring Brahlers Cleaning, Restoration and Remodeling.

Brahlers Cleaning. Restoration and Remodeling is located at 1929 9th Street Southwest, Massillon, OH 44647. Forprofessional carpet cleaning, contact their team via phone at 330-834-0008 or send online inquiries via email to info@brahlerscrr.com. For additional information regarding their services or to request a free quote, visit their websitewww.brahlerscrr.com .

Media ContactCompany Name: Brahlers Cleaning Restoration and RemodelingContact Person: Todd BrahlerEmail: Send EmailPhone: 330-834-0008Address:1929 9th Street Southwest City: MassillonState: OHCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.brahlerscrr.com

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Brahler's Cleaning, Restoration and Remodeling has Been Providing Carpet Cleaning Services for Over 40 Years - Press Release - Digital Journal

KNOWLTON One of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 was closed through the Delaware Water Gap on Tuesday with a dozen-person crew doing inspections and repairs, said a local official.

Knowlton Mayor Adele Starrs, who has been vocal in seeking full disclosure from the state about its rockfall mitigation plans for about a mile of the highway, said she drove through the area on Tuesday, saw the closure and work crews, and stopped to question a supervisor on the scene.

He said they were inspecting and doing minor repairs, Starrs said. Im not sure it takes 12 people to make minor repairs.

Over the past two weeks, pictures have been posted on Facebook and published in local newspapers showing possible erosion under a retaining wall which is part of the structure that holds the travel lanes of the highway as it moves through an area known as the S-curves.

In that same area NJ DOT has proposed building fences and other barriers, as well as cut back a part of Mount Tammany, to lessen the chances of rocks falling from the peak which rises about 1,200 feet above the highway.

Mount Tammany forms the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap, a nationally recognized natural wonder and which lends its name to a unit of the National Park Service straddling the Delaware River which flows through the gap. The Pennsylvania side of the gap is known as Mount Minsi.

During an open house last summer a resident claims she gave a DOT representative photos of the erosion under the wall.

Starrs said Tuesday that the town now has documentation that the woman also forwarded a letter with the photos attached to DOT officials in July.

Another set of photos taken in late Februrary was posted on the Facebook page of the I80CoalitionDWG, a citizens group that formed last year to also get information from DOT and recruit citizens who are experts in the field, to look at the states reasoning and data on the rockfall mitigation project.

With the publication of the pictures early last week, DOT sent responses to the New Jersey Herald, as well as organizers of the Facebook page and township officials in Knowlton and Hardwick.

While the responses came from differing offices within the department, the wording was identical and that DOT NJDOT appreciates residents bringing potential safety concerns to the attention of the Department, and of the specific concerns, Our inspectors conducted an initial evaluation of the structure and found the erosion poses no short-term safety concerns at this time, but the condition does need repair.

One possible cause of the undercutting of the wall might be the roads drainage system with outlet pipes contained in several locations in the wall. Water drains off the face of the cliffs and is directed by channels into several culverts which travel under the highway.

Over the years, lanes of the highway have been closed because of water overflowing the drains and onto the road.

Also talked about as a cause for the erosion is flooding on the Delaware River. The wall sits atop the north bank, several feet above the river.

The latest historic crest of the river 13th on the list of top floods was in late January 2018, when the river flowed at 20.08 feet at Tocks River, about four miles upstream from the gap, where flood stage is 21 feet.

In 2011, there were four flood events with higher floods with the highest on record in 1955, before the interstate was completed. The second highest reading of 33.87 feet was in 2006.

The I80CoalitionDWG is also sponsoring a petition signature drive on Change.org and by Tuesday had about 2,300 names toward its goal of 2,500 signatures.

The petition is aimed at getting DOT to stop the rockfall mitigation project until all other alternatives have been thoroughly studied.

The Knowlton and Hardwick township committees, as well as other citizens groups, are also demanding that a formal, long-form Environmental Impact Statement be completed before further work is done, other than fixing current damage to the highway system.

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DOT doing inspections, repairs on I-80 in Delaware Water Gap - Pocono Record

Published: 15:04 Updated: 15:05 Friday 28 February 2020

A busy road in Whalley is to benefit from repairs to its retaining wall.

Accrington Road in Whalley will see major rebuilding of masonry sections and repairs to its pointing on the retaining wall.

Similar work will also be done on the A56 at Lowerford and Foulridge, in Pendle, and Bacup Road and Accrington Road in Burnley.

Lancashire County Council has been awarded an extra 3.16m. for road repairs following a successful funding bid to government.

Following the council's budget meeting earlier this month where an extra 5m. was committed to keeping Lancashire's roads in good repair, it brings the total investment for highway infrastructure in the coming year to around 48m. The work will be carried out over the next two years, with the county council contributing a further 800,000 towards the retaining wall repairs, totalling 3.96m.

The county council is one of 32 UK councils awarded a share of the 93.4m. Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.

County Coun. Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The task of maintaining our highways is about more than just repairing road surfaces, and includes ensuring vital structures such as retaining walls are in good condition. They are essential to keeping routes open, particularly in East Lancashire where the hilly geography means there are a huge number of walls and bridges supporting our roads. Repairs can be expensive as the work is complex, and the locations can be difficult to access, so I'm very pleased that our bid has been successful, allowing us to safeguard these important structures for many years to come."

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Repairs to retaining wall on major Whalley road to go ahead - Clitheroe Advertiser

A driver of an SUV was seriously injured after he stopped in the middle of I-75 on Monday and set off a chain-reaction collision.

The white Jeep Cherokee came to a stop in the northbound lanes with hazard lights flashing just south of the I-285 interchange in Cobb County, authorities said in a news release. It was hit from behind by a silver Nissan Sentra about 11:30 p.m.

The crash forced the Nissan to the right, where it crashed into the retaining wall on the right shoulder before coming to a stop in the right emergency lane, Cobb County police spokesman Sgt. Wayne Delk said.

The impact pushed the Jeep forward in the third lane from the center, where it was hit again by a gray Ford F-150, according to traffic investigators.

The driver of the Nissan was not injured. The Fords driver was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, but the Jeeps driver was seriously injured, Delk said.

He was identified as 30-year-old Jordan Witherspoon of Derby, Kansas. He was also taken to Kennestone, and an update on his condition was not provided Wednesday.

The crash remains under investigation, Delk said. Anyone with information is asked to call770-499-3987.

Please return to AJC.com for updates.

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Driver seriously injured after stopping on I-75 in Cobb - Atlanta Journal Constitution

From massive dredging and beach renourishment in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown to renovations at the Gay Head Cliffs overlook, a number of public works improvement projects are under way around the Island this winter.

North Bluff in Oak Bluffs has a brand new beach. Aaron Wilson

All are being paid for with a variety of public and private funds, including state grants, Community Preservation Act monies and private donations.

On the Beach Road running between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, piping and heavy equipment associated with dredging have been in evidence for months, as a two-town project to suck sand from Sengekontacket and replenish eroded beachfronts takes place.

The major project includes work on both ends of the north-facing coastline.

In Edgartown, sand dredged from Sengekontacket using the town-owned dredge has been sold to Oak Bluffs for its beachfront needs; more sand will be used to stave off ongoing erosion at Fuller street beach.

Meanwhile, Oak Bluffs obtained funding last year for a wide-ranging beach restoration project from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program. The $2.7 million project, which includes a $689,000 contribution from the town, has included renourishing beach areas along Seaview avenue and the North Bluff, where a new seawall and boardwalk are already in place.

Final phases of the project will include the installation of new groins, and future phases will include refurbishment work on the Farm Pond culvert and jetties that line the entrance to the Oak Bluffs harbor.

Farther west, in Menemsha construction began early this month on a pedestrian path that will run along Basin Road, leading to beach. The path is aimed at better walking safety for pedestrians and beach-goers in summer, when the historic fishing village is jammed with tourists, residents and fishermen.

The idea was to improve safety around that corner. In the summertime its a choke point for pedestrians, and cars, and a lot of people felt it was dangerous, said town administrator Tim Carroll. We dont have sidewalks, so were just trying to make a little bit of room.

The new path will feature a crushed stone and shell walk in addition to a low stone retaining wall. The project is being paid for mostly by private donors, Mr. Carroll said. About $27,000 will come from taxpayers.

Funding was approved at a special town meeting in November 2018. Property owners who are abutters have donated easements, Mr. Carroll said. The work is being done by Merry and Sons Inc., and John Keene Excavation Inc.

[The path] is a small part of the discussion that has been going on for five-plus years, Mr. Carroll said. The so-called Menemsha corridor plan, commissioned by the town and the Marthas Vineyard Commission in 2017, outlined many renovations to make roads safer and ease the flow of traffic congestion to the village.

New sidewalk under construction on Basin Road in Menemsha. Albert O. Fischer 3rd

Other proposed improvements for Menemsha, including a VTA bus turnaround by the comfort station, parking lot changes and a boardwalk over the dunes, failed to pass muster with voters.

It was different for the small pedestrian walkway.

This is the one part of the project that has seen no opposition at all, Mr. Carroll said. Even the online chat groups are saying nice things, which in this day and age is rare.

The path runs across the road from the former Harbor Craft Shop, which will reopen this spring as the Ruel Gallery.

Next door, the Menemsha Bite has been vacant for almost two years. On the other side of the harbor, the Menemsha Market stands boarded up and vacant following a fire at this time last year. Chilmark building inspector Lenny Jason said the market will not reopen this summer.

Work has been under way in the harbor too, including maintenance dredging and the replacement of freshwater lines and new decking on the transient yacht dock.

Harbor master Ryan Rossi said the electrical issues that have plagued crab corner, a shallow wading area near the jetty, have been pinpointed. A light current that was turning up in the water was finally traced to a faulty ground.

The [warning] signs will stay up this summer, Mr. Rossi said, but he believes the problem has been solved.

This is all just . . . to make sure everything runs smooth during the summer, he said. Its all going very well.

In Aquinnah, a major upgrade near the scenic Gay Head Cliffs will include a new viewing platform and other improvements around the Circle and shops. The $220,000 project will be paid for by a combination of Community Preservation Act funds and money from private donors. Derrill Bazzy, chairman of the town community preservation committee, said the upgrade has been long overdue.

The area was so neglected, half of it was just asphalt and the rest was dirt, with poison ivy coming through the fences, Mr. Bazzy said. Once the decking goes in, we will be 90 per cent there.

He added: It will still feel like youre in the middle of an untouched part of the cliffs. It will continue to have a simple feel, but it will be a much better and safer place for visitors.

Future plans call for replanting the area with native species such as bayberry. New fencing will have less impact on the face of the cliff, Mr. Bazzy said.

The deadline is Memorial Day, and we seem to be on target, he said. I would consider it a hard deadline, thats when we start to get a lot of people coming up here.

Aaron Wilson contributed reporting.

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Dredging and More: Public Works Projects Abound on Island - The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News

Latest news on the Belgrave Road landslip shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed

The Isle of Wight have been continuing to undertake daily site inspections (twice daily during the two named storms) and monitoring of the wall movement and cracking both at the top of the terrace and the middle and lower sections.

Wire netting held wall collapse in placeThe heavy rainfall during the storms has resulted in the top section of the wall moving further downwards, with falling material coming to rest on the lower terrace.

However, the wire netting has worked effectively and contained the materials within the site.

No movement or deterioration was observed in the middle wall and no additional cracking or deterioration was observed in the lower wall above Esplanade Road.

No signs road is in any danger of collapsingThe current movement notwithstanding, we are keen to reassure residents that, contrary to some media reports, there are no signs that the road itself is substantially in any danger of collapsing.

While the wall continues to move, it remains unsafe and impractical for us to intervene until we can be certain the situation has stabilised further. However, we are continuing to look at what steps we might be able to take as soon as it becomes safe for us to do so.

Site being topographically monitoredA topographical survey of the site area was carried out last week which will assist us in this process.

This, together with the installation and initial survey of monitoring equipment, will enable us to undertake more detailed monitoring of the site and allow us to see when it has stabilised sufficiently for us to carry out a more thorough investigation on site.

Work cant pose risk to othersWe understand that residents will be keen for this situation to the rectified and the road reopened as soon as possible, but we must wait until we can be satisfied that any work on site will not pose a safety risk either to residents or to our workforce or affect the stability of the area.

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Belgrave Road landslip: Latest photos of retaining wall collapse - On The Wight

Key point:Light carriers are smaller than regular supercarriers, but they are cheaper to build and still function like a flattop. They also carry Marines and their supplies and weapons to any fight anywhere in the world.

Were the USS America to cruise alongside the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the average Joe might struggle to distinguish their purposes. Both flat-tops measure longer than two-and-half football fields in length and carry jet fighters and helicopters.

But the America and her sistership Tripoli are technically Landing Helicopter Assault vessels numbered LHA-6 and LHA-7 respectively: super-sized members of the gator navy of amphibious assault ships designed to deploy the expeditionary units of the U.S. Marine Corps onto hostile shores. In addition to the Navy crew of 1,000-1,200 sailors and officers, each LHA can carry nearly 1,700 Marines.

Unlike the catapult-launched Rafale-M jet fighters on the Charles de Gaulle, the America and Tripoli can only deploy short-takeoff and vertical-lift capable jump jets from their decks. You can see a video of an F-35B hovering down for a landing on the America here.

Rather than using nuclear reactors to achieve brisk speeds of 30 knots, 45,000-ton LHAs use an innovative hybrid electric/gas-turbine propulsion system pioneered in the final Wasp-class LHD, USS Makin Island. The electric propulsion is used for slower cruising speeds while the gas-turbine becomes more efficient near the more modest maximum speed of twenty knots.

However, unlike the Wasp-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) they were based upon, America and Tripoli lack floodable well deck which can carry landing craft to ferry troops ashore. (This video shows how the Wasps cavernous well deck works.)

All that space has instead gone to dramatically expanded aviation facilities and fuel stores. The ships medical facilities were also reduced by two-thirds.

Instead of watercraft, the LHAs rely on squadrons of MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotors, sophisticated hybrid aircraft combining the vertical lift ability of a helicopter and the speed and range of an airplaneto insert troops by air.

Officially, a typical air wing on the America would include a dozen Ospreys, six Harrier or F-35B jump jets, seven AH-1Z Viper attack and four CH-53K heavy transport helicopters to support troops ashore, and two MH-60S choppers for anti-submarine and search-and-rescue duties.

But if the Navy wants to, it could instead cram up to twenty fighters on the LHDs, turning them effectively into light aircraft carriersa class of ship the Navy hasnt built since World War II. Like the lower-end escort carrier, the concept was that there were many missions like aircraft delivery and convoy escort that would benefit from air support, but didnt require the massive firepower of a full carrier air wing with seventy to a hundred warplanes.

Indeed, during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 the Navy used the LHDs Bataan and Bonhomme Richard as pocket carriers primarily to launch Harrier airstrikes in Iraq.

However, the subsonic Harrier, though a versatile support platform, was substantially inferior in performance to equivalent land-based or catapult-launched fighters.

The new supersonic-capable F-35B Lightning II stealth jets entering service with the Marine Corps are far more capable of taking on fourth- and fifth-generation fighters and launching longer-range strikes. Combined with the F-35s surveillance capabilities, this means future air wings on LHDs and LHAs will be far more versatile.

As the Pentagons chief strategic contingency is preparing for the possibility of conflict with China, the Marine Corps sees the Pacific Ocean as its most important likely battleground.

A U.S.-China conflict might play out over small islands in the South China Sea in which the Chinese military has installed airfields, missile batteries and naval bases. And it may prove inefficient or risky to delegate a full-sized supercarrier to operations targeting these islands, or defend islands to which Marine and Army forces have deployed their own missile batteries.

Indeed, the LHD USS Wasp deployed in April 2019 with ten F-35Bs onboard and buzzed Chinese troops deployed at Scarborough Shoal, an occupied by Chinese troops but claimed by the Philippines.

Light carriers might also be appropriate in scale for protecting vital convoys traversing the vastness of the Pacific against sporadic air and submarine attacks using their onboard fighters and helicopters respectively.

The cost of the America-class LHAs reflects the efficiency argument well: the three ships ordered together were developed and built for $10 billion. Thats less than a single $13 billion Gerald Ford-classsupercarrier.

Bringing Back the Well Deck

Nonetheless, Marines have understandable objections to the removal of the ability to deploy landing craft from a nominally amphibious ship.

Afterall, air-cushion landing craft (LCAC) can carry up to 180 soldiers, 60-75 tons of supplies on each load, and vehicles as large as an Abrams main battle tank. Meanwhile, an Osprey can only carry 10-15 tons or thirty-two personnel. The only vehicle the MV-22B is certified to carry internally is a Growler jeep.

The Marine Corps, however, is increasingly convinced that D-Day style amphibious landings on defended beachheads are less and less likely to be viable in modern warfare.

Its not merely that they fear a bloodbath on the beaches of the sort depicted in Saving Private Ryan or Letters from Iwo Jima.

Strategists worry that long-range shore-launched anti-ship missiles will make it unlikely that landing craft, and even the larger LHDs and LHA carrying those landing craft, will be able to approach close enough to even deposit their troops in the first place. Surely, giant amphibious ships stuffed full with over a thousand Marines would be particularly tempting targets.

America-class LHAs can at least thin out threats up to thirty miles away with their two Evolved Sea Sparrow missile launchers before having to rely on Phalanx gatling cannons and Rolling Airframe Missile launchers and Nulka decoys for point defense. But none of these systems can even hope to stop anti-ship ballistic missiles entering service in Iran and China.

Thus, the Marine Corps recently abandoned its former objective of maintaining thirty-eight amphibious assault ships in service (it currently has thirty-two) which can deployed two full brigades into battle between them, in favor of dispersing troops amongst more numerous, though less capable, auxiliary and even robotic ships.

That may explain why the Navy prioritized the ability to launch additional troop-carrying Ospreys from over a hundred miles away which can land behind enemy lines rather than exposed beachheads.

But that doesnt change the issue of logistical throughput: if you need to rapidly reinforce a beachhead with heavy weapons, vehicles and supplies, landing craft are preferableespecially once nearby enemy defenses are suppressed.

The Ospreys themselves, while highly flexible, are also expensive to maintain and operate per flight hour. Furthermore, exhaust from both the Osprey and, especially, the F-35Bs inflict heat damage to the flight deck over time, limiting the advisability and increasing the cost of surging high-intensity flight operations over prolonged periods. The Navy has been continuously adapting the ships to prevent heat damage for years.

Therefore, in a bid to restore flexibility, the third America-class ship, Bouganville (LHA-8) which was laid down in March 2019 in Mississippi, will see the well-deck restored with a capacity for two LCACS. The island is trimmed down to allow more flight deck parking spot in compensation for lost hangar space. Armament and sensors are re-situated onto the vessels island superstructure, including a brand-new EASR radar also destined to equip future Gerald Ford-class carriers.

The new configuration inevitably requires tradeoffs. According to a chart at Navy Recognition, Bougainville falls squarely in between the Wasp-class LHD and the first two America-class boats with 38,000 square feet of deck space dedicated to aviation, but has less than half the aviation fuel capacity of her sister ships and more limited vehicle stowage.

Despite these downsides, the restoration of the ability to carry landing craft should improve the America classs flexibility. Still, naval planners will hopefully bear in mind the carriers secondary potential to serve as economy-size aircraft carriers for missions that dont require $13 billion supercarriers.

Sbastien Roblin holds a masters degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing, and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring.

Image: Reuters

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F-35 Stealth Fighters Are Now Ready to Launch From America's "Light" Carriers - The National Interest Online