From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Israeli Navy takes possession of new US-built landing craft
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israeli Navy has received the first of two landing crafts, though the vessel will only be delivered in the coming months.
During a ceremony yesterday at the Pascagoula Shipyard in the United States, an Israeli flag was raised on the INS Nahshon.
The Israel Defense Forces says the vessels, which weigh 2,500 tons and are approximately 95 meters in length and 20 meters wide, will “act as a central pillar in adapting the Israeli Navy to the modern and multi-arena battlefield.”
The IDF says INS Nahshon and the second landing craft will also “serve as a logistical axis for transporting equipment as well as the soldiers in near and far areas.”
The INS Nahshon will undergo final preparations in the next few months, including training for its crew, before it sets sail for the Haifa Naval Base. During 2024, the Navy expects to declare the vessel operational.
The vessels were procured using funds from US military aid to Israel.
