What is the maximum speed of Tarawa class Amphibious Assault Ships?

• A. 18 knots
• B. 22 knots
• C. 25 knots
• D. 28 knots

Answer: (B)

Tarawa-class Amphibious Assault Ships are built to deliver and support forces with stability and payload capacity in mind, not to chase high-speed blue-water runners. Their propulsion and hull design cap their speed in the low 20s, giving them enough speed to keep up with a carrier task group without sacrificing sea-keeping and heavy-lift ability.

So the maximum speed is about 22 knots, which sits between the slower option and the far faster ones. The other speeds—18 knots would underutilize the ship’s power and range, while 25 or 28 knots would require a significantly more powerful propulsion package and different hull dynamics than these ships have.