Tag Archives: VMFA-121

Sea Control Ship, is that you?

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On the road in Utah for an industry event this week, so I didn’t have the 10-20 hours needed to pull off a Warship Wednesday.

In its place, let us talk about one of Uncle Elmo’s pet projects.

Back in the 1970s, CNO Elmo Zumwalt’s “Sea Control Ship” concept that would provide a Cold War-era evolution to the escort carrier concept for convoy protection and ASW hunter-killer teams, the basic idea was to turn these small flattops (18,000-tons, 592-feet oal) like the Iwo Jima-class LPH into economical CVEs overnight through the fly-on of a Marine Harrier det for air defense/surface strike and a Navy Sea King SH-3 ASW/SAR element.

The entry for Iwo Jima-class LPH USS Guam as an interim sea control ship in the 1973-74 Jane’s

Of course, Zumwalt wanted some dedicated SCS hulls, but, barring the shipbuilding dollars, the Iwo Jimas could work in a pinch.

Planned Sea Control Ship concept, art

Planned Sea Control Ship concept, model

Sea control ship outline, Janes ’73

Fast forward to earlier this year, and we have seen perhaps the most fleshed-out example to date of Zumwalt’s SCS concept.

The America class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) just returned home to Okinawa after six months in CENTCOM.

While she deployed in less than an all-out “Lightning Carrier” configuration which would have allowed for 20 embarked F-35Bs, her MEU’s Aviation Combat Element included at least six F-35Bs of the “Green Knights” of VMFA-121.

USS Tripoli (LHA-7) refuels USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) at sea (U.S. Navy Photo)

These F-35Bs, coupled with the rotary-winged assets of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), flew 1,600 combat hours with zero mishaps, including 300 aerial refueling evolutions, Sidewinder/AMRAAM-equipped counter-air sorties, and enforcing the naval blockade of Iran, turning back 140 ships.

America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) sails in the 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East, April 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), April 23, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 11, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, takes off from the flight deck of America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 13, 2026. Tripoli is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land aboard forward-deployed America-class assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 30, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Victor Gurrola)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class MarkJoshner Dait, launches an F-35B Lightning II jet on the flight deck of forward-deployed America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), July 20, 2026. Tripoli is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Danian C. Aiko-Douglas).

Navy MH-60s helped shuttle around VBSS dets from Tripoli’s deck while her embarked UH-1Y Venoms rode shotgun, literally, with Mini Guns, rockets, airborne snipers (w Barrett .50 cals), and EW at the ready.

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit rappels out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk USS Tripoli (LHA 7)

AN/ALQ-231(V)3 Intrepid Tiger II electronic warfare pod on a 31st MEU UH-1Y Venom helicopter aboard USS Tripoli (LHA-7) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, June 11, 2026. Of note, the ALQ-231 is also carried by the F-18. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Maksim Masloboev)

U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit load onto a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), 31st MEU, during aerial sniper and close air support training in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 31, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Victor Gurrola)

Tripoli was relieved on station by USS Boxer (LHD 4) with F-35Bs of VMFA-122 embarked as part of the 11th MEU.

You know…

To control the sea…

As per Zumwalt.

A U.S. Sailor assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) signals a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, to take off during flight operations aboard in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, July 17, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Trent A. Henry)

Green Knights in the Arabian Sea

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Via CENTCOM comes these amazing images of VMFA-121 F-35B night ops from the Arabian Sea aboard an LHA serving in a “Lightning Carrier” sea control/denial role, something that would no doubt make the ghost of Elmo Zumwalt very happy.

Official caption: “An F-35B stealth fighter jet is prepared for flight aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) as the amphibious assault ship sails in the Arabian Sea. Tripoli and its 3,500 Sailors and embarked Marines are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations.”

The “Green Knights” of Iwakuni-based Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 trace their lineage back to 1941 and were charter members of the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign, then went on to produce 14 aces– more than any other Marine squadron during WWII– downing 208 Japanese aircraft in the process.

They went on to fight in Korea (flying Skyraiders), Vietnam (Skyhawks then Intruders), became the first Marine F-18D night attack squadron in 1989 once the A-6 was retired, logged over 2,000 combat sorties during GWOT, and have been riding the Lightning since 2012.

Their motto is “Have Gun Will Travel,” which tracks.

New Lightning Driver

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The first female Marine F-35B pilot, Capt. Anneliese Satz, has passed out of Fightertown at MCAS Beaufort and is headed to the Fleet, bound for the “Green Knights” of VMFA-121 at MACS Iwakuni.

(U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Ashley Phillips)

In related news, Marine F-35s of the WestPac forward-deployed Wasp Amphibious Ready Group recently logged the first hot reloading of live ordnance during flight operations at sea, the first employment of the 25mm GAU-22 cannon against a simulated target, and the first joint aviation fires against a simulated target during the evolutions. The evolution took place in the Solomon Sea, August 4, 2019.

This whole thing is looking more and more like Zumwalt’s 1970s Sea Control Ship program finally coming to fruition.

Marines give the F-35 the thumbs up, first to cert it for IOC

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vf121

The U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability July 31, 2015 with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona, is the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant, following a five-day Operational Readiness Inspection, which concluded July 17.

“I am pleased to announce that VMFA-121 has achieved Initial Operational Capability in the F-35B, as defined by requirements outlined in the June 2014 Joint Report to Congressional Defense Committees,” said Gen. Joseph Dunford, Commandant of the Marine Corps. “VMFA-121 has ten aircraft in the Block 2B configuration with the requisite performance envelope and weapons clearances, to include the training, sustainment capabilities, and infrastructure to deploy to an austere site or a ship. It is capable of conducting Close Air Support, Offensive and Defensive Counter Air, Air Interdiction, Assault Support Escort and Armed Reconnaissance as part of a Marine Air Ground Task Force, or in support of the Joint Force.”

Dunford stated that he has his full confidence in the F-35B’s ability to support Marines in combat, predicated on years of concurrent developmental testing and operational flying.

“Prior to declaring IOC, we have conducted flight operations for seven weeks at sea aboard an L-Class carrier, participated in multiple large force exercises, and executed a recent operational evaluation which included multiple live ordnance sorties,” said Dunford. “The F-35B’s ability to conduct operations from expeditionary airstrips or sea-based carriers provides our Nation with its first 5th generation strike fighter, which will transform the way we fight and win.”

The U.S. Marine Corps has trained and qualified more than 50 Marine F-35B pilots and certified about 500 maintenance personnel to assume autonomous, organic-level maintenance support for the F-35B.

VMFA-121’s transition will be followed by Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), an AV-8B squadron, which is scheduled to transition to the F-35B in fiscal year 2016. In 2018, VAM-311 will conduct its transition to the F-35B.

No matter how you feel about them personally, production seems to be moving right along. For instance, BAE Systems’ F-35 Lightning II facility in Samlesbury, England just completed their 200th rear fuselage. That’s right, in case you didn’t know, each F-35 has an English ass.

I just keep telling myself that when they introduced the F4U Corsair (which had its share of teething problems and was for several years considered unsafe for carrier operations), I’m sure there were some Navy and Marine pilots that would have preferred to keep their Brewster Buffaloes and F4F Wildcats.

And truth be told, the Harrier caught a lot of flack for thirty years over its own perceived issues, so overall, I guess the beat goes on.