I was unaware of this sort of proposal.
Honestly Jeff I don't see any value in converting ships like is suggested. I feel the ships should be build from the keel up as a sea control or LHD. Warships are built to different standards than merchant vessels.
You know, popeye, politicians (both outside, and inside the military services) look for ways to cut costs and appeal to those who may be able to influence their careers and futures.
So, if they can take a vessel, or, if while building a new vessel, they can utilize a "kit" to convert it to this purpose, they figure they would save a lot of money and still have a vessel capable of accomplishing the mission. In the one photo of the LHD version, you see what looks like a long block with the deck sitting on top of it? That, IMHO, is the "kit". It consists of the berthing spaces, hangar spaces, C&C spaces, and the deck and they fit that on top of the hull of the vessel and its machinery.
The proposal in the US is for these vessels to be utilized in the AFSB (Afloat Forward Staging Base) role in support of the actual initial combat...and then move them into the forward areas of operation once combat in those areas is complete to comtinue to provide support from just behind the lines.
Another proposal is to take an exisiting USNS MIlitary Sealift Command (MSC) vessel and convert it, or build a new one of those vessels to this design. In fact, I believe that the USNS Gunnery Sgt F W Stockham (T-AK 3017) (which was originally built as a Maersk RO/RO container vessel) had a partial conversion done to her adding a 54-foot flight deck capable of handling two MH-60 helicopters, an aviation fueling system, a medical module, some comm upgrades and the capability to embark watercraft. That's another possibility.
The MSC and its fleet of Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) is pretty awesome. They operate 48 large vessels that range everwhere from aviation repair, to cargo, to military equipment tankers, lgoistics, etc. The idea is to base needs at sea and avoid the need for a local port to support troops going into hostile shores or environs.
Here's a pic of the converted T-AK 3017:
You can clearly see the new flight deck behind the superstructure. Behind the yellow line is the addition I believe. Big vessel, 54,000 tons full load. I have not seen any pics of a conversion of the already existing T-AK vessels, so I made one of the Stockhom:
I do not believe they US will do a full up commercial conversion, but they might do a MSC conversion of a military grade vessle or new buildto the military grade.
I do believe it would represent a cheaper, faster path to the capability for nations with less economic strength. It's my understanding that the Juan Carlos and perhpas the Italian Cavour have utilized some of these principles. IE utilizing a lot of stock, non-military grade components in producing the vessels they have produced.
