Flight IIA added helicopter hangars, removed the VLS reload cranes, and gained six ready cells. Displacement rose by about 1,000 tons while hull length increased by only 1.3 metres, less than one percent. The five-inch/62 gun replaced the earlier five-inch/54 in the upgrade discussion. Phalanx fits varied, with some ships losing the forward mounting and others receiving a mounting after initially having none. Blast-resistant bulkheads also improved, although the discussion cautions that public descriptions of protection aboard active ships can be contradictory. A revised mast reduced radar cross-section. These changes make Flight IIA the more substantial design break in the comparison with Flight II.
Chapter · 33:04-39:20
Flight IIA brings the practical upgrade
Flight IIA adds hangars and launcher capacity within almost the same hull length, alongside gun, protection, and radar-signature changes.