Hawaii first to get new warships that can pull up onto beaches

The Marine Corps later this year plans to activate in Hawaii its first-ever Marine Littoral Regiment — the centerpiece of a sweeping force redesign enabling troops to operate in small units with ship-killing missiles from the islands that dot the Western Pacific.

Part of that redesign calls for a new class of Navy vessel in Hawaii called the Light Amphibious Warship, which can pull up onto beaches, will be between 200 and 400 feet long and cost $100 million to $130 million, according to the Congressional Research Service and other sources.

By comparison, a new destroyer costs more than $1.5 billion. The Navy wants to have 28 to 30 of the smaller amphibious ships.

Hawaii first to get new warships that can pull up onto beaches