A key Navy warship plagued by problems after a lengthy overhaul returned to sea this week to test emergency repairs to its starboard rudder, according to media reports.
The nonprofit U.S. Naval Institute said the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer left San Diego on Wednesday for sea tests and its Marine landing unit is preparing to resume deployment.
The Boxer is one of the Navy’s nine “mini carriers” designed to support amphibious landings. It carries helicopters, Osprey tiltrotors and F-35B stealth fighters as well 1,700 Marines and landing craft.
A $200 million overhaul of the ship was completed in 2023, but problems remained, and after deploying in April it quickly returned to San Diego because of rudder damage.
Other ships in the Boxer’s ready group continued with their planned deployment and are currently participating in the giant RIMPAC exercise.
The Boxer last successfully deployed in 2019.
