Ship built with WTC steel sails for namesake city

[David]

AP


AVONDALE, La. – A Navy assault ship built with tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center towers began its journey to New York on Tuesday, sailing down the Mississippi River in a pea-soup fog as watchers along the levee strained for a glimpse.

The USS New York, named to commemorate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, left the Northrop Grumman shipyard where it was built for the trip to its namesake city. The $1 billion ship will be formally commissioned in New York in early November.

The New York is 684 feet long and can carry up to 800 Marines. It has a flight deck that can handle helicopters and the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Four tugboats performed an intricate set of maneuvers to pull the warship from the dock at the New Orleans-area shipyard and turn it 180 degrees toward the waters of Gulf of Mexico. An armed Coast Guard speedboat and a helicopter flying overhead guarded the vessel. The ship will sail through the Gulf and around Florida before turning north and continuing to New York.

Deputy project manager Doug Lounsberry said the vessel was important to the builders, not only because it honors those killed in the terrorist attacks, but because workers were hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 during the early phases of construction.

"It's like raising a kid," Lounsberry said. "We're sending this one off to college. But after they leave, they remain near and dear to your heart."

Farther down the Mississippi, hundreds of people lined up along the river bank to watch the ship pass. Around 9:45 a.m., a man called "Here she comes!" prompting well-wishers to raise U.S. flags and camera phones, as the hulking warship emerged from the haze.

Tourists Dorice and Victor Brown and Christine Cox, of Sterling, Va., were getting coffee and pastries at a nearby cafe when they asked about the commotion and decided to check it out for themselves.

"It's awesome for anything so tragic to be so uplifting here," Cox said, just after the ship had passed.

Brian Corcoran, a mechanical contractor, brought his four children, who range in age from 12 to 5. He figured they might be a bit late for school but was OK with that, given the importance of the occasion.

"Hopefully, it's going overseas to do damage to them like it did to us," he said.

When terrorist hijackers crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, destroying the twin towers and killing nearly 2,800 people, the ship was already on the drawing board. In September 2002, the Defense Department announced the selection of New York as the ship's name, honoring the city and state and those who died in the attacks.

About 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel was melted at the Bradken Inc. foundry in Amite, La., and used in the New York's bow.

The New York revives a name held by at least four other Navy ships, including a Spanish-American War-era cruiser, a battleship that served in World Wars I and II and a nuclear submarine retired from the fleet in 1997.

The ship is a San Antonio-class amphibious dock vessel. The first four ships in the series — the USS San Antonio, USS New Orleans, USS Mesa Verde and USS Green Bay — are in service. Four other ships in the class ate under construction: Somerset and Anchorage at the Avondale yard, and Arlington and San Diego at Northrop Grumman's yard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Arlington and Somerset also carry names connected to the Sept. 11 attacks: Arlington for the attack on the Pentagon and Somerset for the Pennsylvania county in which United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after being hijacked.










The USS New York sails down the Mississippi River through the Port of New Orleans in New Orleans, La., Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. The ship was built with about eight tons of steel from the World Trade Center site and is on its way to New York its home port.

[David]

New York (LPD-21) under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems at Avondale, LA., 16 August 2006. New York is the fifth ship to be built in the San Antonio-class of amphibious ships. The bow stem is made of steel from the World Trade Centers and weighs 7.5 metric tons. New York is scheduled to be commissioned in the September 11, 2009.








Coat of Arms of the USS New York (LPD-21).

[David]

LPD 21 New York

The Ship


New York is the fifth ship in the LPD 17 San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ships.

Name

On 7 September 2002 in a ceremony aboard USS Intrepid in New York City, then Secretary of the Navy Gordon England announced the decision to name the fifth amphibious transport dock ship of the San Antonio class, New York (LPD 21). Secretary England said, "This new class of ships will project American power to the far corners of the Earth and support the cause of freedom well into the 21st century. From the war for independence through the war on terrorism, which we wage today, the courage and heroism of the people of New York has been an inspiration. USS New York will play an important role in our Navy's future and will be a fitting tribute to the people of the Empire State."

Governor George Pataki, Governor of New York, responded by stating, "On September 2001, our nation's enemies brought their fight to New York... The USS New York will now bring the fight to our nation's enemies well into the future."


Namesake

Governor George E. Pataki wrote a letter to Secretary England requesting that the Navy revive the name USS New York in honor of September 11's victims and to give it a surface warship involved in the war on terror. In his letter, the Governor said he understood state names presently are reserved for submarines but asked for special consideration so the name could be given to a surface ship. The request was approved August 28, 2002.

Governor Pataki hailed the Secretary's decision to name a new LPD-17 class amphibious transport dock the USS New York in honor of the heroes who died on September 11, as well as to honor the courage and compassion shown by countless New Yorkers in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

"The USS New York will ensure that all New Yorkers and the world will never forget the evil attacks of September 11, and the courage and compassion New Yorkers showed in response to terror," said Governor Pataki. "I want to thank Secretary England for taking this extraordinary step and agreeing to pay special tribute to all New Yorkers by giving our name to a ship that will play an important role in the war on terror," the Governor said. "In addition, I look forward to the USS New York's first visit to our great City and State for Fleet Week."

Other Ships Named New York

Frigate: Built in New York City and funded by the citizens of New York, the second New York was a 36-gun frigate. Commissioned in October 1800 and commanded by Captain Richard V. Morris, New York sailed to the Mediterranean in 1802 the ship served as flagship in the war against the Barbary Pirates. In two engagements the ship participated in driving off Tripolitan gunboats. New York returned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1803 where she remained for 11 years until the British burned the ship on 24 August 1814.

Ship-of-the-Line: After the War or 1812, Congress authorized the construction of 9 ships of the line as a potential deterrent to future war with Britain. War never came and so the New York, whose keel was laid in 1820 and was ready for launching in 1825, never left the stocks. On 20 April 1861, this 74-gun ship-of-the-line was burned by Union forces to avoid capture by encroaching Virginians at the start of the Civil War.

Armored Cruiser #2 (CA 2): Laid down in 1890, the armored cruiser New York was commissioned in August 1893. She served as flagship Admiral Sampson's in the Battle of Santiago when the American Squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in 1898.

New York later served as flagship of the Asiatic Fleet and as part of the Pacific Squadron before being renamed Saratoga in 1911 when construction started on the battleship New York. USS Saratoga escorted convoys during World War I. The ship, later renamed Rochester, was eventually scuttled in the Philippine Islands in December 1941 to avoid capture.

Displacement: 8,150: Length: 384'; Beam 64'10"; Armament: 6 eight inch, 12 four inch, and 8 6 inch guns, plus 4 one pounders and 3 torpedo tubes.

Battleship BB 34: On 11 September 1911, the battleship New York was laid down and then commissioned on 15 April 1914. The battleship served as flagship of Battleship Division 9 in World War I supporting the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea with blockade and escort missions. New York was present when the German High Seas Fleet surrendered on 21 November 1918.

Between wars, New York served primarily in the Pacific Fleet until 1935, before transferring to the Atlantic Fleet. At the start of World War II, New York escorted convoys and later provided naval gunfire support in the Invasion of North Africa on November 8, 1942. Following this action, the ship trained gunners and providing training cruises for the Naval Academy until transferring to the Pacific Fleet in 1945. New York participated in a pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima and for the invasion of Okinawa and was grazed by a kamikaze. USS New York earned three battle stars for World War II service.

After the War, USS New York was decommissioned on 29 August 1946 and sunk as a target ship in 1948.

Notes: (1) There was also a nuclear powered attack submarine, USS New York City (SSN 696) that was commissioned in 1979 and decommissioned in 1997. (2) LPD 21 will be the longest and widest ship to bear the name New York and within 2,000 tons of having the same displacement as the battleship.

Ship Yard

LPD 21 New York is under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations, greater New Orleans area, Louisiana.
Casting the Bow Stem Steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage has been used in the construction of New York. The shipyard and Navy inspected the steel and found that it was of sufficient material strength so that it could be incorporated into the bow stem of New York.
"We're very proud that the twisted steel from the WTC towers will soon be used to forge an even strong national defense," said New York Gov. George Pataki. "The USS New York will soon be defending freedom and combating terrorism around the globe, while also ensuring that the world never forgets the evil attacks of September 11, 2001 and the courage and strength New Yorkers showed in response to terror.

On 4 August 2005, the LPD 21's bow stem with its World Trade Center steel was erected into the main hull and will forever lead the future USS New York. The complete bow was erected into place in March 2006.

Keel Laying

The keel was laid for New York on September 10, 2004.
Christening Ceremony. The ship's sponsor is Mrs. Dotty England, the wife of Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England. She "christened thee New York" in a ceremony March 1, 2008.

Commissioning Ceremony

Commissioning is the ceremony in which New York will become a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. It is the occasion when the ship will "Come Alive" and New York becomes USS New York. USS New York's commissioning ceremony will occur in mid to late 2009 in New York City.

Ship's Crew

360 Sailors and 3 Marines will form the New York's crew. The Prospective Commanding Officer will be CDR Curt Jones.

Homeport

LPD 21 is scheduled to be a Norfolk, Virginia based ship.

Crest

BLAZON

Shield: Per chevron enhanced Azure and Argent, overall two pallets couped and a chevronelle conjoined Metal Gris, issuing from base between three mullets chevronwise of the first, a phoenix rising Or from flames Gules charged on the breast with a escutcheon of the second charged with two gouttes de sang in chief between three pallets, of the first, of the fifth and Celeste; a bordure from the State of New York Seal Proper.

Crest: From a wreath Argent and Azure between two sugar maple branches Proper, seven piles radiating from base Or surmounted by the mountains and lake adapted from the State of New York Coat of Arms Proper.

Motto: A scroll Azure doubled and inscribed with “NEVER FORGET” Argent.

Supporters: A Navy CPO saber and Marine NCO sword Saltirewise points down Proper.

Seal: The coat of arms as blazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a blue collar edged on the outside with a gold chain and bearing the inscription “USS NEW YORK” at top and “LPD 21” in base all gold.

SYMBOLISM

Shield: Dark blue and gold, the colors traditionally associated with the Navy, represent the sea and excellence. The red is for sacrifice and valor and the white recalls purity of purpose. The gray chevron and two vertical bars represent the bow of LPD 21 and the Twin Towers, respectively. They are conjoined to emphasize the using of 24 tons of steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center to construct the bow of the USS New York. The phoenix rising personifies the hope and determination of this Nation to rebuild and regroup to fight terrorism. The shield on the phoenix’s breast honors the New York City Fire department, New York City Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Red is for the Fire Department, the dark blue is the traditional blue for the Police Department and the Celeste is taken from the patch of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Celeste also alludes to coastal waters and the port of New York. The red drops represent blood shed and the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of 9/11. The stars commemorate the three battle stars the USS New York battleship earned in World War II. The border of the shield is adapted from the State of New York Seal.

Crest: The mountains, lake and sun rays highlight the State of New York and are adapted from the State Seal and highlight beauty and the heritage of the State. The seven rays represent the number of rays on Statue of Liberty’s Crown. They symbolize the seven seas and continents of the world and also suggest a direct connection to the littoral missions of the USS New York anywhere in the world, past and present. The sugar maple is the state tree of New York.

Supporters: The crossed naval and marine swords symbolize the teamwork of the Navy-Marine war fighting team of the amphibious assault warship, USS New York. The enlisted swords further highlight the enlisted soldiers and sailors as being the back bone of our Armed Forces.