Navy's Newest Amphibious Ship Named in Honor of San Diego

[darrels joy]

Navy's Newest Amphibious Ship Named in Honor of San Diego

Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon R.
England has named the U.S. Navy's newest amphibious
transport dock ship (LPD 22) in honor of the city of San Diego.

"San Diego is home to a large number of the Pacific Fleet's
ships. For decades, our nation's Sailors and Marines have begun
their service to America at boot camps in San Diego. Thousands
of military families and veterans have fallen in love with the area,
and are fortunate enough to live and work in San Diego. USS
San Diego will project American power to the far corners of the
earth and support the cause of freedom well into the 21st
century," England said.

Additionally, England noted the longstanding relationship
between the U.S. Navy and residents of San Diego. "San Diego
is a great Navy town and one of the world's finest harbors. For
more than a century, the city has served as a vital base of
operations for the U.S. Navy, and the citizens of 'America's
Finest City' have welcomed our Sailors and Marines as
neighbors."

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations in New
Orleans will build San Diego. The 684-foot long amphibious
transport dock will carry a crew of approximately 360 Navy
Sailors and 700 Marines. The ship will be used to transport and
land Marines, as well as their equipment and supplies in support
of amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary
warfare missions. These personnel and supplies will be delivered
via embarked landing craft air cushions, conventional landing
craft or amphibious vehicles, and can be augmented by
helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft.

LPD 22 will play a vital role in the success of our Navy/Marine
Corps team. It will carry joint combat forces to the fight with
increased lift capacity, superior command and control
capabilities, and improved ship survivability. It will give
Expeditionary Strike Groups greater speed, agility and reach,
and will help us to dominate the near-land battlespace. These
ships incorporate substantial quality of service improvements to
include sit-up berths, a ship services mall, an enhanced fitness
center and a learning resource center.

Three previous ships carried the name San Diego - the armored
cruiser (ACR 6) named in 1914, the World War II cruiser (CL
53) and the combat stores ship (AFS 6).

For more information on amphibious ships, visit the Navy Fact
File at http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/...ffiletop.html.