Navy Begins Construction on Next Amphibious Assault Ship

From Team Ships Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) started fabrication of the eleventh LPD 17 San Antonio class ship, LPD 27, Aug. 6, following the Navy award of the detail design and construction contract July 27.

The LPD 17 San Antonio-class ships are designed to functionally replace more than 41 ships (the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113 and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships), providing the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable and built to operate with multiple 21st century platforms, and a key element of the Navy's ability to project power ashore.

"This is an important milestone for the LPD 17 program as we begin construction on the eleventh ship in the class," said Jay Stefany, LPD 17 class program manager for Program Executive Office, Ships. "We look forward to continued improvements on production progress achieved on the previous ships of the class and delivering this very capable warship to the fleet."

The principal mission of LPD 17 class amphibious transport dock ships is to transport and deploy the necessary combat and support elements of Marine expeditionary units and brigades. The ship will carry approximately 720 troops, have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion or amphibious assault vehicles, and accommodate virtually every size of Marine Corps Helicopter and its tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys. These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.

The ship will be constructed at HII's Pascagoula facility.