The New York troop transport?

[Stravo]

Now this is how
to pay a tribute!

BY CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Drawing of the New York, a $1.2 billion Navy ship to be built with steel from twin towers.
The World Trade Center will live on in a new Navy warship called the New York.

The $1.2 billion amphibious transport dock ship, which Secretary of the Navy Gordon England will officially name today, is to include steel salvaged from the wreckage of the twin towers.

The New York will be a tribute "to those who suffered in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to the nation," England said.

Gov. Pataki vowed the vessel "will ensure that all New Yorkers and the world will never forget the evil attacks of Sept. 11, and the courage and compassion New Yorkers showed in response to terror."

Two other transport ships will be dubbed the Arlington, in memory of the Pentagon victims, and the Somerset, for the Pennsylvania county where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after courageous passengers stormed the cockpit.

"The courage and heroism of the people aboard those flights, and in the Pentagon, will never be forgotten," England said.

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in New Orleans will begin assembling the New York in 2007.

These 684-foot, 17,000-ton ships are used to transport 699 Marines, their vehicles and equipment on overseas missions. They carry a Navy crew of 363 and also have helicopter landing pads.

The New York is named after the state - not the city. And at least five other Navy ships have borne the name New York.

The first was a gondola built on Lake Champlain in 1776 that took part in the Battle of Valcour Island. The most recent was a battleship that saw action in World War I and II and was sunk as a target ship in 1948.

The only Navy vessel named the New York City was a submarine that was launched in 1977 and turned into scrap metal 20 years later.

Originally published on September 10, 2004

Is this true? I'm wondering if our HABite friends may have an inside line on these ships. Are they a seperate class or simply an existing class whose ships will be renamed?

[Burak Gazan]

http://www.pms317.navy.mil/ships/lpd21.asp


5th ship of the LPD-21 class

[Burak Gazan]

*correction: LPD-17 -class ships, USS San Antonio lead ship

[Lonestar]

Yes it is Stravo. Part of the San Antonio LPDs.


And It's a Amphibious Warship. Troop Transport is correct only in the technical Sense.

[Rogue 9]

Notes: (1) There was also a nuclear powered attach 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.

What's an attach sub?

[Vympel]

How much steel?

[Patrick Degan]

Notes: (1) There was also a nuclear powered attach 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.

What's an attach sub?

Remora-class. Very small nuclear-powered boats designed to follow enemy submarines far closer than any other type can manage. Almost as if they were stuck to the hulls.

[Chris OFarrell]

That is sooo cool.

[Exmoor Cat]

Nice ship class reminds me of our Albion class

[phongn]

There's a model of her (and several other ships named New York) in the Intrepid museum for any NYers.

[Sea Skimmer]

Nice ship class reminds me of our Albion class

Only its some major stealth features and is far more heavily armed then an Albion which doesn't even have any form of SAM except MANPADS in the hands of the Marines onboard.

[phongn]

IIRC, Stuart Slade noted that there is space and weight allocated for a pretty good air-defense suite.

[Exmoor Cat]

Nice ship class reminds me of our Albion class

Only its some major stealth features and is far more heavily armed then an Albion which doesn't even have any form of SAM except MANPADS in the hands of the Marines onboard.

Which is why we're bring our latest frigates online for....
i must admit I'm wondering how long 6 Challenger 2s in support of a battallion-sized attack will last.....

[phongn]

The idea is that a 'phib will probably have to defend itself once it starts coming in close and not have to rely on other ships.

[MKSheppard]

Linky

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Gordon England
named the eighth and ninth ships of the San Antonio-class of
Amphibious Transport Dock ships as Arlington and Somerset.

The future USS Arlington and USS Somerset will join USS New
York as living tributes to those who suffered in the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to the nation.

Arlington was chosen to honor the city and county in northern
Virginia, and especially, the 184 victims, aboard American Airlines
Flight 77 and on the ground, who died during the Sept. 11 attack
on the Pentagon.

Somerset honors the county in Pennsylvania where United
Airlines Flight 93 crashed after courageous passengers stormed
the cockpit in an attempt to regain control from the terrorists
aboard. Their actions prevented the airplane from reaching its
destination and inflicting further casualties and damage, and the
heroic sacrifice of these 40 passengers and crew rallied and
inspired the nation.

In naming these ships, England noted the impact these vessels will
have on the terrorist infrastructure that led to their naming.

"USS Arlington and USS Somerset will help America project
power to the far reaches of the earth and will support the cause of
freedom as we engage in the current war on terrorism," England
said. "The courage and heroism of the people aboard those flights,
and in the Pentagon, will never be forgotten by the American
people, and as these ships engage in combating terrorism, they will
leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those wishing to do
harm to this country."

Two previous vessels have been named Arlington. The first was a steel-hulled C1B type cargo ship
operating during World War II. The second USS Arlington was a 14,500-ton major communications relay
ship, originally commissioned in July 1946, which saw heavy use during the Vietnam War, including
helping with communications during a June 1969 conference between U.S. President Richard Nixon and
Republic of Vietnam President Thieu.

Two previous Navy ships have carried the Somerset name, as well. The first Somerset, a wooden-hulled,
side-wheel ferryboat, performed blockade duty and made reconnaissance expeditions for the Union, until
she was sold at public auction July 12, 1865.

The Navy acquired the second Somerset, a wooden motorboat built in 1917, April 10, 1918, under free
lease from the Conservation Commission of Maryland. Designated Id. No. 2162, Somerset served on
section patrol duty in the Chesapeake Bay area during World War I. After the armistice was signed, she
was returned to her owner Nov. 26, 1918.

The 684-foot-long amphibious transport dock ships will be built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in
New Orleans and will each carry a Navy crew of 363 and 699 Marines. The ships will be used to transport
and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushions or conventional landing craft or
amphibious vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft in amphibious
assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions.

The ships will also incorporate the latest quality of life standards for the embarked Sailors and Marines,
including the sit-up berth, ship services mall, a fitness center and learning resource center and electronic
classroom with the flexibility to accommodate mixed gender Sailors and Marines as part of the crew and
embarked troops. The design team also incorporated hundreds of suggestions and recommendations from
more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines in the design for ownership process, to ensure that these ships will
meet their needs throughout the first half of the 21st century.