| USS Somerset (LPD-25) | |
|---|---|
 Somerset launched from the Avondale Shipyard. | |
| Career |  |
| Name: | Somerset |
| Namesake: | Somerset County, Pennsylvania |
| Awarded: | 21 December 2007 |
| Builder: | Avondale Shipyard |
| Laid down: | 11 December 2009 |
| Launched: | 14 April 2012 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. Mary Jo Myers |
| Christened: | 28 July 2012 |
| Commissioned: | January 2014 (planned) |
| Status: | Fitting Out |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock |
| Displacement: | 25,000 tons full |
| Length: |
208.5 m (684 ft) overall, 201.4 m (661 ft) waterline |
| Beam: |
31.9 m (105 ft) extreme, 29.5 m (97 ft) waterline |
| Draft: | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 40,000 hp (30 MW) |
| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional) |
| Capacity: | 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total. |
| Complement: | 28 officers, 333 enlisted |
| Armament: |
Two 30 mm Bushmaster II cannons, for surface threat defense; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense |
| Aircraft carried: | Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously. |
USS Somerset (LPD-25), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy of that name; in this case in honor of Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
The name honors the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 whose actions prevented terrorist hijackers from reaching their intended target, forcing the airplane to crash in Stonycreek Township in Somerset County, PA, on 11 September 2001. In the words of Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, "The courage and heroism of the people aboard the flight will never be forgotten and USS Somerset will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those wishing to do harm to this country." Some 22 tons of steel from a crane that stood near Flight 93's crash site have been used to construct Somerset's stemhold.[1]
The contract to build Somerset was awarded on 21 December 2007, to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mrs. Mary Jo Myers, the wife of General Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the ship's sponsor. Somerset's keel was laid down on 11 December 2009, at Northrop Grumman's Avondale shipyard in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was launched on 14 April 2012, and was christened three months later, on 28 July.[2] She completed acceptance trials in September 2013.[3][4] The ship's commissioning is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2014.[5]
References[edit | edit source]
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
- ↑ Swauger, Kirk (6 August 2008). "9/11 steel poured for USS Somerset". The Tribune-Democrat. http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_219233528.html. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ↑ "Media Opportunities for Christening of Amphibious Transport Dock Somerset (LPD 25); Ship Named for 9/11 Heroes of United Flight 93". Huntington Ingalls Industries. 20 July 2012. http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=262928. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ↑ Cavas, Christopher (3 October 2013). "New Ship News – Sub launched, Carrier prepped, LCS delivered". Defense News. http://blogs.defensenews.com/intercepts/2013/10/8761/.
- ↑ "Ingalls-built Amphibious Transport Dock Somerset (LPD 25) Completes Acceptance Trials". October 11, 2013. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/october-2013-navy-world-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-news/1297-ingalls-built-amphibious-transport-dock-somerset-lpd-25-completes-acceptance-trials.html.
- ↑ "Navy Responds To Sen. Toomey's Request On USS Somerset". politicalnews.me. 25 February 2013. http://politicalnews.me/?id=21528. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
External links[edit | edit source]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Somerset (LPD-25). |
- pms317.navy.mil: LPD 25 Somerset
- Priolo, Gary P. (22 January 2010). "USS Somerset (LPD-25)". Amphibious Photo Archive. NavSource Naval History. http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/09/0925.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
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