Northrop Grumman Ship Systems christens first San Antonio LPD

Sea Power, Sep 2003 by Burgess, Richard R

The first unit of the next generation of landing platform dock ships (LPDs) has been christened in New Orleans, La., at the Avondale Operations shipyard of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. The ship's sponsor, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), named the 684-foot-long ship San Antonio (LPD 17), in honor of the Texas city.

"San Antonio is the most advanced amphibious ship ever built," said Gen. Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, who was the principal speaker at the 22 July 2003 christening ceremonies. "It represents the culmination of many years of development and is the first of a ship class that will take our Navy and Marine Corps team, as well as the nation, far into the 21st century."

Mrs. Trisha Wilson and Mrs. Peggy Carr, both of Dallas, Texas, and Mrs. Cathy Obriotti Green of San Antonio, were the ceremony's matrons of honor.

Other speakers at the christening included Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.); Rep. William J. Jefferson (D -La.); and Hansford T. Johnson, acting secretary of the Navy.

The christening ceremonies were supported by the Greater New Orleans and Alamo Councils of the Navy League.

The 24,900-ton San Antonio is the first of 12 LPDs planned to replace 36 older amphibious warfare ships in the fleet. The San Antonio class will transport approximately 800 Marines for assault of objectives by helicopter, tiltrotor aircraft, landing craft, or amphibious assault vehicle. Northrop Grumman is under contract for lour LPDs-San Antonio, New Orleans, Mesa Verde, and Green Bay-and for long-lead materials for two more LPDs. Teamed with Northrop Grumman are Raytheon Electronic Systems and Intergraph Corporation. The San Antonio is the first ship designed almost entirely with three-dimensional computer modeling.

The ship, now 75 percent complete, is scheduled for commissioning in 2005. With a crew of 361 under the command of Cdr. Jon Padfield, she will be home-ported in Norfolk, Va.

By RICHARD R. BURGESS

Managing Editor