Huntington Ingalls Industries has launched the 12th amphibious transport dock ship of the U.S. Navy’s San Antonio class.
USS Fort Lauderdale, also known as LPD 28, undocked from HII’s Pascagoula, Miss.-based shipyard before the end of March, Naval Sea Systems Command said Monday.
“I am thrilled to get Fort Lauderdale in the water, so we can begin final outfitting and eventually take the ship out to sea for trials,” said Capt. Scot Searles, the Navy’s program manager for the San Antonio ship class.
San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks feature flight decks designed to accommodate V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and CH 46 Sea Knight helicopters, and offer utilities that support amphibious and expeditionary operations.
HII also produces other LPD ships such as the future USS Harrisburg that would support the transition to Flight II San Antonio-class vessels.
