Amphibious Vessels

Norfolk Ships Deploy to Support Relief Efforts

Three amphibious ships and a rescue and salvage ship based in Hampton Roads are getting underway Aug. 31 and heading for the Gulf of Mexico to support relief operations along the U.S. Gulf Coast following widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the amphibious transport dock USS Shreveport (LPD 12), both based at Naval Station Norfolk; the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the rescue and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53), both based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, Va., will join the Norfolk-based multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), which is already off the Gulf Coast. Navy support elements from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 2, and Beach Master Unit 2, all based at NAB Little Creek, will also join the disaster relief effort. The four ships will bring with them six disaster relief teams that include amphibious construction equipment, medical personnel, and associated supplies to assist with the relief effort. The Navy's involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations is an effort by the Department of Defense in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Metric Systems Awarded $13.2 M Contract

Integrated Defense Technologies Inc.'s, subsidiary, Metric Systems, has been awarded a contract totaling $13.2M for LHD 8 Shipboard Load Centers and Distribution Switchboards by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. Under the contract, Metric Systems will provide development, production, and integrated logistics support of the Low Voltage Electrical Power Load Centers and Distribution Switchboards for use on the LHD 8 Amphibious Assault Ship currently under development by Northrop Grumman Ship

Northrop Grumman Announces Award

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced today that it has been awarded $171 million by the U.S. Navy for advance procurement long-lead time materials for LPD 21, the fifth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio-class LPD 17 program. "This award demonstrates the commitment of the Department of the Navy to this program, and underlines the support of Congress for this critical addition to the fleet," said Dr. Philip A. Dur, Northrop

LCAC 25 Gets a Turnover

WASHINGTON, DC --The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Amphibious Warfare Program Executive Office announced that LCAC 25, the first of 73 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) undergoing a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), reached a major production milestone -- the hull turnover -- at Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS) in New Orleans, La. on May 2, 2002. TM&LS, the current Navy prime contractor, hosted the hull turnover ceremony at its main LCAC production facility to mark the

USS Essex Underway

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) is assisted by tugs as she gets underway. Essex is the only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and serves Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Brantley (RELEASED)

Navy’s Newest Amphibious Ship Named San Diego

Artist’s concept of the San Antonio Class amphibious transport dock ships. (Credit: U.S. Navy graphic) Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England has named the U.S. Navy’s newest amphibious transport dock ship (LPD 22) in honor of the city of San Diego. “San Diego is home to a large number of the Pacific Fleet’s ships. For decades, our nation’s Sailors and Marines have begun their service to America at boot camps in San Diego.

Navy Awards $816.6M New York (LPD 21) Contract to Northrop

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that the U.S. Navy has awarded the company an $816.6 million contract for construction of New York (LPD 21), the fifth ship in the 12 ship LPD 17 series of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships. New York will be built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Avondale Operations in New Orleans, with fabrication support from three other company facilities in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss., and Tallulah, La.

This Day in Naval History – Jan. 15

1865 - In largest amphibious operation of war, Union forces capture Ft. Fisher, Wilmington, NC, by joint amphibious force. 1997 - Navy physician CAPT Jerry Lineger joined the crew of the MIR space station after being launched on Atlantis during space Shuttle Mission STS-81. Prior to the mission, he was trained at the Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia for over a year. (Source: Navy News Service)

Acceptance Trials for Makin Island

Northrop Grumman shipbuilders and U.S. Navy personnel joined forces aboard the amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) to complete a successful U.S. Navy acceptance sea trial in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship is the eighth USS Wasp (LHD 1)-class amphibious assault ship being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. During the acceptance trial, Makin Island performed all required sea trial evolutions for the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV)

New Navy Ship Named

Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England has named the Navy’s next amphibious transport dock ship in honor of the city of Anchorage, Alaska. “Anchorage is an important seaport and one of our nation’s great cities. For many years thousands of young men and women from Alaska have stepped forward to serve America as a sailor or Marine. The warm hospitality of the people of Anchorage has always welcomed the fleet. The USS Anchorage will project