The Northrop Grumman-built
amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde (LPD 19)
completed builder's trials last week, in a collaborative
effort involving the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman.
Shipbuilders worked on sea trial preparations weeks before the
ship sailed the Gulf of Mexico from Aug. 13 to 16. The ship's
compartments were 100 percent complete, and all systems and
certifications were completed and tested 100 percent to pre-trial
requirements.
Rigorous testing was performed on the ship's main propulsion,
communications, steering, navigational, radar and other systems. Other
exercises included anchor handling, flight operations, compartment air
balancing and ballasting/de-ballasting of the well deck, where
amphibious landing craft will be launched.
Navy representatives onboard during
builder's trials praised
the effort and teamwork displayed by Northrop Grumman shipbuilders and
Navy personnel.
Next month, the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey team
will conduct acceptance trials aboard LPD 19, which will involve more
rounds of extensive testing of the ship's major systems. Mesa Verde's
mission is to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force in
a variety of expeditionary and special operations missions.
Mesa Verde is an LPD 17-class ship. The ship is 208.4 meters
(684 feet) long, 31.9 meters (105 feet) wide, and will replace the
functions of the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST 1179 classes of
amphibious ships. This new ship class affords the Navy's Expeditionary
Strike Group with the technology and flexibility to launch and recover
amphibious landing craft such as the Landing Craft Air Cushion, operate
an array of rotary-wing aircraft, as well as carry and launch the U.S.
Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.