HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. on Thursday introduced new amphibious transport dock ship Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) it’s constructing for the U.S. Navy has accomplished builder’s sea trials. The San Antonio-class ship hung out within the Gulf of Mexico testing all programs in preparation for the remaining occasions that can happen previous to supply of the ship, anticipated to happen within the spring.
“Our shipbuilders have worked hard to get LPD 29 to sea,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Ship Program Manager Davianne Stokes stated. “We are absolutely dedicated to get this important asset into the hands of our Navy and Marine Corps partners.”
Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered 12 San Antonio-class ships and at present has three LPDs below development, together with Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29); Harrisburg (LPD 30), the primary Flight II LPD; and Pittsburgh (LPD 31). LPD Flight II is the subsequent technology amphibious ship to switch Whidbey Island (LSD 41) and Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) lessons of dock touchdown ships.
In March 2023, Ingalls obtained a $1.3 billion modification to a beforehand awarded contract from the U.S. Navy for the procurement of the element design and development of LPD 32, named Philadelphia, the sixteenth ship within the San Antonio class and the third LPD Flight II.
Amphibious transport dock ships are deployed with a U.S. Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force for amphibious and expeditionary disaster response operations that vary from deterrence and joint-force enablement to humanitarian help and catastrophe aid.