Article Posted on : - May 21, 2012

Amphibious transport dock ship, USS San Diego. A US Navy photo

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy has commissioned the newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship last week.

The ship, which is the sixth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, was commissioned into the Navy as USS San Diego (LPD 22) on May 19.

Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the ship was handed over to the Navy in December last year after successfully completing acceptance trials in November.

The San Antonio-class LPDs have been designed to provide the US Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable and built to operate with 21st century platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

The 684 feet-long and 105 feet-wide USS San Diego has a displacement of around 25,000 tons. Its prime mission is to deploy combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades.

The ship can carry up to 800 troops and has the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing crafts, augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22.

The US Navy plans to induct as many as 10 such ships in its fleet.