Article Posted on : - Feb 28, 2014

The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21). Photo: U S Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy will commission the newest amphibious transport dock, USS Somerset (LPD 25), on 1st March, the US Department of Defence said.

The third of the three U S ships, Somerset, will join USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Arlington (LPD 24) which are already a part of the Navy's combat force.

Somerset is named in honour of the courageous passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville, Pa., in Somerset County during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Designated LPD-25, Somerset is the ninth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. Its design incorporates state-of-the-art self-defence capabilities, including command and control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) suites.

Somerset also has a reduced radar cross-section. The advanced enclosed mast/sensors, which enclose the ship's radars and communications antennas, characterize the ship's distinctive profile.

The 24,900-ton Somerset built by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Shipbuilding is 684 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 105 feet, and a navigational draft of 23 feet.

Four diesel engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 22 knots.