Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has christened the US Navy’s 13th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, Richard M McCool Jr (LPD 29).
A ceremony was held at Ingalls Shipbuilding division’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi on 11 June.
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The newest ship has been named after the US Navy’s captain Richard M McCool Jr, a recipient of the Medal of Honour for rescuing survivors and having saved his landing support ship during a kamikaze attack in World War II.
During the ceremony, the co-sponsors of LPD 29 and granddaughters of the ship’s namesake, Shana McCool and Kate Oja, officially christened the vessel.
US Navy undersecretary Erik Raven said: “The sailors and marines who will sail on this future ship carry on that legacy following the example of spirit, patriotism and selflessness set by Richard M McCool Jr.”
The newest San Antonio-class ship, future Richard M McCool, Jr will primarily support transporting, embarking and bringing elements of 650 marines ashore via air-cushion vehicles or landing craft.
It can also support missions such as amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare.
The vessel also has a flight deck hangar to support the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22).
Meanwhile, the US Navy Secretary (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro has revealed the name of the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 138.
The vessel will be named USS J William Middendorf (DDG 138), to honour the US Navy’s former secretary and US Ambassador J William Middendorf II.
The multi-mission destroyers can carry out operations such as national security, peacetime presence as well as provide warfighting capabilities in multi-threat surface, subsurface and air domains.
