Nichols Martin
Huntington Ingalls Industries‘ Ingalls Shipbuilding division began the construction phase of a future San Antonio-class ship through a keel authentication ceremony.
HII said Wednesday the upcoming USS Harrisburg (LPD 30) will be the first Flight II amphibious transport dock in the San Antonio lineup.
San Antonio-class ships carry Marines, supplies, equipment, landing craft, amphibious assault vehicles and rotary aircraft to support expeditionary and amphibious missions, as well as humanitarian operations.
Flight II San Antonio-class units will succeed the existing Whidbey Island and Harpers Ferry dock landing ships.
As part of the ceremony, the company had ship sponsor Alexandra Curry’s initials welded onto the Harrisburg amphibious transport dock’s keel plate. The ship’s sponsor is the wife of James Curry, mayor of Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, the Navy’s program executive officer for ships, declared the keel laying in place of the ship sponsor, who was not able to take part in the ceremony.
Ingalls Shipbuilding has provided the Navy with 11 San Antonio-class ships and is currently building three more.
