Future USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) Completes Builder's Trials

By Team Ships Public Affairs 

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- The Navy's future amphibious transport dock, John P. Murtha (LPD 26) successfully completed Builder's Trials March 4.

 The ship returned to the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula following four days underway.

 "LPD 26 continues the trend of improving performance as the shipbuilder incorporates lessons learned from the previous nine commissioned LPDs," said Capt. Darren Plath, LPD 17 Class Program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "The ship has met another critical milestone as it progresses toward Acceptance Trials, Delivery, and eventual service with the fleet."

 During Builder's Trials the ship is taken underway for a series of testing and at-sea demonstrations, which ready the ship for full testing demonstrations with the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Among the highlights of the at-sea trials, LPD 26 completed a full power run, self-defense detect-to-engage exercise, evaluation of key combat and communications systems, rapid ballast/de-ballast operations, steering checks, and anchor handling demonstration.

 "With the launching of LPD 27 last month and the completion of LPD 26 Builder's Trials this week, our government/industry team has met every challenge in a busy schedule," said Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Capt. Joe Tuite. "To achieve a successful trial, our team completed over 750 tests leading up this week and assessed the operability of the ship through over 240 separate events during the six-day trial. They assessed everything from lowering the stern gate to operating the anchor ensuring the future USS John P. Murtha will be combat ready."

 John P. Murtha will be the 10th ship of the LPD 17 San Antonio class to join the fleet. The ship is scheduled to be commissioned in the fall and will be homeported in San Diego.

 The principal mission of LPD 17 San Antonio class ships is to deploy combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades. With the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion or conventional landing craft and augmented by helicopters or MV-22 vertical take-off and landing aircraft, these ships support amphibious assault, special operations, and expeditionary warfare missions.

 As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.

Navy Names Amphibious Ship for Congressman John Murtha

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced April 23 the selection of the USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) as the name of the 10th San Antonio class Amphibious Transport Dock ship. Mabus made the announcement at John P. Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County airport in Johnstown, Pa.

The USS John P. Murtha honors the late U.S. representative and Marine who dedicated his life to serving his country. Murtha served a distinguished 37 years in the Marine Corps and received the Bronze Star with Combat "V," two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service in the Vietnam War, retiring as a colonel in 1990.

In his public life, Murtha served the people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District from 1974 until his death in 2010. In his position as the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, he oversaw funding issues for the Department of Defense, including the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and the intelligence community.

"Both in uniform and in the halls of Congress, Chairman Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the Marine Corps and Congress. His unwavering support of our Sailors and Marines, and in particular of our wounded warriors, was well known and deeply appreciated," said Mabus.

The future USS John P. Murtha will be used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies, by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft or expeditionary fighting vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. It will support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

The amphibious transport dock ship will be 684 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 105 feet, displace approximately 25,000 tons, and will make speed in excess of 22 knots. It will be crewed by 363 personnel and embark an additional 700 Marines.