San Antonio-Class LPD USS Anchorage Commissioned

The U.S. Navy commissioned amphibious transport dock ship, Anchorage, on May 4, during a ceremony at the Port of Anchorage.

“Man our ship and bring her to life!” exclaimed ship sponsor Annette Conway, wife of retired Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, as the crew ran up the brow and engaged all ship systems.

The commissioning culminated more than seven years of construction and development for the seventh San Antonio-class LPD that was built at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Shipbuilding site in Avondale, La., and delivered to the U.S. Navy last September.

Guests at the snow-covered ceremony listened to congratulatory remarks from distinguished members of Alaska’s delegation including Governor Sean Parnell, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The keynote address was delivered by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Cecil D. Haney.

After ceremoniously delivering the newly commissioned ship, Cmdr. Joel Stewart, Anchorage’s commanding officer, echoed Haney’s sentiments.

Anchorage is the second ship to be named for the city. The first USS Anchorage (LSD 36) was commissioned in 1969 and served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom before being decommissioned in 2003.

The ceremony ended a four-day celebration in which the crew was able to interact with the city and its welcoming hosts. Public tours allowed guests to get a first-hand view of the ship as well as the various aircraft and marine amphibious vessels on display which included an MV-22 Osprey, a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, and a landing craft air cushion (LCAC).

Anchorage’s crew will transit back to San Diego to continue preparing for Final Contract Trials (FCT) in July. FCT is the final assessment from the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) in which the crew will be responsible for demonstrating the effectiveness of all installed equipment and systems.

USS Anchorage, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions as well humanitarian efforts when the need arises.

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Press Release, May 5, 2013