USS Arlington Officially Commissioned

With an estimated crowd of more than 5,000, USS Arlington (LPD 24) was officially commissioned yesterday. Built by Huntington-Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., Arlington’s keel was laid on May 26, 2008, and she was christened on March 26, 2011.

With a projected service life of 40 years, she was delivered to the Navy on Dec. 7, 2012.

The ship is named for the county of Arlington, Va. and honors the first responders and the 184 victims who died when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001.

Arlington is the eighth in the Navy’s San Antonio class of ships, designed to be the most survivable amphibious vessels ever put to sea. The ship combines 21st century amphibious shipbuilding and warfighting technologies to support current and future Marine Corps aircraft and landing craft, capable of transporting nearly 1,200 Sailors and Marines into harm’s way.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff,  April 7, 2013; Image: navy