USS San Diego Commissioned at Navy Pier in Downtown San Diego

Amphibious transport ship LPD 22, USS San Diego, was formally commissioned at Navy Pier in downtown San Diego Saturday, May 19, 2012. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Miss., the USS San Diego is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, a navigational draft of 23 feet, displaces about 24,900 tons and is capable of embarking a landing force of about 800 Marines.

Designated as LPD 22, the USS San Diego is the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. 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. The USS San Diego will provide improved warfighting capabilities including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity, and advanced ship survivability features. Four turbo-charged diesel engines power the ship to sustained speeds in excess of 22 knots.

The ship is named for the city of San Diego, principal homeport of the Pacific fleet, and honors the people of “America’s Finest City” and its leaders for their continuous support of the military. After commissioning, the USS San Diego will be homeported in San Diego, Calif., as a part of the U.S. Third Fleet.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, May 21, 2012; Image: navy