The US Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious landing platform dock (LPD 28) departed the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Shipbuilding division on July 11 for commissioning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The USS Fort Lauderdale is the 12th San Antonio-class ship delivered by HII, part of the navy’s sea acceptance trials approved last March.
The LPD 28 commissioning will take place on July 30.
“Ingalls Shipbuilders take great pride in knowing that each and every amphibious ship that leaves this shipyard will support our Navy and Marine Corps team defending our nation,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We at Ingalls remain committed to this partnership and consider it a privilege to serve those who serve.”
The ship’s name was inspired by the strong ties between the US Navy and the city of Fort Lauderdale since the 1830s and the coastal city’s significance for naval training during World War II.
Expected ships after LPD 28 are the San Antonio-class Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), the first Flight II amphibious ship Harrisburg (LPD 30), and the 15th San Antonio-class ship, Pittsburgh (LPD 31).
LPDs are significant amphibious transport units of the US Navy’s 21st-century fleet. They’re also a crucial part of the US Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force for amphibious tactical operations and crisis response.