Flight I San Antonio-class LPD programme concludes
USS Richard M McCool Jr was launched on 7 January. (Photo: HII)
USS Richard M McCool Jr was launched on 7 January as the 13th out of 26 San Antonio-class LPDs for the USN.
The final Flight I San Antonio-class landing platform dock (LPD) for the USN was launched on 7 January when USS Richard M McCool Jr (LPD 29) took to the water at the Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Richard M McCool Jr is the 13th San Antonio-class amphibious assault force ship, each of which is 208m long, 32m wide and displaces 25,000t.
The LPDs are used to embark and land Marines, their equipment and supplies ashore via air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles, augmented by helicopters or VTOL aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey.
Richard M McCool Jr was laid down in April 2019. Ingalls Shipbuilding is building the entire 26-ship San Antonio class. Work began in April 2020 on the first Flight II vessel (USS Harrisburg).
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
San Antonio LPD 17 Flight I [USN]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel]()
Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel
The ship is the third in a fleet of 11, with the first vessel due to be delivered in 2026.
-
![Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid]()
Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid
The companies have banded together to promote the Fincantieri U212 NFS offering, and hinted that the collaboration may not be a one-bid phenomenon.
-
![New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy]()
New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy
The frigate, Spartaco Schergat, is equipped for a broad range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare.
-
![NAVSEA invests more in support of mine countermeasure USVs]()
NAVSEA invests more in support of mine countermeasure USVs
The new contract with Textron Systems will support software development for uncrewed vessels over the next three years.
-
![Two new European logistics support vessels enter sea trials]()
Two new European logistics support vessels enter sea trials
The two Logistic Support Ships (LSS), contracted under Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation, (OCCAR), should be commissioned into service later in 2025.
