US Navy christens LPD 27

The US Navy has christened USS Portland (LPD 27), its newest and 11th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, at the manufacturer Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard in Mississippi, it announced on 20 May.

The LPD 27 is scheduled to be delivered to the navy in 2017. This class of ship is designed to support landing, transporting and embarking elements of over 700 marines with a flight deck that can accommodate MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters. Its deck can also launch and recover amphibious vehicles and landing craft.

The San Antonio-class LPDs can support various special operations, expeditionary warfare or amphibious assault missions, and can operate independently or within Joint Task Forces, Expeditionary Strike Groups or Amphibious Readiness Groups. They have supported anti-piracy, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

Ray Mabus, secretary, US Navy, said: 'The christening of the future USS Portland brings this great warship one step closer to joining our nation's growing fleet. The skill and dedication of the men and women who brought this ship from an idea to a reality, our country's incomparable shipbuilders, will be remembered for years to come by the sailors and Marines who will serve aboard LPD 27 around the world.'