USS New York Commissioned

Last Saturday the United States Navy welcomed its newest ship into the fleet and former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were on hand along with other dignitaries and Pentagon brass at the commissioning in NYC. Our own ex-Marine, Christopher Hughes, COO of BoatTEST.com, participated as a Commissioning Committee member. The New York is a multi-roll amphibious assault ship that carries not only aircraft, but also tanks, armored assault vehicles, 105MM howitzers, plus up to 800 Marines – and can deliver them all to shore on two huge hovercraft powered by four jet engines.

The bow of the USS New York is made from 7.5 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center. She is 684’ (210.5 m) long, 105’ (32.3 m) wide and displaces 24,900 tons fully loaded. Her four diesels engines produce 10,000-hp each and can drive her in excess of 24 knots. The ship’s motto is “Never Forget.”

The USS New York being eased up to Pier 88 which normally hosts cruise ships on New York City’s west side. Flags are at half mast to commemorate the Ft. Hood massacre.

Ship Characteristics:

Length 684 feet (208.5 meters)

Beam 105 feet (31.9 meters)

Displacement Approximately 24,900 tons full load

Speed In excess of 22 knots (24.2 mph)

Aircraft Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 Osprey
tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously. The ship’s hangar can store 1-2 aircraft.

Armament Two 30 mm Close-in-Guns, for surface threat defense; two
Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense

Landing Craft Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional)

EFVs 14 Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles

Power plant Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 40,000 hp

Crew 360 Sailors (28 officers, 332 enlisted), three Marines

Troops 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.

LPD 17 Class San Antonio (LPD 17), New Orleans (LPD 18), Mesa Verde
(LPD 19), Green Bay (LPD 20), New York (LPD 21), San Diego (LPD 22), Anchorage (LPD 23), Arlington (LPD 24), and Somerset (LPD 25).

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton was one of the speakers at the commissioning ceremony.

This is one of two huge hover landing craft that can carry several tanks and personal carriers at once and make their home in the belly of the vessel.

This is an AAV 25 amphibian landing craft and personnel carrier. The USS New York is designed to take on enough ballast water to sink 12’ to 25’ in order to launch her landing craft from the stern.

LPD stands for Landing Platform Dock.