WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's newest amphibious transport dock ship, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, will be christened Saturday in Louisiana.
The LPD 23, named the Anchorage, is the seventh amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class.
The Navy said the ship will support the Marine Corps' ship-to-shore mobility, which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, amphibious assault vehicles and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
The Anchorage also provides improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity, and advanced ship-survivability features.
The ship, capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines, is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet and a navigational draft of 23 feet. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.
Undersecretary of the Navy Robert Work will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Annette Conway, wife of former Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway, is the ship's sponsor, and in accordance with Navy tradition will break a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries-Avondale Shipyard.
