New U.S. Navy ship gets thumbs up after successful sea trials

PASCAGOULA, Miss., April 20 (UPI) -- A future amphibious transport dock for the U.S. Navy has successfully competed acceptance trials conducted by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.

The six days of at-sea and in-port testing of the John P. Murtha (LPD 26) validated the functionality of ship's system, The Navy reported.

"The INSURV team provided a detailed assessment of the ship's readiness through a rigorous schedule of test events," said Capt. Darren Plath, LPD 17-Class program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "This included several systems new to the LPD 17-Class to include the SPS-48G air search radar and the Navy Multi-band Terminal satellite communications system.

"Overall, LPD 26 performed very well and will soon be another highly capable, combat ready ship delivered to the U.S. Fleet."

The Navy said the tests included a full-power run, self-defense detect-to-engage exercises, steering checks, boat handling, anchoring and rapid ballast and de-ballast demonstrations.

"It's been two and half years since Ingalls (Shipbuilding) last conducted LPD acceptance trials," said Supervisor of Shipbuilding Capt. Joe Tuite. "The team did an excellent job preparing the ship for a successful trials period. The ship was cleared for sea on the morning of the second day, the earliest of any of the previous nine LPDs."

The John P. Murtha is the 10th LPD 17 San Antonio-class vessel. It is scheduled to be commissioned in Philadelphia this fall. Its home port will be San Diego.

San Antonio-class ships are for the deployment of combat and support elements of U.S. Marine expeditionary units and brigades. They can transport and debark air-cushioned or conventional landing craft, and can handle helicopters or MV-22 vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The ships are about 684 feet long, displace 25,000 tons and have a speed of 22 knots.