PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) was launched at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Ingalls Division shipyard on March 28. It’s the Navy’s 12th San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship. On March 7, the ship was transferred from the land level facility to the dry dock in preparation of floating off. During the launch, the dry dock was slowly flooded until the ship floated off the blocks. San Antnio class ships support embarking, transporting, and landing elements of 650 Marines by landing craft or air cushion vehicles. The ship’s capabilities are further enhanced by its flight deck and hangar, which can operate CH 46 Sea Knight helicopters and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22). Ingalls Shipbuilding is also in production on the future USS Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) and Harrisburg (LPD 30). LPD 28 and 29 will serve as transition ships to LPD 30, the first LPD 17 Flight II ship. (Source: Naval Sea Systems Command, 03/30/20)
