As reported a few days ago, the United States Navy (US Navy) has officially commissioned the new San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship, USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29), which entered service through a ceremony held at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. On August 29, the U.S. Navy announced that the new ship, the 13th of its class, departed from Ingalls Shipbuilding’s facilities en route to its new destination.
During the commissioning ceremony held on September 7, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti highlighted the significance of this new addition, emphasizing that the LPD plays a crucial role as the workhorse of the Amphibious Fleet, responsible for embarking, transporting, and landing elements of a landing force for various expeditionary warfare missions.
The new USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29) is a San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship, the last unit of the original configuration built by HII, while the shipyard advances in the construction of two units corresponding to the Flight II variant. However, this has not prevented the new LPD from incorporating new technologies, such as the advanced SPY-6(V)2 radar-based air surveillance system, along with other improvements.
In this regard, General C.J. Mahoney, Deputy Commander of the Marine Corps, stated that this represents a shift in what an amphibious warship is. “With the latest integrated SPY-6 (air and missile defense radar system) and Next Generation Surface Search Technology, it enables reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance on the forward edge of the battlespace – providing situational awareness and decision-making space for Fleet and Joint Force Commanders,” declared the general.
San Antonio-class amphibious transport ships provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, networked, survivable maritime platforms designed to operate in the 21st century, accommodating the MV-22 Osprey, the modernized Amphibious Assault Vehicle, and future platforms that will transport Marines ashore.
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