As part of its efforts to honor the memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 the U.S. Navy plans to build three new Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD 17-class) ships named for the sites. The first of these ships, USS New York (LPD 21) was commissioned in a special ceremony Nov. 7 in New York City.
The ship’s motto is simple: "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget." But, this ship honors the Americans who lost their lives when the World Trade Center collapsed and in more than just name. The ship rose from the ashes – literally. The New York’s bow stem is made with more than 7 metric tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage.
Bill Glenn, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman, the company that built the ship, said the company is honored with such a momentous responsibility.
"We're excited, but we're humbled by the fact that this ship memorializes 9/11, and the strength and resiliency of the people of New York,” Glenn said. “As this ship cuts through the water, the steel will be leading the way."
"As far as I know, this is the first time they have melted down metal from another event and put it into a new ship," said Cmdr. Curt Jones, the first captain of this USS New York. "It was put into the bow, one of the strongest points of the ship and the one that leads her forward."
More than symbolism
With all the significance and story behind her name aside, USS New York is a serious warship with a decisive purpose. In a ceremony in Louisiana when Northrop Grumman handed the ship over to the Navy, Cmdr. Jones informed the crew in no uncertain terms about the ship’s purpose.
“This ship is a first responder," Jones said. "You are first responders. Have no doubt what your mission is."
With a $1 billion price tag, the 25,000-ton vessel is 684 feet long, 105 feet wide and can carry about 360 sailors and 700 Marines. The primary mission of LPD 17-class amphibious transport dock ships is the transport and deployment of necessary combat and support elements of Marine expeditionary units and brigades.
The ship is also capable of transporting and deploying air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft as well as expeditionary fighting vehicles (EFV). The ship will also host helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft MV 22 Ospreys.
About the Crest:
· Seven rays of sunlight signify both the crown atop the Statue of Liberty and the seven seas
· Central focus placed on the Twin Towers and the bow of the ship, forged from the towers' steel
· Breastplate of the phoenix bears the colors of first responders from the New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
· Blood drops represent the fallen
· Three stars for those earned by the battleship USS NEW YORK (BB34) in World War II at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and North Africa
Vital Statistics
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) AircraftFourCH-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.