LPD-29 Richard M. McCool, Jr.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) started fabrication of the 13th LPD-17 San Antonio class ship, LPD-29, July 30, at its shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut.
"We are excited to commence fabrication on the 13th and final ship of the LPD-17 Flight I class," said Capt. Brian Metcalf, LPD 17 class program manager for Program Executive Office Ships. "We continue to benefit from the maturity of this program, and look forward to achieving future production milestones as we work to deliver this versatile and capable warship to the fleet."
LPD-29 is named in honor of Navy veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, Capt. Richard M. McCool, Jr., and will be the first vessel to bear the name. McCool served in defense of the nation for 30 years, spanning three wars. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for heroism, after his ship was attacked by kamikaze aircraft and he led efforts to save the ship and rescue injured Sailors.
On 12 April 2019, ship’s Co-sponsors Shana McCool and Kate Oja declared the keel to be “truly and fairly laid.”
“The ships in the San Antonio-class are designed to land Marines anywhere in the world in support of a wide range of military operations–from power projection to threat mitigation to humanitarian aid. They are truly remarkable ships and ones we are proud to build,” said Kari Wilkinson, Ingalls’ vice president of program management. “LPD 29 is the 13th San Antonio-class ship under construction at Ingalls. Like the ship’s hero namesake, Richard M. McCool Jr., LPD 29 will be strong and capable. Our men and women in the Navy and Marine Corps deserve nothing less.”
“Thank you for having us here today and allowing us to say few words about our grandfather. My grandfather was very humble and one of the most caring men you could ever hope to meet. He never showed off. When asked about the war, he just said, ‘I did my job, and I did what any other person would do.’ My cousins and I grew up seeing pictures on the wall of the Medal of Honor from President Truman, pictures of his ship, but to us he was always just grandpa.” Shana McCool, LPD 29 Ship’s Co-Sponsor.
The principal mission of LPD-17 San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ships is to transport and deploy the necessary combat and support elements of Marine expeditionary units and brigades. The ship will carry approximately 720 troops, have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion or amphibious assault vehicles, and accommodate virtually every size of Marine Corps helicopter and its tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys. These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.
The Navy awarded the detail design and construction contract for LPD-29 to HII on Feb. 16, 2018. Eleven San Antonio class ships have been delivered, the most recent being USS Portland (LPD 27), which was commissioned April 21, 2018. LPD-28 and 29 will serve as transition ships to LPD-30, the first ship of the LPD 17 Flight II class. LPD Flight II class ships will be the replacement for the Navy's aging LSD 41/49 class ships.
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.
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