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Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Visits USS San Antonio

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080822-18
Release Date: 8/22/2008 3:21:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Michael Starkey, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps paid a visit to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) Aug. 20.

Gen. James F. Amos toured San Antonio prior to the ship's deployment in order to observe the ship fully-outfitted.

"I was involved with the funding and requirements for the San Antonio class, so it was important for me to get aboard the ship to see its size and get a sense for its versatility and flexibility," said Amos. "I was able to come out and see a ship that I personally spent a lot of effort on at Capitol Hill and the Pentagon, and also to come out and talk to the crew right before they go out for a cruise."

San Antonio is the first of the Navy's newest class of amphibious ships. The platform is comprised of Sailors and Marines, and is designed to deliver Marines and their equipment.

"The Marines and the Navy are a team," said Amos. "I think they're going to take this brand new class of warship and they'll be able to do things they only dreamt about doing. I think the flexibility of this ship is going to bring the Navy-Marine Corps team together significantly."

San Antonio is scheduled to deploy as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which consists of San Antonio; the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7); the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61); all homeported at Norfolk; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768), homeported at Groton, Conn.

For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.