The amphibious transport dock John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is shown resting at sea after an exciting day that saw the ship launched at HHI’s Ingalls Shipbuilding arm.
John P. Murtha is the latest San Antonio class addition to the US Navy’s 21st century amphibious assault force.
The 684-foot-long, 105-foot-wide ships are used to embark and land marines, their equipment and supplies ashore via air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey.
The ship was launched on October 30 as the most complete LPD at launch in the class.
Image source: HHI/Lance Davis