Hi-tech Warship USS New York, LPD-21, whose stem bow has been constructed out of the seven and a half tons of steel recovered from World Trade Center’s twin towers site after the 9/11 catastrophe, has finally sailed today for its namesake city. Built in New Orleans, USS New York at the moment is heading towards NYC where it is going to be commissioned next month. It was christened "New York" to honor the 9/11 attack victims in that city. Construction of the warship for US Navy with World Trade Center steel was encouraged by Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. The commissioning ceremony will be held on November 7th at Pier 88, right next to the USS Intrepid. The ship will then be opened to the public for 10 days, until it leaves for its home base in Virginia Norfolk. The warship’s motto is "Never Forget", for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which claimed almost 3000 lives.
USS New York in the Gulf of Mexico. Video Credit: Northrop Grumman
USS New York is an an amphibious transport ship with stealth technology and equipped with state of the art technology sensors and equipment. This US $800 million vessel is 684 feet long, has a crew of 360 sailors with almost 700 marines, and will be commanded by Commander F. Curt Jones. It was designed to transport and land troops, vehicles and aircraft in amphibious missions, but it also has two guided missile launchers, two 30 mm guns and four .50 caliber machine guns. This Hi-tech vessel will carry sea-based platforms, including:
- The V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft
- Three types of helicopters
- 14 expeditionary fighting vehicles (EFVs) and/or several air-cushioned landing craft (LCACs) for across-the-beach deployments of U.S. Marine Corps and Special Forces personnel.
More information on USS New York with photo gallery can be found at its official website here.