Eight years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the Navy continues to honor the fallen and heroes of the tragic events of that day. Three ships of the San Antonio-class, Pre-Commissioning Units New York, Arlington and Somerset, are named in honor of the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and United Flight 93. Not only are these ships named in honor of those communities attacked that day, but these amphibious transport dock ships incorporate materials salvaged from the crash sites. These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.
Somerset honors the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 who prevented the four terrorist hijackers from reaching their destination, and instead forced the airplane to crash in Somerset County, Pa.
Twenty-two tons of steel from a dragline crane used for coal mining at the southwestern Pennsylvania site where United Flight 93 crashed was melted down and incorporated into the bow stem of Somerset.
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding is currently building Somerset at its Avondale yard in New Orleans. A keel authentication ceremony is expected to take place by the end of 2009.
The San Antonio-class characteristics:
Aircraft: 2 CH-53s or 2 MV-22s or up to 4 CH-46, AH-1 or UH-1 helicopters
Speed: in excess of 22 knots
Crew: 260 officers and enlisted with embarked landing force of 699 and a surge capacity to 800
Landing Craft: 2 LCACs or 1 LCU
Never forget 9-11.
http://www.armybase.us/2009/07/new-york-...lders-sea-trial
