The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) moored in Port Everglades, in its namesake city Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Credit: US Marine Corps, photo by Sgt Gavin Shelton.

The US Navy has commissioned its 12th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).

The vessel was commissioned during a traditional ceremony held at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 30 July.

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It was attended by US Navy Secretary (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro, US Marine Corps (USMC) assistant commandant general Eric Smith, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding Division president Kari Wilkinson, and other officials.

This event marked the official transition of LPD 28 into the fleet.

Following the commissioning, the USS Fort Lauderdale will be homeported at the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, US.

During the ceremony, the ship’s sponsor Meredith Berger gave the traditional order to ‘man our ship and bring her to life.’

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Berger said: “The Navy names ships for people, places, and ideas that are special.

“The Navy certainly picked a special place when naming USS Fort Lauderdale. I am honoured to be the sponsor for this incredible ship.”

Launched in 2020, the newly commissioned vessel has was built by HII Ingalls Shipbuilding Division in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

LPD 28 was christened in August last year, followed by its delivery to the US Navy in March this year.

The 684ft-long USS Fort Lauderdale ship weighs 25,000 tons, has four diesel engines, and can cruise at a speed of up to 22 knots.

It can be deployed to carry out amphibious assault, special operations, and expeditionary warfare missions.

The new San Antonio-class LPDs vessel will be used for transporting and landing Marines, their equipment, and supplies using the embarked landing craft air cushion (LCAC), or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV).

The flight deck hangar of LPD 28 can also support the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

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