The US Navy has selected names for its seven new ships, which include three new Spearhead-class joint high-speed vessels (JHSV), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD 17), two littoral combat ships (LCS) and an oceanographic research vessel.
Commenting on the name selection, US Navy secretary Ray Mabus said: "These ships were all named to recognize the hard working people from cities all around our country who have contributed in so many ways to our navy and Marine Corps team."
The three new Spearhead-class joint high-speed vessels (JHSV) will be christened as USNS Trenton, USNS Brunswick and USNS Carson City, while the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD 17) will be named USS Portland, Mabus confirmed.
The two new littoral combat ships (LCS) will be named USS Wichita (LCS 13) and USS Manchester (LCS 14), named after American communities, while the ocean-class auxiliary general oceanographic research (AGOR) ship will be known as R/V Sally Ride (AGOR 28).
The 338ft-long JHSV vessels will conduct a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as supports overseas contingency operations, special operations forces and emerging joint sea-basing concepts in shallow-draft ports and waterways.
Constructed by Austal, the JHSV can cruise at a speed of 35k and features an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations.
The 684ft-long and 24,900t USS Portland, currently under construction by Huntington Ingalls Industries, will support amphibious assault, special operations, and expeditionary warfare missions.
Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine are currently developing the 388ft-long Freedom-variant USS Wichita (LCS 13), while the Independence-variant USS Manchester (LCS 14) is being built by Austal.
Capable of cruising at a speed of more than 12k, the future 238ft-long R/V Sally Ride, which will be a Neil Armstrong-class AGOR ship, will be built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington, US.
Image: USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) at Austal facility in Mobile, Alabama, US. Photo: courtesy of US Navy, Austal USA/Released.
