The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) departs Huntington Ingalls Shipyard on Jan. 26, 2022, to conduct acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. The amphibious transport dock ship sailed away from its berth at Ingalls Shipbuilding Monday, July 11, headed for the Florida city for which it is named and commissioning into the U.S. Navy fleet. (Dustin Knight/U.S. Navy)
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (Tribune News Service) — Amphibious transport dock ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) sailed away from its berth at Ingalls Shipbuilding Monday, headed for the Florida city for which it is named and commissioning into the U.S. Navy fleet.
“Watching Fort Lauderdale sail away to join the Navy’s fleet is a very proud moment for our entire LPD shipbuilding team and our skilled workforce,” said Ingalls LPD program manager Mike Pruitt. “Our shipbuilders have done an outstanding job building a mission capable ship for these sailors and our country.”
LPD 28 is named in honor of the Florida city and its long ties to the U.S. Navy, dating back to the mid 1800s and including its service as a naval training center during World War II.
It is scheduled to be commissioned in Fort Lauderdale on July 30. Christening ceremonies for LPD 28 were held last August.
Amphibious transport dock ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) sailed away from its berth at Ingalls Shipbuilding Monday, July 11, 2022, headed for the Florida city for which it is named and commissioning into the U.S. Navy fleet. (U.S. Navy)
“Ingalls Shipbuilders take great pride in knowing that each and every amphibious ship that leaves this shipyard will support our Navy and Marine Corps team defending our nation,” said Ingalls president Kari Wilkinson. “We at Ingalls remain committed to this partnership and consider it a privilege to serve those who serve.”
Fort Lauderdale is the 12th of the San Antonio class of warship built by Ingalls and was delivered to the U.S. Navy in March following successful completion of acceptance sea trials.
Two other LPDs are currently under construction at Ingalls — Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) and the first Flight II amphibious ship in the class, Harrisburg (LPD 30). Fabrication for the 15th San Antonio-class ship — Pittsburgh (LPD 31) — is set to begin later in 2022.
Amphibious transport dock ships are a major part of the Navy’s 21st century expeditionary force, deployed with a U.S. Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force for amphibious and expeditionary crisis response operations that range from deterrence and joint-force enablement to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
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