5 San Antonio Class Facts

Introduction to the San Antonio Class

The San Antonio class of amphibious transport docks is a series of ships used by the United States Navy. These ships play a crucial role in the Navy’s amphibious assault operations, providing the capability to transport troops, equipment, and supplies from sea to shore. In this blog post, we will delve into five key facts about the San Antonio class, exploring their design, capabilities, and significance in modern naval operations.

Design and Construction

The San Antonio class was designed to replace the older Austin-, Cleveland-, and Trenton-class amphibious transport docks. The lead ship, USS San Antonio (LPD-17), was commissioned in 2006, and a total of 12 ships have been planned for the class. The ships are built by Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Ship Systems) at its Avondale facility in Louisiana and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. The San Antonio-class ships are 684 feet (208.5 meters) long, with a beam of 97 feet (29.5 meters) and a draft of 23 feet (7 meters).

Capabilities and Features

The San Antonio-class ships are designed to support a wide range of amphibious operations, from assault landings to humanitarian assistance missions. Some of the key capabilities and features of these ships include: * A well deck that can accommodate two Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) or one Landing Craft Utility (LCU) * A hangar that can store two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters or one CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter * A flight deck that can support the operation of helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft * A cargo capacity of over 25,000 square feet (2,300 square meters) * A crew of approximately 700 sailors and officers

Armament and Defense Systems

The San Antonio-class ships are equipped with a range of armament and defense systems to protect themselves and their crew from potential threats. These systems include: * Two 30mm Bushmaster II cannons * Two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launchers * Two Mk 41 vertical launch systems (VLS) for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) * An AN/SPS-48E air search radar * An AN/SPQ-9B fire control radar

Operational History

The San Antonio-class ships have been involved in a number of significant operations and exercises since their introduction into service. These have included: * Operation Iraqi Freedom: USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS New Orleans (LPD-18) participated in the operation, providing support for Marine Corps units ashore. * Operation Enduring Freedom: USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) and USS San Antonio (LPD-17) supported operations in Afghanistan. * Hurricane Katrina relief efforts: USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS Tortuga (LSD-46) provided support for relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region. * Exercise Bold Alligator: USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS New York (LPD-21) participated in the exercise, which focused on amphibious assault operations.

Key Statistics

Here are some key statistics about the San Antonio class:

Ship	Commissioned	Homeport
USS San Antonio (LPD-17)	2006	Norfolk, VA
USS New Orleans (LPD-18)	2007	San Diego, CA
USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)	2007	Norfolk, VA
USS Green Bay (LPD-20)	2009	San Diego, CA
USS New York (LPD-21)	2009	Norfolk, VA

🚢 Note: The San Antonio-class ships are an important part of the US Navy's amphibious assault capabilities, providing the ability to transport troops, equipment, and supplies from sea to shore.

In summary, the San Antonio class is a vital component of the US Navy’s amphibious assault operations, providing a range of capabilities and features that support a wide range of missions. From their design and construction to their operational history and key statistics, these ships play a significant role in modern naval operations.