Navy christens USS Somerset, last of 3 ships named in honor of 9/11 terrorist attack sites

Washington Post/Associated Press ^ | 28 July 2012 | Staff

[moonshot925]

AVONDALE, La. — The USS Somerset — the last of three Navy ships named for 9/11 attack sites — was christened Saturday in honor of the passengers and crew of the plane that crashed before terrorists could reach their intended target.

Passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 stormed the cockpit and thwarted an attack on Washington, but the plane crashed in Somerset County, Pa., killing all 40 passengers and crew members.

“The men and women of Flight 93 ... thought they were going to San Francisco to work, to play, to learn; to live their lives in peace while others guarded them,” said Navy Rear Adm. David Lewis. “Instead they found themselves in a war, on the front lines, in the opening battle. It was a new kind of war, one with new rules, maybe no rules at all. They had no preparation, no training, no guidance.

[moonshot925]

[mylife]

Makes more sense than the USS Hugo Chavez.

[the OlLine Rebel]

“Instead they found themselves in a war,.....They had no preparation, no training, no guidance.”

It wasn’t their job.

The truest heroes of the atrocity in the purest sense of the word.

[mylife]

Makes more sense than the USS Hugo Chavez.

Good looking ship.

[Paladin2]

Too bad there’s one named after Murtha.

[mylife]

Cool.

The Somerset is one of three amphibious landing docks named after the sites where planes taken over by terrorists crashed, killing nearly 3,000 people.

Its bow stem — the first part of the ship to push through the water — was made from 7.5 tons of steel melted down from the bucket of a huge coal-mining crane that stood near the crash site. It was there that miners hung a large American flag to serve as a landmark and to honor the dead.

[tet68]

I thought they were going to call it the
USS Shanksville for the town nearby.

Oh well.

[cameraeye]

I use to like hanging on the rails and watching the ocean on my FFG. This is something short of being in a submarine. Nice ship and looks quick.

[yarddog]

Is the ship armed in any way? I can’t see anything which obviously is a gun or even missile launcher.

[mylife]

My only complaint is she needs some guns.

[bandleader]

“Let’s ROLL”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mylife]

I don't know how you guys can ride those tin cans ☺

[mylife]

I see a missile launcher on the bow.

[mylife]

Armament: Two 30 mm Bushmaster II cannons, for surface threat defense;
two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense

[smoothsailing]

This is wonderful news!

Sadly, however, this class of ship will always bear the ignoble distinction of having one it’s own named after the excretable John Murtha.

http://www.nomurthaship.com/

[moonshot925]

It has two 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile launchers and two Mk44 Bushmaster II cannons.

[mylife]

The dome under the flag must be a bushmaster canon.

[mylife]

Thanks for that.

[yarddog]

I noticed a box in the front or bow but wasn’t sure what was in it.

It seems at the very least there should be one of those small caliber rapid firing cannons in front. Also 50 caliber machine guns at the four corners of the superstructure.

I could just see Iranian power boats approaching and the only thing they have is missiles intended to sink large ships.

[yarddog]

Ok, I just can’t see the cannons.

[moonshot925]

Ships Weapons:

2 - Mk 31 Mod 1 RAM Guided Missile Weapon System
2 - Mk 46 Mod 1 30mm Gun (Ship version of Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Gun)
4 - MK 26 Mod 17 .50 Cal Machine Guns

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/navy/amphibious/lpd17.html

[Thrownatbirth]

Armament: Two MK 46 Mod 2 guns, fore and aft; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, fore and aft: nine .50 calibre machine guns.

Aircraft: Launch or land two CH53E Super Stallion helicopters or two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft or up to four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, AH-1 or UH-1 helicopters.

Landing/Attack Craft: Two LCACs or one LCU; and 14 Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles/Amphibious Assault Vehicles

[mylife]

I think the 30 mm canons should take care of Imadinnerjackets boats

[Delta 21]

I know its the same class of ship, but the LPD-17 is the San Antonio.

Must be a file photo.

This is the basic armament for an LPD.

2 - Mk 31 Mod 1 RAM Guided Missile Weapon System
2 - Mk 46 Mod 1 30mm Gun (Ship version of Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Gun)
4 - MK 26 Mod 17 .50 Cal Machine Guns

Consider also that these guys are usually hanging around with a carrier battle group and all the associated bells and whistles.

[mylife]

Now we’re talking!

4 50 bmg mouse guns!

[yarddog]

I would think the .50 caliber machine guns could do that job.

[Delta 21]

USS Somerset LPD-25.

[mylife]

There would also be all the small arms in the armory.

[smoothsailing]

Too bad there’s one named after Murtha.

Yep.

[moonshot925]

Yes, I know, that was a picture of San Antonio.

Here is a picture of Somerset.

[mylife]

you bet!

[onyx]

FREE REPUBLIC

America's Exclusive Site for God, Family, Country, Life & Liberty Conservatives!

[mylife]

That **** is just plain wrong. :(

[moonshot925]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWkqVVAETCM

[mylife]

I drive through his old district every time I visit my childhood home.

I always saluted ol john with one finger when I drove through

[STD]

What defenses does she have? I don’t see much. One RFM battery and two CWIS.
We better fit something else there pretty damn quick.

[smoothsailing]

I live about 70 miles west of Shanksville

More videos

[PrkChps]

Interesting to note...HMS Somerset was the British ship of the line that Paul Revere had to row past in order to spread the alarm to Lexington and Concord. No connection, obviously...but there it is.

[mylife]

They seem to have it covered.

[jmacusa]

Nice to see ‘’Ma Deuce’’ is still going strong. There are legions of dirt bags from Nazis to jihadis taking a permanent dirt nap courtesy of the M2 .05 Browning Heavy Caliber Machine. Long may she shoot, straight and true.

[A.A. Cunningham]

120714-N-NN926-104 ARABIAN SEA (July 14, 2012) An MV-22 Osprey aircraft, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 (Reinforced), is on the flight deck aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21). New York and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) are part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zane Ecklund/Released)

[Delta 21]

With over 1000 enlisted on board, that would be considerable!

[MtBaldy]

She will always have destroyer escort. Her defensive armament is meant to be a last line of defense. Her main purpose is to put 700-800 Marines and all their gear ashore and support their landing with her aircraft.

[Secret Agent Man]

Is this one of the LCS ships that everyone is saying are overpriced, under-weaponized, can’t get the bare-bones systems it has to work right, can’t take much fire before becoming disabled?

[Secret Agent Man]

One jams or overheats and the 50 caliber firepower just shrank 25%. I’d want 200% redundancy, at least, for each major weapon on there.

[moonshot925]

Yes. There have been cost overruns, delays, engine problems and oil leaks which give the San Antonio class a bad reputation. But there have been repairs and the problems are being fixed.

Also, the ships have room (maybe in a future upgrade) for two 8-cell Mark 41 VLS with 64 ESSMs. That would be more firepower than on most frigates.

The San Antonio class will be able to carry 700 troops and is the most survivable amphibious warship ever built.

[Dilbert56]

Couple of years back, we were able to tour the USS New York, whose bow was made with steel from the Twin Towers. Awesome ship. Parked next to the Intrepid, she was similar in size. The Marines embarked we very proud of their new home allowed us to see, touch and handle lots of gear. I believe they said that, in a pinch, the ship could house 1,200 Marines and associated gear. Stealthy superstructure, too; Only a few right angles.

All in all, a great way to celebrate my birthday.

[A.A. Cunningham]

LCS does not equal LPD

[Secret Agent Man]

Thanks, I didn’t see them discuss what class (lcs, lpd) in the snippet I read.