WTC steel to be reshaped into bow of USS New York

The Stars and Stripes ^ | September 8, 2003 | Sandra Jontz

[demlosers]

A Navy vessel, one day to be christened the USS New York, will bring to life a fallen icon of the city that suffered most from the terrorist attacks two years ago.

On Tuesday, workers from the Amite Foundry and Machine Inc. will melt down 24 tons of steel that once formed the shell of the World Trade Center, and begin the process of resurrecting it, in a manner of speaking.

At 2,850 degrees Fahrenheit, the steel will soften. From a 50-ton capacity ladle, the melted steel will be poured into a sand mold containing an imprint for the bow-stem casting for the Navy’s next LPD San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, being built by Northrup Grumman Ship Systems.

“This symbolizes and recognizes the great courage of the people of New York. … There’s quite a symbolic link in the name, and now we’re using the steel from the World Trade Center in the forward part of the hull that literally breaks the waves,” said Fred Lash, spokesman of Naval Sea Systems Command, which oversees the construction of ships.

“The curvature of that part of the bow literally is the most forward extension of the ship and when it sails into missions in the future, it’ll be that steel up front that leads the way, and will have with it the hardness and dedication and spirit of the people of New York,” Lash said.

Each of the Navy’s LPD will be named for cities. The New York, the fifth in a planned 12-vessel series, is preceded by the lead ship San Antonio, followed by the New Orleans, Mesa Verde and then the Green Bay.

And so, there’s a somber excitement brewing in Amite, La. — and yes, you can have both simultaneously, said Wayne Peterson, spokesman for Amite Foundry and Machine.

“We feel there is a lot of emotion involved in this, and all of us feel grateful we’ve been chosen to do this work, and that’s why we’re having a ceremony to celebrate that,” Peterson said of Tuesday’s planned festivities.

“But it’s a somber excitement.”

To commemorate that somberness, that excitement, New Yorkers will travel to Louisiana to catch a glimpse of the notable process, New Yorkers such as representatives from the city fire department, Port Authority, and police department — each of which lost comrades in rescue attempts at the World Trace Center following the infamous terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Former Navy Secretary Gordon England, now the deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, will attend with his wife, Dotty England, the ship’s sponsor. Gov. George Pataki and city mayor Michael Bloomberg have been invited.

A year ago, England announced the decision to name the fifth amphibious transport dock ship of the San Antonio class after the Big Apple.

“This new class of ships will project American power to the far corners of the earth and support the cause of freedom well into the 21st century,” England had said.

“From the war for independence through the war on terrorism, which we wage today, the courage and heroism of the people of New York has been an inspiration. USS New York will play an important role in our Navy’s future and will be a fitting tribute to the people of the Empire State.”

[LizardQueen]

I was thinking the same thing...

I don't care what they do with the steel as long as it's used to blow the nutjob Islamic rug jockeys straight into hell.

LQ

[firewalk]

bttt

[b4its2late]

What a great idea! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it terrorist scums.

[SAMWolf]

Yep, as far as Im concerned payback hasn't been enough yet.

[jwalsh07]

Same here. While it seems to bother many that Iraq is acting as a magnet, it makes me a happy guy that they have decided to enter the free fire zone.

I do have two regrets though, one is the loss of young American warriors and the other is that I'm too damn old to be over there warrioring with them.

[Porterville]

Yes, plowshares into swords, makes me very happy, it also is a defiant symbol of failed liberal policies and the Clinton years

[CyberAnt]

This is the most awesome thing! It would be great to be there and witness the event.

[SAMWolf]

Agree, get em in the open, makes it easier to kill them.

I know what you mean, this time there's an enemy who's a direct threat to us to fight, not some nebulous "can't let the Commies take over" enemy.

[mathluv]

And the French? LOL

[Centurion2000]

They should remake it into the first 21st century battleship.

[lawgirl]

WAY cool.

[Old Sarge]

And that steel has already been coated with the dust and powder of that bloody day.

So, some of the fallen of 9-11 will be incorporated into that new warship.

Talk about, rising from the grave to seek justice!

[rmlew]

They have Marek 41 VLS tubes. They can fire TLACMs. However, I imagine that these will have Evolves Sea Sparrows.
Personally, I would prefer another attack sub or cruiser.

[livius]

Wow! How great! Thanks for posting this!

[Hazzardgate]

AWESOME

[Moose4]

This is way, way cool. I sincerely hope that the New York, once she's commissioned and operational, is at the forefront of much terrorist pwnage.

Now here's a question though. When did they stop naming ships of the line after cities and switch over to LPDs? I don't want to sound like a wet blanket, but does anybody else think that our nation's largest city deserves an attack sub, or a cruiser, or some sort of front-line offensive warship? I guess they have shifted state names from battleships to subs over the years, so city names had to step down as well. But after 9/11, I wouldn't mind seeing the name New York on the most heavily armed baddest mofo in the Navy, y'know?

}:-)4

[Jeff Head]

Actually, the launchers for for ESS will not be on board...only space for a future addition if necessary. They have been scaled back in that regard. They will carry two Mark 31 Mod 0 launchers for launching Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) RIM 116. From the Naval Technology, LPD 17 Project site.

WEAPON SYSTEMS

Two Mark 31 Mod 0 launchers are capable of launching the fire-and-forget Raytheon Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM (RIM 116) surface-to-air missile has dual-mode radio frequency/infra-red guidance and is designed to engage anti-ship missiles. It has a range of 8km. Space and weight provision has been made for the future fitting of a vertical launcher for the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) if required.

The ship is equipped with two Mk 46 Mod 1 30mm guns for close-in surface self-defence. The Mk 46 is a dual-axis stabilised chain gun with a firing rate of up to 250 rounds/min. The fire director includes a thermal imager, low light TV camera and laser rangefinder, with a closed-loop tracking system. The gun can be operated locally at the gun turret or remotely in the Combat Information Centre. Additional armament includes two Mark 26 Mod 18 50-calibre machine guns.

... and from the Naval Fact Sheet for the LPD 17:

General Characteristics, San Antonio class

Builders: Northrop Grumman Ships Systems, with Raytheon Systems Corporation and Intergraph Corporation.
Power plant: four sequentially turbocharged marine Colt-Pielstick Diesels, two shafts
Length: 684 feet (208.5 meters)
Beam: 105 feet (31.9 meters)
Displacement: Approximately 24,900 tons (25,300 metric tons) full load
Speed: in excess of 22 knots (24.2 mph, 38.7 kph)
Aircraft: Launch or land up to four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; or up to two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft simultaneously with room to spot four MV-22s on deck and one in the hangar.
Armament: Two Bushmaster II 30 mm Close in Guns, fore and aft; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, fore and aft.
Landing Craft/Assault Vehicles: Two LCACs or one LCU; and 14 Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

The Mark 41 VLS will not be onboard so they will not be able to launch the Tomahawks.

[Ax]

I have no problem with England, Pataki or Bloomberg being invited to the laying of the keel. But please PLEASE don't ruin the moment by inviting godzillary.

[rmlew]

My mistake. Frankly I think it is a mistake by the Navy.
LCAC's may keep our ships out of artillary range, but not asm range.
Besides, I would be really bummed if the USS New York were to be sunk!