USS New Orleans (LPD-18)

USS "New Orleans" (LPD-18), a "San Antonio"-class amphibious transport dock, is the fourth commissioned ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. She is designed to be able to deliver a fully-equipped battalion of 700 Marines.

Construction and commissioning

New Orleans is the second vessel in the LPD-17 class of high-tech amphibious assault ships, which ferry Marines and their equipment to and from war zones. The contract to build her was awarded on 18 December 1998 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of New Orleans, Louisiana, and her keel was laid down on 14 October 2002. She was christened on 20 November 2004, sponsored by Carolyn Shelton, the wife of General Henry H. Shelton, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The warship was actually launched three weeks later, on 11 December. She completed her Builder's Trials on 26 October 2006.

"New Orleans" was commissioned on 10 March 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana, two years behind schedule and 90 percent over budget. [Liewer] After commissioning, she steamed to San Diego, California via the Panama Canal to join the US Pacific Fleet. She arrived at her new homeport of Naval Base San Diego on 3 May 2007 and was assigned to Amphibious Squadron Five. [cite web
url = http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=29196
title = "New Orleans Arrives At Homeport San Diego"
author = David A. Brandenburg
date = 2007-05-04
publisher = "Navy Newsstand"
quote =
accessdate = 2007-09-22] [cite web
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/lpd-17-unit.htm
title = LPD-17 SAN ANTONIO Class
date = 2006-07-28
publisher = Global Security.org
accessdate = 2007-09-22]

Fielding and issues

After arriving in San Diego, "New Orleans" required 400,000 more hours of construction to bring it to fully operational status. Commander Scott Davies took command of the ship in June 2008. [Liewer]

In August 2008, the ship flunked its INSURV inspection. The INSURV inspectors documented 2,600 deficiencies, including problems with the steering system, broken ventilation fans, inoperable elevators, corrosion on the flight deck, and an unreliable propulsion system. "USS New Orleans was degraded in her ability to conduct sustained combat operations," the INSURV report said. "The ship cannot support embarked troops, cargo or landing craft." [Liewer]

US Navy officials reported that 85% of the deficiencis were minor issues and that most of the deficiences have already been corrected. The Navy expects to send the ship on its first deployment, with the Boxer amphibious strike group, in early 2009. [Liewer]

External links

* [http://www.new-orleans.navy.mil/default.aspx "New Orleans" Official Command Website]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LPD18.htm USS "New Orleans" in the Naval Vessel Register]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LPD-18 LPD-18 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]
*cite web
last = Liewer
first = Steve
date = October 1, 2008
url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20081001-9999-1n1orleans.html
title = Troubles in port, at sea weigh down Navy ship
format = Newspaper article
work = San Diego Union-Tribune
accessdate = 2008-01-02

References