USS ''Somerset'' (LPD-25) is a of the
United States Navy.
''Somerset'' is the fourth Navy vessel, and the second warship to bear the name; the first two being a wooden-hulled motorboat and a ferry. The first warship, an
armed cargo ship from
World War II, was named for the Somerset Counties of
Maine,
Maryland,
New Jersey and
Pennsylvania collectively. This ship was named specifically for
Somerset County Pennsylvania, in honor of the passengers who died on
United Airlines Flight 93, hijacked during the
terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The passengers prevented the plane from reaching its intended target by forcing it to crash in
Stonycreek Township Stonycreek Township may refer to the following places:
* Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
* Stonycreek Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
See also
*Stoney Creek Township (disambiguation)
*Stonycreek (disambiguation) Stonycree ...
in Somerset County,
Pennsylvania. In the words of Secretary of the Navy
Gordon R. England
Gordon Richard England (born September 15, 1937) is an American politician and businessman who was the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and twice served as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy in the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.
...
;
"The courage and heroism of the people aboard the flight will never be forgotten and USS ''Somerset'' will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those wishing to do harm to this country."
Construction
Approximately 22 tons of steel from a
Marion 7500
dragline that stood near
Flight 93's crash site were used to construct ''Somerset''s keel.
The contract to build ''Somerset'' was awarded on 21 December 2007, to
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of
Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid down on 11 December 2009, at Northrop Grumman's
Avondale shipyard in
New Orleans, Louisiana. She was launched on 14 April 2012, and
christened three months later, on 28 July,
sponsored by Mrs. Mary Jo Myers, the wife of
General Richard Myers, former
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: app ...
. She completed acceptance trials in September 2013. On 3 February 2014, ''Somerset'' was recorded as the last Navy ship to depart from the Avondale Ship Yard, before its closing. She was commissioned on 1 March 2014, in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
References
*
External links
*
pms317.navy.mil: LPD 25 Somerset*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerset (Lpd-25)
San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
United Airlines Flight 93
Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi
2012 ships