"USS San Antonio LPD-17 serves in the amphibious transport dock role for the modern United States Navy and is the lead ship of her class."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS San Antonio (LPD-17).
4 x Colt-Pielstick diesel engines delivering 42,000bhp to 2 x shafts. Propulsion
22.0 kts 25.3 mph Surface Speed
Structure The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS San Antonio (LPD-17).
361 Personnel Complement
684.0 ft 208.48 meters O/A Length
105.0 ft 32.00 meters Beam
23.0 ft 7.01 meters Draught
25,000 tons Displacement
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS San Antonio (LPD-17).
2 x 30mm Bushmaster II cannons
2 x Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) anti-aircraft missile launchers
Air Arm Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS San Antonio (LPD-17).
Any combination of the following rotary-wing systems:
4 x Sikosrky MH-60S Seahawk navy helicopters (formerly 4 x CH-46 Sea Knight) with 2 x MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor transports.
Ships-in-Class (13) Notable series variants as part of the USS San Antonio (LPD-17) family line as relating to the San Antonio-class group.
USS San Antonio (LPD-17); USS New Orleans (LPD-18); USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19); USS Green Bay (LPD-20); USS New York (LPD-21); USS San Diego (LPD-22); USS Anchorage (LPD-23); USS Arlington (LPD-24); USS Somerset (LPD-25); USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26); USS Portland (LPD-27); USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28); Unnamed (LPD-29)
The USS San Antonio represents the lead ship in her 9-strong San Antonio-class of 21st Century amphibious transport dock ships (or Dock Landing Ship). Her primary role is in the delivery of marine forces via sea or land and does so through the use of hovercraft, conventional landing craft and helicopter systems. Despite being ordered in the mid-1990's, the vessel was not launched until 2003 and even as late as 2007, several critical problems were reported in need of resolution forcing the USS San Antonio to be in drydock until the errors were rectified.
Design-wise, the USS San Antonio and her class sport a sleek and stealthy exterior. The profile is dominated by two large towering elements atop her elongated superstructure. The bridge is carried forward in the island and the hull features a shortened forecastle area and a large stern surface to accept helicopter landings and take-offs. The sides of the vessel are designed as such where the contour of the hull rolls directly into the superstructure sides making her appear to take on a most streamlined look, no doubt assisting in her reported stealth-like characteristics on the high seas. A large service crane can be seen fitted to the port side of the superstructure, aft of the bridge and forward tower, and is fully retractable into the design when not in use. In short, much care was placed into the exterior design of the vessel, so much so that even surface components are hidden or streamlined when necessary to maintain such a design appearance.
Power is derived from four diesel engines of Colt-Pielstick make and delivered at about 40,000 shaft horsepower to twin shafts. A top speed in optimal conditions of 22 knots can be reached. Her crew accommodations amount to over 360 personnel making up the crew and an additional 700 combat-ready marine elements. Though she carries armament, the USS San Antonio does so in a mostly defensive or supportive role indicative of her dock ship classification. This is centered around two 30mm Bushmaster II series cannons and twin Rolling Air Frame Missile (RAM) missile launchers for close-in anti-aircraft work.
In her amphibious assault role, the USS San Antonio can field a variety of sea/land-going systems. This includes up to fourteen Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (EFV), two LCAC (Landing Craft, Air Cushioned) hovercraft systems or one LCU (Landing Craft Utility) in place of the two LCACs. These landing craft are supplemented by the vessels ability to field several makes of rotary aircraft as well and include CH-46 Sea Knight twin-rotor and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport type helicopters serviced by the aft flight deck. Two aircraft can be held in the hangar decks (depending on type) below and take-off and landings can be handled simultaneously. A large well deck provides service support for the landing craft.
The USS San Antonio was first ordered in 1996 and laid down in 2000 by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. She was launched in 2003 and officially commissioned in 2006. The vessel makes her home port at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, USA. The ship fights under the banner of "Never Retreat, Never Surrender". The USS San Antonio was named after the US city in the state of Texas, the site of the battle of the Alamo.
Operators Global operator(s) of the USS San Antonio (LPD-17). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
[ United States ]
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Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
Going Further... USS San Antonio (LPD-17) Landing Pad Dock (LPD) Warship appears in the following collections:
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