CHRISTENING CEREMONY
Ingalls Shipbuilding will christen San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship Harrisburg (LPD 30) on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
__PRESENT
Namesake
Named after the capital city of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg (LPD-30) will be the U.S. Navy’s 14th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship and the first Flight II in the class.
The city of Harrisburg has played a key role in the development of the nation’s industrial history from its origins as a trading outpost to the present. It also played a critical role in American history during the Westward Migration, the American Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution.
For part of the 19th century, the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad allowed Harrisburg to become one of the most industrialized cities in the Northeast.
During the American Civil War, Harrisburg was a significant training center for the Union Army, making it a target for Confederate troops.
Harrisburg will be the second ship in naval service named after the city of Harrisburg, Pa. However, it joins more than 30 others that have been named after cities, places and people in Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh (LPD 31), which is also currently in production at Ingalls.
Ingalls is building the Flight II LPD 17 San Antonio-class of ships, the newest addition to the Navy’s 21st century amphibious assault force. LPD Flight II replaces the Whidbey Island class and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships. Amphibious transport docks are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations.
Ingalls has delivered LPDs 17-29 and currently has two Flight II LPDs under construction including Harrisburg (LPD 30), which launched in October 2024, and Pittsburg (LPD 31). Pre-construction activities are currently underway for the construction of Philadelphia (LPD 32). Additionally, in September 2024, the Navy awarded Ingalls a contract for the construction of three more San Antonio-class amphibious ships (LPD 33 – 35).
Ship Sponsor
Mrs. Alexandra Curry, a resident of Middletown, Pennsylvania, and wife of the Middletown mayor is the ship sponsor for Harrisburg.