The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) arrives at its new homeport Naval Base San Diego.
USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26), is the 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship of the United States Navy and is named in honor of Congressman John Murtha (1932–2010) of Pennsylvania. John P. Murtha is homeported at Naval Base San Diego.
A former United States Marine Corps officer, Murtha was the first Vietnam War veteran elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in 1974. Murtha served as either chairman or ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee from 1989 to 2010.
The contract to build John P. Murtha was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding on 1 April 2011. John P. Murtha’s keel was laid down on 6 June 2012 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship was launched on 30 October 2014, christened five months later on 21 March 2015, delivered to the Navy on 13 May 2016, placed in active service on 11 August 2016, and commissioned on 8 October 2016. The ship was sponsored by Congressman Murtha’s daughter, Donna S. Murtha.
With capabilities such as advanced robotic anti-air defense systems and a stealthy silhouette, the San Antonio-class is U.S. Navy’s newest class of amphibious transport docks, also called a landing platform/dock (LPD).
