LPD-21 USS NEW YORK

USS New York (LPD-21) is a modern American amphibious assault ship, the keel of which was laid in 2004, launched in December 2007, and commissioned with the US Navy in 2009. The total length of the ship is 208.5 meters and a width of 31.9 meters. Full displacement is around 25,000 tons and the maximum speed exceeds 22 knots. The ship's armament consists of two 30mm Bushmaster II guns and two RIM-116 missile launchers. The ship can operate with the use of, among others: two CH-53E helicopters, four AH-1 Sea Cobra or two MV-22 planes. USS New York (LPD-21) is one of the San Antonio-class ships. Vessels of this type were designed, were and are being built to replace three classes of ships in the US Navy: mainly Austin-class, but also Newport and Charleston types. They were created for the needs of the US Marine Corps and can make landings with the use of hovercraft (LCAC), amphibious vehicles, on-board helicopters or MV-22 machines. Units of this type can carry up to 800 marines with full equipment. Compared to their predecessors, they have much more modern electronic equipment, using, among others: the advanced AEM / S mast. One of the ships of this class is the USS New York (LPD-21). It was built in a shipyard belonging to the Northrop Grumman concern, and its construction was made of melted steel from the WTC towers, destroyed in the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. The unit, shortly after entering service and undergoing a series of tests and exercises at sea, operated in the Persian Gulf in 2012. At that time, she operated in a team with USS Iwo Jima and USS Gunston Hall. In 2014, she transported to the US a Libyan citizen, Ahmed Abu Khattal, who was suspected at the time of terrorist attacks in the city of Benghazi. In 2017, the unit participated in the rescue and humanitarian operation caused by Hurricane Irma. USS New York remains on active service.