Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

The future USS New York (LPD 21) was put to sea for the first time June 27, transiting down the Mississippi River to conduct builder’s trials.

Named for the state of New York, the ship and its motto “Never Forget” honor the victims and first responders of the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks. Constructed in Avondale, La., the ship contains 24 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center within the 311-ton bow unit.

During the four-day trial, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding conducted comprehensive tests intended to demonstrate the performance of the combat and communication systems, propulsion plant, ship-handling, damage control capabilities and auxiliary systems. Major events included full-power demonstrations during ahead and astern maneuvers, main ballasting, steering drills and combat system evolutions—all of which were successful.

The ship is scheduled for commissioning in November 2009, and her homeport will be Norfolk, Va.

“The LPD 17 class represents a revolution in amphibious ship design,” said class program manager Captain Bill Galinis. “These ships provide a much-needed capability for our country and our Navy/Marine Corps team.”

Stryker Reset

General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Tankautomotive and Armaments Command to reset 330 Stryker infantry combat vehicles. The contract has a maximum potential value of $55.2 million. Through the contract, the company will service, repair and modify Strykers that are returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, restoring them to a pre-combat, like-new condition in advance of reissuing the vehicles prior to their next deployment.

To date, General Dynamics has delivered 2,852 new vehicles for seven separate Stryker brigades to the Army. With more than 6 million miles accumulated through two completed Operation Iraqi Freedom rotations since October 2003, the Stryker vehicle has demonstrated a combined fleet operational-readiness rate of 96 percent. ♦

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