By: Magnolia Mornings, Magnolia Tribune
LPD 29 leaves Pascagoula’s Ingalls Shipbuilding on August 22, 2024, on way to commissioning (Photo from HII Ingalls)
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29) departed from Pascagoula’s Ingalls Shipbuilding on Thursday, enroute to its commissioning site in Pensacola, Florida. The company said LPD 29 is scheduled to be commissioned on September 7th at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
“When any of our ships sail away, it is a poignant reminder of the importance of shipbuilding to the freedom and security of our country,” said Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. “We are committed to the mission and stand behind those who serve the nation for all Americans.”
Richard M. McCool, Jr. was delivered to the U.S. Navy in April and is the 13th San Antonio-class ship delivered by Ingalls. As the final Flight I transition ship before the company moves into production of the LPD Flight II line, Richard M. McCool, Jr. is the first LPD 17-class ship to undergo the installation and activation of the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, SPY-6(V)2, rotating variant, S-Band radar. SPY-6(V)2 provides the U.S. Navy with a common hardware variant for aircraft carrier and amphibious ships and commonality with the SPY-6 Family of Radars. In addition to providing hardware and software commonality across the fleet, the radar will also contribute to increased target engagement capability and overall ship self-defense.