USS Richard M. McCool Jr.

USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29) is the 13th and final Flight I San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock of the United States Navy.[1][7] She is named after US Navy officer and Medal of Honor recipient Richard M. McCool, Jr. Richard M. McCool Jr. is under construction by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi.[8] She was christened on 11 June 2022.[5][9]

USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29)
Richard M. McCool Jr.'s sister ships USS San Antonio and USS New York.
History
United States
NameRichard M. McCool Jr.[1]
NamesakeRichard Miles McCool
Awarded23 February 2018[1]
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
CostUS$1.4B (FY2017)[2]
Laid down12 April 2019[3]
Launched5 January 2022[4]
Sponsored byShana McCool, Kate Oja
Christened11 June 2022[5]
IdentificationPennant number: LPD-29
MottoCerta ut unitas non ut singuli, "Fight as a unit, not as individuals"[6]
StatusUnder construction
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeSan Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
Displacement25,000 tons full
Length
  • 208.5 m (684 ft) overall,
  • 201.4 m (661 ft) waterline
Beam
  •   31.9 m (105 ft) extreme,
  •   29.5 m (97 ft) waterline
Draft 7 m (23 ft)
PropulsionFour Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 40,000 hp (30 MW)
Speed22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • Two LCACs (air cushion)
  • or one LCU (conventional)
Capacity699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.
Complement28 officers, 333 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems		AN/SPS-73(V)18 - Next Generation Surface Search Radar
Armament
Aircraft carriedFour CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously.

Design

Like her immediate predecessor, USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), Richard M. McCool Jr. will be a "transitional ship" between the current San Antonio-class Flight I design and future Flight II vessels, starting with USS Harrisburg (LPD-30), and as such will feature design improvements developed in connection with the Navy's development of the LX(R)-class amphibious warfare ship, (which is intended to replace the current Whidbey Island-class and Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships).[10][11]: (Summary)  Richard M. McCool Jr. incorporates the changes that will be introduced in Fort Lauderdale intended to reduce the cost compared to the San Antonio-class, including: simplified bow works, replacement of the forward and aft composite masts with steel masts, removal of structures from the boat valley, and a stern gate which is open at the top. In addition, unlike Fort Lauderdale, Richard M. McCool Jr. will use the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) volume air search radar.[12]

References
  1. "Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. Eckstein, Megan (16 February 2018). "Navy Signs $1.4B Contract with Ingalls Shipbuilding for 13th San Antonio". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. "Keel of Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) Authenticated at Ingalls Shipbuilding" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. "HII Launches Amphibious Transport Dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  5. "HII Christens Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. "USS Richard McCool Jr. (LPD 29)". The Institute of Heraldry. U.S. Army. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. "Navy's Newest LPD to be Named in Honor of WWII Medal of Honor Recipient" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 2 May 2018. NNS180502-12. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  8. "Fabrication Begins on Amphibious Assault Ship Richard M. McCool, Jr" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 30 July 2018. NNS180730-29. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  9. "Christening of Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29)". Huntington Ingalls. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. Eckstein, Megan (11 April 2018). "Navy Designates Upcoming LX(R) Amphibs as San Antonio-Class LPD Flight II". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  11. O'Rourke, Ronald (13 April 2018). "Navy LPD-17 Flight II (LX[R]) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  12. Eckstein, Megan (12 January 2018). "Navy Wants FY 2018 Amphib to be First-in-Class LX(R), Not a 14th LPD". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

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