History

San Antonio was christened July 19, 2003, by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. The ship was delivered to the Navy and commissioned as USS San Antonio in 2006. USS San Antonio is currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia. This ship is the first amphibious transport dock of the twelve-ship San Antonio class.

Named for the city of San Antonio, USS San Antonio incorporates advanced performance and war fighting technologies that will enhance the fleet's operational flexibility and ability to support emerging concepts such as Sea Power 21, Operational Maneuver from the Sea (OMFTS) and Ship-to-Objective Maneuver (STOM). Among the advanced features that distinguish San Antonio are composite-material advanced enclosed mast/sensor systems; state-of-the-art C4ISR and self-defense systems; a shipboard-wide area network (SWAN) "information superhighway;" and improved habitability for embarked Sailors and Marines. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Avondale, Louisiana, and Pascagoula, Mississippi, constructed LPD 17.

San Antonio is designed for 21st century expeditionary forces. Its improved aviation facilities include a hangar to accommodate a flexible mix of helicopters and the Marine Corps' new tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft and an enlarged flight deck capable of supporting all Marine Corps rotary-wing operations. San Antonio's well deck is sized for the launch and recovery of two landing craft, air cushions (LCAC) - each capable of high-speed transportation of 60 tons of cargo and vehicles (e.g. one M1A1 tank) at 40 knots or one conventional landing craft, the landing craft utility (LCU).

With two fully loaded LCACs in San Antonio's well deck, the ship can also transport combat ready Marines to their land objectives while providing combat support with two 30mm guns. The ability of San Antonio to carry LCACs helps sea warriors execute expeditionary missions throughout the world.