USS San Diego Successfully Completes Builder’s Trials

The future USS San Diego (LPD 22) successfully completed Builder’s Trials, Oct. 1, marking a significant milestone as the ship progresses toward delivery to the Navy. LPD 22 is the sixth LPD 17 class amphibious transport dock ship and the second ship of the class to be completely constructed at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in Pascagoula, Miss.

The primary focus of Builder’s Trials is to measure performance and identify any possible construction discrepancies. Over the next few weeks, the shipyard will focus on correcting those discrepancies in support of San Diego’s next major milestone, Navy Acceptance Trials. Shortly thereafter, the shipyard will officially deliver LPD 22 to the Navy.

HII shipyard personnel conducted comprehensive tests intended to prove the performance of the combat and communications systems, propulsion plant, ship handling, damage control capabilities, and auxiliary systems. Additionally, the Engineering Control System and Ship Control Systems were demonstrated.

Among the highlights of the trial, San Diego completed a full power run, a self defense detect-to-engage exercise, evaluation of key combat and communications systems, rapid ballast/de-ballast, quick reversals ahead and astern, steering checks, and an anchor handling demonstration.

“These were the first Builder’s Trials of an LPD 17-class ship executed out of the Ingalls Pascagoula facility in four years; and it is clear that HII is incorporating many lessons learned from earlier LPD 17-class ships,” said Jay Stefany, LPD 17-class Program Manager. “HII’s ability to successfully present over 200 separate, successful events during these trials demonstrated solid progress toward delivery later this year.” Experts from the Naval Sea Systems Command, San Antonio Class Program Office, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast, and various government activities observed and evaluated the ship’s performance dockside and while at sea. The crew will be moving aboard LPD 22 at the beginning of 2012.

The future USS San Diego is scheduled for commissioning in 2012. USS San Diego will be homeported in its namesake city joining USS New Orleans and USS Green Bay already homeported there. Four other ships of the class, LPDs 23-26, are under construction on the Gulf Coast. As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.

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Source: navsea, October 04, 2011