US Navy unveils name for first ship in new medium landing ship class

Secretary of the US Navy Carlos Del Toro has unveiled the name of the first ship in the new class of medium landing ships.

As disclosed, the first vessel will be named USS McClung (LSM 1), while this class of ships will bear the name McClung class.

The name honors US Naval Academy graduate and Public Affairs Officer Major Megan M.L. McClung, US Marine Corps, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq. This will be the first navy vessel to bear her name.

Commissioned in 1995 after graduation from the United States Naval Academy (USNA), McClung served on active duty until 2004, when she joined the Marine Corps Reserve. Recalled to active duty in 2005, McClung deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, as the media relations officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). 

On December 6, 2006, she was killed alongside two US Army soldiers by a roadside improvised explosive device in Ramadi. 

McClung was the first female Marine officer to be killed in the Iraq war and the first female graduate of the USNA to be killed in the line of duty. 

“The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) will be an asset to the Marine Corps’ amphibious capabilities, designed to greatly enhance operational flexibility and combat readiness,” said Del Toro.

“I am honored to name the first ship in this class after Major McClung, a selfless leader and hero who embodied the highest ideals of service, honor, and loyalty to our nation.”

In fiscal year 2025, the Department of the Navy plans to start construction of the medium landing ship, a new small amphibious ship.

The navy’s Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program, previously called the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program, envisions procuring a class of 18 to 35 new amphibious ships to support the US Marine Corps, particularly in implementing a new operational concept called Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO).

Mechanized and utility landing craft will be rugged, steel displacement vessels used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops from ship to the shore, along the shore, and from shore back to the amphibious warships.

Landing craft are also used to support civilian humanitarian/maritime operations.