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Caption:
NEW ORLEANS (March 10, 2007) -- Cmdr. Brad Skillman, commanding officer
of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) escorts
U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) aboard the Navy's newest
warship. Sen. Vitter served as the guest speaker at the
ship’s commissioning Saturday, March 10, 2007. New Orleans is the
second ship in the Navy’s new San Antonio class. As a critical
element in future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support
the Marine Corps mobility triad, which consists of the LCAC (landing
craft air cushion), the expeditionary fighting vehicle, and the Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22). The ship also provides improved
warfighting capabilities including an advanced command-and-control
suite, increased lift-capacity in vehicle and cargo-carrying capability
and advanced ship-survivability features. The ship holds the
distinction of being the only ship in recent naval history built and
commissioned in its namesake city. USS New Orleans will be homeported
in San Diego, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist
2nd Class Kurt Eischen (RELEASED)
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