U.S. Navy to Commission Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Anchorage

The Navy will commission amphibious transport dock ship, Anchorage, in her namesake city of Anchorage, Alaska, May 4, at 10 a.m. (AKDT), during a ceremony at the Port of Anchorage.

Anchorage is named in honor of the largest city in Alaska.

Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's keynote address. Annette Conway, wife of retired Gen. James T. Conway, the 34th commandant of the Marine Corps, is serving as the ship's sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she will give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

"Like the previous USS Anchorage, I am confident LPD 23 and her crew will represent the United States with distinction around the world for many decades to come," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "As we execute our nation's defense strategy and our Marine Corps returns to its traditional maritime roots, the improved warfighting capability Anchorage brings to the fleet will be critical."

The first USS Anchorage (LSD 36) was commissioned in 1969, earning the Meritorious Unit Commendation and six battle stars for Vietnam service, receiving the Navy Unit Citation and the Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 stars) for Operation Desert Storm, and supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. When decommissioned in 2003, the first USS Anchorage was the most decorated dock landing ship on the West Coast.

Designated LPD 23, Anchorage is the seventh amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. As an element of future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support Marine Corps ship-to-shore mobility, which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, amphibious assault vehicles and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Anchorage will provide improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity and advanced ship-survivability features. The ship is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines.

Cmdr. Joel G. Stewart is the commanding officer and will lead a crew of more than 360 officers and enlisted Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The 24,900-ton Anchorage was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries - Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana. The ship is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, and a navigational draft of 23 feet. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds in excess of 22 knots.

The commissioning will be streamed live at http://navylive.dodlive.mil.

Russian Navy Plans to Assign 30 Helicopters to Each Mistral

Each of the two Mistral class amphibious assault ships being built in France for the Russian Navy will have air wings consisting of 30 Ka-52K and Ka-29 helicopters, Izvestia newspaper reported on Wednesday.

“These will be air wings comprising carrier-based and land-based elements to ensure fast rotation of the helicopters for repairs or replacement due to combat losses,” Izvestia quoted a Defense Ministry source as saying.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing vessels, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 personnel.

“The actual number of helicopters on board will vary according to the operational tasks,” the source said.

Prototypes of a naval version of the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter are under construction at the Progress plant in Russia’s Far East. The flight tests are expected to start in 2014.

Ka-29 Helix has been originally designed for the Soviet navy as a dedicated assault transport helicopter, and its adaptation for Mistrals will be less time-consuming and costly.

Russia and France signed a $1.2-billion contract for two French-built Mistral class ships, including the transfer of sensitive technology, in June 2011. Two more ships are expected to be 80% built in Russia, 20% in France.

The first Mistral class warship is expected to be put in service with the Russian Navy in three years.

The Russian military has said it plans to use Mistral ships in its Northern and Pacific fleets.