USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) Completes Final Contract Trials

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) returned to Naval Base San Diego on July 21 after having successfully completed Final Contract Trials (FCT).

The USS John P. Murtha was commissioned October 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and arrived at her San Diego homeport November 2016 to commence her Post Delivery Test & Trials period. The Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey conducts FCT as a final in-depth examination of a newly constructed ship to ensure it meets Navy standards and requirements.

“USS John P. Murtha and her crew have proven with every test that she is capable and ready for deployment,” said Capt. Brian Metcalf, LPD 17 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “LPD 26 is the 10th ship in the San Antonio class to join the fleet. With this ship the U.S. Navy gains another versatile platform that will be utilized in a variety of missions.”

The FCT tests and trials were demonstrated over a five day period and consisted of both in-port and at-sea evaluations. During the at-sea phase, the crew demonstrated full power runs, self-defense detect-to-engage exercises, evaluations of key combat and communications systems, rapid ballast/de-ballast operations, steering checks, and anchor handling demonstrations to certify the readiness of all systems for operational tasking.

LPD 17 class amphibious transport dock ships transport and deploy the necessary combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades. The ship will carry troops and have the capability to transport and debark air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (MV-22). These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

Two additional San Antonio class ships, Portland (LPD 27) and Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), are currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi The Navy awarded a contract to HII for long lead time material and advance procurement in support of LPD 29 in June 2017.

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 boats and craft.