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USS Fort Lauderdale continued

The Commissioning Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30 a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. The ship is 684
is by invitation only, although the Commission Committee feet long and weighs more than 7,000 tons. It was built by
expects to cast a wide net and invite thousands of area Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Miss.
residents, including many U.S. Navy veterans. Ultimately, the LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment,
U.S. Navy determines the number of people who may attend, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)
based factors such as available space and COVID conditions or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles
at the time.
(AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and
In addition to organizing the formal ceremony, the landing aircraft (MV 22). The ships support amphibious
Commissioning Committee is working with local organizations assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare
and businesses to set up watch parties for live streamed missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for
coverage of the ceremony. All nine branches of the YMCA in amphibious operations.
Broward County are expected to take part.
In addition to the USS San Antonio, other Navy amphibious
Ship’s Motto: "Together We Fight" transport ships include the USS New York, USS San Diego
As an amphibious transport dock ship, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS New Orleans. And soon, USS Fort Lauderdale will
with a motto of “Together We Fight“ is designed as a warship join the fleet, helping to make this city proud.
to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for

24 The Landings & Bay Colony

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