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US Navy joins disaster-relief effort in wake of Hurricane Katrina
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| 09 September 2005 |
By Katy Glassborow
The US Navy (USN) has mobilised 16 ships, 68 aircraft, and more than 10,000 naval personnel to the affected Gulf coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) is acting as command centre and afloat staging base. The aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) is providing helicopter support, refuelling services and drinking water. Meanwhile, the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the amphibious transport dock USS Shreveport (LPD 12), the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the supply ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) and the salvage vessel USS Grapple (ARS 53) are transporting disaster-relief teams, plus specialist equipment. The high-speed catamaran Swift is providing a helicopter deck capable of day-and-night helicopter landings.
The USN itself did not escape the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. The Construction Battalion Centre facility at Gulfport was hit and has been running on partial power, with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command deploying Mobile Utilities Support Equipment technicians to provide emergency support at Gulfport. Most of the personnel normally stationed at Gulfport were evacuated before the hurricane struck, and are now clearing roads and removing debris.
In addition, the US Navy has seven ships under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Pascagoula: four guided-missile destroyers, Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), Kidd (DDG 100), Truxtun (DDG 103) and Dewey (DDG 105); two landing platform vessels, San Antonio (LPD 17) and Mesa Verde (LPD 19); and the amphibious assault ship, Makin Island (LHD 8). The US Navy has three ships under construction at NGSS Avondale: New Orleans (LPD 19), Green Bay (LPD 20) and New York (LPD 21). There are also six air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) at Bell Textron, New Orleans: LCACs 10, 21, 26, 28, 39 and 40. San Antonio and Forrest Sherman are operating under their own power.
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