USS New York: Never Forget!

I just received an email from my local RSL (Veterans Club, I am a member).

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Centre .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Centre was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the moulds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade centre steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'

The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

Searching I found this link to New York (LPD21).

I can't access the photographs in the email to post one, but please have a look at the site. The ship was christened on 1 March 2008.

From the site:

Name:

The ship was named New York after the state and incorporates in its construction steel salvaged from the World Trade Centers. "We're very proud that the twisted steel from the WTC towers will soon be used to forge an even stronger national defense," New York Gov. George Pataki spoke in 2002. "The USS New York will soon be defending freedom and combating terrorism around the globe, while also ensuring that the world never forgets the evil attacks of Sept. 11 and the courage and strength New Yorkers showed.” This will be the seventh U.S. ship named New York.

Ship Characteristics:

Length = 684 feet (208.5 meters)
Beam = 105 feet (31.9 meters)
Displacement = Approximately 24,900 tons full load
Speed = In excess of 22 knots (24.2 mph)
Aircraft = Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously. The ship’s hangar can store 1-2 aircraft.
Armament = Two 30 mm Close-in-Guns, for surface threat defense; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense
Landing Craft = Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional)
EFVs 14 Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles
Power plant = Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 41,600 shp
Crew = 360 Sailors (28 officers, 332 enlisted), three Marines
Troops = 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.

Motto:

“Never Forget”Dates: New York’s keel was laid on 10 September 2004 and the ship will be commissioned USS New York in New York City in 2009. Mrs Dotty England, wife of Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, is the sponsor.