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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive


Contributed by Ron Reeves

USS Somerset (LPD-25)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Sierra - Oscar - Mike
NSOM
San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport Dock:
  • Laid down, 11 December 2009, at Huntington Ingalls Industries Avondale Shipyard, LA.
  • Launched, 14 April 2012
  • Christened Somerset (LPD-25), 28 July 2012, at Huntington Ingalls Industries Avondale Shipyard, LA.
  • Commissioned USS Somerset (LPD-25) 1 March 2014, at Philadelphia, PA., CAPT. Thomas L. Dearborn USN in command
    Specifications:
    Displacement 25,000 t.(fl)
    Length 684'
    Beam 105'
    Draft 23 ft.
    Speed 22 kts.
    Complement 33 Officers, 411 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 66 Officers, 625 Enlisted
    Mission Systems
    Vehicles/Cargo (Net): Three Vehicle Decks (2323 sq m)
    Two Cargo/Ammo Magazines (708 cu m)
    Cargo Fuel, JP-5 (1190 cu m) , MOGAS (38 cu m)
    Two LCACs
    Medical
    Two Operating Rooms
    24 Person Hospital Ward
    100 Casualty Overflow Capacity:
    Aviation Facilities
    Hangar - "O" Level, Maintenance Facilities for; One CH-53E, or Two CH-46s, or One MV-22, or Three UH/AH-1s
    Landing - Two CH-53s, or Four AH/UH-1s, or Four CH-46s, or Two MV-22s, or One AV-8B Harrier:
    Main Propulsion
    4 - Medium Speed Turbocharged Marine Diesels
    2 - Shafts
    2 - Single Reversing Reduction Gears
    2 - Inboard Rotating (top) Fixed Pitch Propellers
    Electric Plant
    5 - 2500 KW Ship Service Marine Diesel Generators
    5 - Main Ship Service 60 Hz SWBS
    3 - Ship Service 400 Hz SWBS
    3 - 60 to 400 Hz solid State Frequency changers
    Zonal 60 Hz Power distribution system
    Advanced Degaussing System
    Auxiliaries
    7 - 700 KW Non-CFC Air conditioning Plants
    5 - 12000 GPD Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants
    10 - 1000 GPM Navy Standard Firepumps
    2 - HP Air Compressors
    3 - LP Air Compressors
    3 - Deballast Air Compressors
    Navigation
    Digital Flux Gate Magnetic Compass
    AN/WSN-7(V)1 Inertial Navigation System
    AN/WQN-2 Doppler Sonar Velocity Log System
    AN/UQN-4A Sonar Sounding Set, Dead Reckoning System
    Navigation Telex System
    AN/SSN-6 NAVSSI
    Armament
    1 - MK 41, 16 Cell VLS, (Space & Weight)
    2 - MK 31 Mod 0 RAM Launchers
    2 - MK 46 Mod 1 30mm Machine Guns
    2 - MK 26 Mod 17 .50 Cal Machine Guns Command & Control
    AN/SPQ-12(V) Radar Display Dist. Distribution System
    MK 2 SSDS
    AN/USQ-119C(V)27 JMCIS
    AN/KSQ-1 Amphibious Assault Direction System
    MK 91, 2 Channel MFCS
    AN/USG-2 CEC
    Radar Systems
    AN/SPS-48E
    AN/SPQ-9B
    AN/SPS-73
    EW & Decoy Systems
    AN/SLQ-25A NIXIE
    AN/SLQ-32Q(V)2
    MK 36 SRBOC
    MK 53 / NULKA

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Somerset 366k
    Namesake
    United Airlines Flight 93 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight that was hijacked by four Al-Qaeda terrorists on board, as part of the September 11 attacks. It crashed into a field near the Diamond T. Mine in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, near Indian Lake and Shanksville, during an attempt by some of the passengers to regain control, killing all 44 people aboard including the four hijackers. No one on the ground was injured. The aircraft involved, a Boeing 757–222, was flying United Airlines' daily scheduled morning domestic flight from Newark International Airport in New Jersey to San Francisco International Airport in California.
    Tommy Trampp
    Somerset 568k Mary Jo Myers, Somerset (LPD-25) ship's sponsor, inscribes her initials onto a steel plate at the ship's keel authentication ceremony Dec. 11, 2009 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Avondale facility. Looking on are L-R: John Vatavuk, county commissioner, Somerset, Penn.; Gordon Felt, president, Families of Flight 93; and Lanford Bridges, Northrop Grumman welder, who later welded Mrs. Myers initials onto the plate that will become part of the ship.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
    Bill Gonyo
    Somerset 3805k Somerset (LPD-25) on the builders ways at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Operation, Avondale facility, LA., circa 2010.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
    Bill Gonyo
    Somerset 229k The Families of Flight 93, a group of family members of the passengers and crew who perished on United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, visited Northrop Grumman Corporation Avondale Yard on January 15, 2011, to tour Somerset (LPD 25), the ninth ship in the LPD 17 series of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships being built by the company.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
    Bill Gonyo
    Somerset 261k Mrs. Mary Jo Myers (right) breaks a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow of the Ingalls-built amphibious transport dock LPD-25, officially christening the ship Somerset. Also pictured (left to right) are Master Chief Larry Lynch, prospective command master chief, LPD 25; LCDR. John Moore, prospective executive officer, LPD 25; Patrick White, president, Families of Flight 93, and keynote speaker; and Irwin F. Edenzon, president, Ingalls Shipbuilding.
    US Navy photo # 120728-N-ZZ999-001 AVONDALE, La. (July 28, 2012) Photo courtesy of Huntington Industries Inc.
    Ron Reeves
    Somerset 240k USS Somerset (LPD-25) Christening Coin. Tommy Trampp
    Somerset
    120414-N-ZZ999-001 AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2012)
    599k Somerset (LPD-25) is launched from the Huntington Ingalls Industries Avondale Shipyard. Somerset is the ninth San Antonio-class ship and is named in honor of the county where passengers aboard United Airlines flight 93 crashed the hijacked airliner during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Note. Anchorage (LPD-23) in the background of second photo.
    US Navy photo #'s 120414-N-ZZ999-001 AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2012) and 120414-N-ZZ999-002 AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2012) courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries.
    Scott Koen/ USS New York.com
    Somerset
    120414-N-ZZ999-002 AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2012)
    742k
    Somerset 289k Sailors aboard Somerset (LPD-25) bring in all lines during sea and anchor detail on Somerset's maiden voyage. Somerset, named in honor of the 40 passengers and crew members of United Flight 93 and the last of the Sept. 11 tribute ships, is scheduled to be commissioned in Philadelphia, 1 March 2014.
    US Navy photo # 140203-N-DI719-057 AVONDALE, La. (Feb. 03, 2014) by MCC Elena Pence.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 160k Sailors man the rails as Somerset (LPD-25) transits the Delaware River to her commissioning site at Penn's Landing.
    US Navy photo # 140221-N-BK435-092 PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 21, 2014) by MC1 Jeremy Starr.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 207k Thousands of Navy and Marine Corps supporters attend the commissioning ceremony of USS Somerset (LPD-25).
    US Navy photo # 140301-N-WL435-183 PHILADELPHIA (March 1, 2014) by MCC Peter D. Lawlor.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 264k USS Somerset (LPD-25) crew members man the ship bring her to life during, the commissioning ceremony.
    US Navy photo # 140301-N-WL435-544 PHILADELPHIA (March 1, 2014) by MCC Peter D. Lawlor.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 162k USS Somerset (LPD-25) crew members man the rails, after given the word to man the ship and bring her to life, during the commissioning ceremony.
    US Navy photo # 140301-N-WL435-563 PHILADELPHIA (March 1, 2014) by MCC Peter D. Lawlor.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 192k USS Somerset (LPD-25) Commanding Officer Capt. Thomas Dearborn extends thanks to his crew for their efforts throughout the construction of the ship after officially assuming the title as the ship's CO following the commissioning of the amphibious transport dock
    US Navy photo # 140301-N-WL435-602 PHILADELPHIA (March 1, 2014) by MCC Peter D. Lawlor.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Somerset 246k USS Somerset (LPD-25) passes Naval Air Station North Island as she makes her way to her new homeport at Naval Base San Diego.
    US Navy photo # 140421-N-SV210-174 SAN DIEGO (April 21, 2014) by MCSS Donnie W. Ryan.
    Lee Wahler
    Somerset 124k USS Somerset (LPD-25) passing downtown San Diego as she arrives at her homeport, San Diego, for the first time, 21 April 2014 ©CAPT Robert E. Lang USN (Ret.). with permission
    Somerset 227k USS Somerset (LPD-25) arriving at her homeport, San Diego, 21 April 2014. View of the "LETS ROLL 93. ©CAPT Robert E. Lang USN (Ret.). with permission
    Somerset 169k USS Somerset (LPD-25) passing under the San Diego - Coronado Bay Bridge as she arrives at her homeport, San Diego, 21 April 2014. ©CAPT Robert E. Lang USN (Ret.). with permission
    Somerset 162k USS Somerset (LPD-25) arrives at her new homeport at Naval Base San Diego.
    US Navy photo # 140421-N-GW139-034 SAN DIEGO (April 21, 2014) by MCSN Eric Coffer.
    Lee Wahler
    Somerset 123k Japanese Self Defense Force soldiers board a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) in the well deck of USS Somerset (LPD-25), date and location unknown.
    US Marine Corps Photo
    Tommy Trampp
    Somerset 274k USS Somerset (LPD-25) transits the Pacific Ocean during Composite Training Unit Exercise. Somerset is part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, working with Amphibious Squadron Five and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in preparation for an upcoming deployment.
    US Navy photo # 160822-N-UT455-060 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 23, 2016) by MC1 Larry S. Carlson
    Lee Wahler
    Somerset
    10092530
    93k USS Somerset (LPD-25) outbound to Sea from San Diego Bay, 17 July 2020 ©George Schneider

    USS Somerset (LPD-25)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
     CDR. Hayes, Stephen Cole, USN (PCU) (Photo as CAPT.)May 2012 - January 2013
    01CAPT. Dearborn, Thomas Lamb, USN1 March 2014 - October 2014
    02CAPT. Reed, Leonard Edward, USN (90)October 2014 - 30 June 2016
    03CAPT. Glaser, Darren W., USN30 June 2016 - 2 November 2017
    04CAPT. Sherrod, William R. (Bill), USN2 November 2017 - 12 April 2018 (fired)
    05CAPT. Quin, Brian James, USN (temporary)12 April 2018 - 7 September 2018
    06CAPT. Bateshansky, Stewart L., USN7 September 2018 - 22 November 2019
    07CAPT. Kurtz, John William (Dave), USN (USNA 1996)22 November 2019 - 24 September 2021
    08CAPT. Brown, Christopher Anthony (Chris), USN24 September 2021 - 14 July 2023
    09CAPT. Brandt, Michel Chong, USN14 July 2023 -  
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Somerset (LPD-25) Historical Chronology
    Navy Fact File - Amphibious Transport Dock - LPD
    Federation of American Scientists, Military Analysis Network, US Navy Ships
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 5 January 2024