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Naval
Forces News - USA |
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General
Dynamics NASSCO Christens USNS John Glenn Mobile Landing Platform (MLP
2) |
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General
Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, christened
on February 1st the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, USNS John Glenn (MLP-2).
Named in honor of the famed Marine Corps pilot, Congressional Space
Medal of Honor recipient and four-term U.S. senator, the USNS John Glenn
is the second ship of three Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) vessels designed
and built by NASSCO. |
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The Military Sealift Command mobile landing ship USNS John Glenn (MLP
2) underway off the California coast. John Glenn successfully completed
Builder's Sea Trials on Jan. 13. The ship is expected to be delivered
to the Navy in March following Acceptance Trails. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
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The
Saturday morning christening ceremony took place at NASSCO’s San
Diego shipyard. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert
was the ceremony’s principal speaker. Lyn Glenn, daughter of Senator
Glenn, served as the ship’s sponsor. She christened the ship by
breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against the vessel’s
hull.
“With pride we christen the USNS John Glenn. May this ship
serve our country well and be strengthened with the legacy of our distinguished
guest, the Honorable John Glenn,” said Fred Harris, president
of General Dynamics NASSCO. “The USNS John Glenn carries with
it the skill, dedication and the high regard for quality of the hundreds
of men and women involved in its design and construction.”
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An artist concept of a mobile landing platform (MLP) ship
(Image: US Navy)
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The
MLP is a flexible platform that will provide capability for large scale
logistics movements such as the transfer of vehicles and equipment from
sea to shore. It will significantly reduce dependency on foreign ports
and provide support in the absence of any port, making it especially
useful during disaster response and for supporting Marines once they
are ashore.
USNS John Glenn will
be delivered to the Navy in the first quarter of 2014. |