USS San Antonio (LPD 17) Weathers Hurricane Katrina and Aftermath Like No Other

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Amid the devastation and wreckage of what remains of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, one San Antonio beacon outshines everything else.

The US Navy’s rescue and recovery efforts are becoming legendary as the Commands work together to re-establish essential functions in Pascagoula, MS and the surrounding areas. But one ship has been there all along, and she isn’t even commissioned yet.

Many here have heard of her. The LPD17 San Antonio, touted as the most technologically advanced expeditionary ship ever designed and built anywhere in the world, was moored at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Operations Shipyard in Pascagoula, MS on the morning of August 29. She endured 145 mph winds and a storm surge of up to 25 feet.

Commanding Officer Jonathan Padfield said that the crew and the Contractor worked together to prepare the ship for the worst possible situation.

“We rigged the ship for heavy weather, lowered the anchor underfoot, ballasted down, and operated our ship’s service diesel generators. My crew never wavered, standing by their watch stations throughout the storm, most for the first time. SAN ANTONIO rode well pier side through intense sea conditions and high winds,” Padfield said in an interview. And weathering the storm was only the first step of a very challenging journey, according to Padfield.

“In the immediate aftermath we began assisting with recovery once we had determined the ship to be stable. We fed and accommodated shipyard emergency workers, served as a base for Senator Lott’s hurricane recovery staff, maintained communications with the ships of Joint Task Force Katrina, served as an operating base for Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit TWO and have even supported the National Guard. Since the storm, our crew has been equally active in helping the community, providing assistance at the Jackson County Emergency Operations Center, providing security for Northrop Grumman and assisting the Red Cross. We have been running our generators for more than two weeks now, fully utilized our ballast and deballast system, and really appreciated the quality of life that this ship provides. In fact within days of serving the first meal aboard SAN ANTONIO, we were feeding more than just our crew and we are now in our third week of providing the best food service in the fleet. Our potable water and sewage systems are also fully operational.”

The Skipper states, “This is one tough ship. She withstood over 140-knot winds and a 25-foot storm surge like a fortress. This is also one tough crew. Their superb training was instrumental, but their real asset is their determination and resolve. The ship’s motto is ‘never retreat, never surrender,’ adapted from Colonel William Barrett Travis’ words written at the Battle of the Alamo. This crew is carrying on that tradition.”

Padfield continued by saving: “Some have called into question the capabilities and quality of SAN ANTONIO. The truth is that she has been designed and built by the best, crewed by the best and she is going to be the expeditionary asset required for twenty first century warfare. The Navy and Marine Corps believes it, I believe it, and the citizens of SAN ANTONIO should believe it. Their namesake will proudly represent the city and nation to the four corners of the world.”

###

For additional information, please contact Kristi Kelly, Public Affairs Officer for Navy Recruiting District San Antonio at 210-295-9694 or kellyk@cnrc.navy.mil. She is facilitating communications with the ship’s Public Affairs Officer, LT Maggie Bezek and the ship’s Jounalist, JO3 Anthony Tornetta. Additional talking points from Commander Jonathan Padfield are available upon request.