Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship

USS Carter Hall (LSD-50)
USS Carter Hall
Class overview
NameHarpers Ferry class
BuildersAvondale Shipyard
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byWhidbey Island class
Succeeded byLX(R) class
Cost$324.2 million [1]
In commission1995–present
Planned4
Completed4
Active4
General characteristics
TypeDock landing ship
Displacement15,939 tons
Length609 ft 7 in (185.8 m)
Beam84 ft (26 m)
Draft19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
PropulsionFour Colt Pielstick, 16-cylinder diesels twin turbo, two shafts, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW)
Speed24.5 kn (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 LCACs or 1 LCU or four LCM-8 or 9 LCM-6[2]
Complement24 officers, 397 enlisted sailors, Surge + 504 Marines
Armament
Stern view of USS Harpers Ferry

The Harpers Ferry class of the United States Navy is a class of dock landing ships completed in the early 1990s. Modified from the Whidbey Island class, the design sacrifices landing craft capacity for more cargo space, making it closer to an amphibious transport dock type, but was not designated as such. Externally, the two classes can be distinguished by the positions of weapons: The Harpers Ferry class has the Phalanx CIWS mounted forward, and the RAM launcher on top of the bridge, while the Whidbey Island has the opposite arrangement.

As of 2009, all ships of the class are scheduled to undergo a midlife upgrade to ensure they remain in service through 2038. The ships will be upgraded each year through 2013, and the last ship will be modernized in 2014. Ships homeported on the East Coast will undergo upgrades at Metro Machine Corp., and ships based on the West Coast will receive upgrades at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego.[3]

Major elements of the upgrade package include diesel engine improvements, fuel and maintenance savings systems, engineering control systems, increased air conditioning/chill water capacity, and replacement of air compressors. The ships also replaced steam systems with all-electric functionality that will decrease maintenance.[3]

  1. ^ "United States Navy fact file: Dock Landing Ship - LSD". Navy News Service. 12 September 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  2. ^ "United States Navy fact file: Dock Landing Ship - LSD". Navy News Service. 12 September 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b "USS Gunston Hall Completes Sea Trials". Navy News Service. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.