Keywords: US Navy 020830-N-9999T-001 Pre-commissioning unit San Antonio (LPD 17).jpg en New Orleans La Aug 30 2002 -- Pre-commissioning unit San Antonio LPD 17 is under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations San Antonio achieved a major construction milestone passing the fifty percent completion point The Landing Platform Dock 17 San Antonio Class is the latest class of amphibious force ship for the United States Navy The mission of the San Antonio Class is to transport the US Marine Corps mobility triad that is Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicles AAAVs air-cushioned landing craft LCAC and the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to trouble spots around the world Construction of the first ship the San Antonio LPD 17 began in June 2000 and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in the spring of 2003 U S Navy photo by Spike Thibodeaux RELEASED 2002-08-30 020830-N-9999T-001 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 2745 U S Navy photo by Spike Thibodeaux PD-USGov-Military-Navy 2002 in New Orleans Images from US Navy location New Orleans La General views of USS San Antonio LPD-17 August 2002 photographs |