Keywords: US Navy 080107-N-9909C-003 Cmdr. Brad Skillman, commanding officer of USS New Orleans (LPD 18), presents Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates with a command ball cap and a set of traditional Mardi Gras beads following a tour and l.jpg en SAN DIEGO Jan 7 2008 Cmdr Brad Skillman commanding officer of USS New Orleans LPD 18 presents Defense Secretary Robert M Gates with a command ball cap and a set of traditional Mardi Gras beads following a tour and lunch aboard amphibious transport dock ship New Orleans is the second ship in the Navy's new San Antonio class As a critical element in future expeditionary strike groups New Orleans will support the Marine Corps mobility triad which consists of the landing craft air cushion the expeditionary fighting vehicle and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft MV-22 The ship also provides improved warfighting capabilities including an advanced command-and-control suite increased lift-capacity in vehicle and cargo-carrying capability and advanced ship-survivability features U S Navy photo by Cmdr Jane Campbell Released 2008-01-07 080107-N-9909C-003 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 54322 U S Navy photo by Cmdr Jane Campbell PD-USGov-Military-Navy Guests at Naval Base San Diego Guests aboard USS New Orleans LPD-18 Robert Gates in 2008 |