Anchorage (LPD 23)

	The amphibious transport dock ship Anchorage (LPD23) is the seventh ship of the continuing San Antonio (LPD 17)-class being built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.

The ship is named for the largest city in Alaska, which is the northernmost major city in the United States and is nicknamed “The City of Light and Flowers.”

LPD 23’s keel was laid down on September 24, 2007 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s Avondale shipyard near New Orleans, La.

Mrs. Annette Conway, wife of U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway, is the ship’s sponsor, and she will christen the ship in the spring of 2011 in a traditional Navy ceremony at the Avondale facility.

The ship’s primary mission is to embark, transport and land elements of a U.S. Marine Corps landing force in a variety of expeditionary and special operations capable missions using expeditionary fighting vehicles (EFVs); landing craft, air cushion (LCAC); tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.

America’s naval expeditionary forces, particularly its multi-mission expeditionary strike groups and Marine expeditionary units, are the leading edge of global operations that protect important U.S. interests, allies, and friendly nations, maintaining peace and stability around the world and providing quick, effective crisis response.  LPD 23 will have ample command and control, communications connectivity, medical and dental spaces, and self sufficiency.