Bronco NB5051 USS SAN ANTONIO (LPD-17)

The USS San Antonio (LPD-17) is a modern American amphibious assault ship, the keel of which was laid in 2000, launched in July 2003, and commissioned with the US Navy in 2006. The total length of the ship is 208.5 meters and a width of 31.9 meters. Full displacement is around 25,000 tons and the maximum speed exceeds 22 knots. The ship's armament consists of two Mk. 46 caliber 30 mm and two RIM-116 missile launchers. The ship can operate with four Sikorsky MH / SH-60 helicopters or two MV-22 aircraft.

USS San Antonio (LPD-17) is the leading unit of the class of ships of the same name - San Antonio. Ships of this type were designed, were and are being built to replace three classes of ships in the US Navy: primarily Austin-class, but also Newport and Charleston types. They were created for the needs of the US Marine Corps and can make landings with the use of hovercraft (LCAC), amphibious vehicles, on-board helicopters or MV-22 machines. Units of this type can carry up to 800 marines with full equipment. Compared to their predecessors, they have much more modern electronic equipment, using, among others: the advanced AEM / S mast. The leading ship of this class is the USS San Antonio (LPD-17). In 2009, the unit acted as a flagship for a combined team of units operating in the Somali region and carrying out actions against local pirates. In 2012, he received the Battle Effectiveness Award for the previous year. In 2013, the ship was used in a special operation to capture the Libyan terrorist Abu Anas Al-Liby. Three years later, the unit operated in the Yemen region. The USS San Antonio remains in active service.