USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) is the third San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock of the United States Navy. She is the first U.S. Navy warship to be named after the Mesa Verde National Park in the U.S. state of Colorado.

USS Mesa Verde in December 2007
History
United States
NameMesa Verde
NamesakeMesa Verde
AwardedFebruary 29, 2000
BuilderNorthrop Grumman Ship Systems
Laid downFebruary 25, 2003
LaunchedNovember 19, 2004
ChristenedJanuary 15, 2005
CommissionedDecember 15, 2007
HomeportNorfolk
Identification
MottoCourage Teamwork Tradition
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeSan Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
Displacement24,433 tons (full)
Length
  • 208.4 meters (684 ft) overall,
  • 201.4 meters (661 ft) waterline
Beam
  • 32 meters (105 ft) extreme,
  • 29.5 meters (97 ft) waterline
Draft7 meters (23 ft)
Propulsion
Speed22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional)
Capacity699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.
Complement28 officers, 83 enlisted (including 550 marines)[1]
Armament
Aircraft carriedFour CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously.

History

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The contract to build Mesa Verde was awarded on February 29, 2000 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and her keel was laid down on February 25, 2003. She was launched on 19 November 2004, and christened on January 15, 2005 with Linda Price Campbell, wife of former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, serving as the ship's sponsor. The ship was commissioned on December 15, 2007 in Panama City, Florida.[2]

References

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This article contains information from the Naval Vessel Registry and various other United States Navy Web sites.
  1. ^ "Norfolk-based USS Mesa Verde heads to Persian Gulf with 550 Marines aboard". June 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "U.S. Navy commissions new ship built by Northrop Grumman". Associated Press. December 15, 2007. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
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