Dominique Stump
General Dynamics subsidiary NASSCO has held a keel-authentication ceremony for the U.S. Navy‘s second Expeditionary Sea Base vessel that will be called USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams.
The ship will work as a multimission platform that supports air mine countermeasures, counter-piracy and maritime security operations as well as humanitarian missions, General Dynamics said Wednesday.
USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams is designed to hold at least 250 personnel; features a 52,000-square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage; and supports MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters as well as an optional MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.
General Dynamics added that the 784-foot-long ship is currently under construction at its shipyard in San Diego and is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2018.
The ship is named after the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient for the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
General Dynamics NASSCO has previously delivered the USNS Montford Point, USNS John Glenn and USNS Lewis B. Puller to the Navy, with a fifth ship in the contract pipeline for advanced procurement.
