The LPD-22 USS San Diego is a San Antonio class amphibious transport dock of the United States Navy. The hull was laid down on May 23rd 2007 at the Northrop Grumman Ingalls shipyard at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Launching took place May 7th 2010 and the ship was commissioned into the US Navy on May 19th 2012. Like her sister ships the USS San Diego is designed to transport a 699 man USMC combat battalion, and land them on shore with their equipment. The ship is capable of 22 knots (41 km/h) and is powered by 4 x Colt-Pielstick diesel engines. Armament consists of 2 x 30mm Bushmaster canons and 2 RAM Air Defense Missile launchers. The ship has provision for two LCAC or one LUC landing craft, and can service up to 4 helicopters at a time. This class of ship was built with stealth characteristics to help reduce radar signature. Ship crew consists of 28 officers and 333 enlisted men, but up to 100 more crew or Marines can be carried in an emergency.
