Navy ship named for site of Flight 93 crash

[Sailor]

AVONDALE, La.

The Somerset - the last of three Navy ships named for 9/11 attack sites - was christened Saturday in honor of the passengers and crew of the plane that crashed short of terrorists' intended target after passengers stormed the cockpit.

Instead of hitting a target in Washington on Sept. 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County, Pa., killing all 40 passengers and crew members.

"The men and women of Flight 93... thought they were going to San Francisco to work, to play, to learn; to live their lives in peace while others guarded them," Navy Rear Adm. David Lewis said. "Instead, they found themselves in a war, on the front lines, in the opening battle. It was a new kind of war, one with new rules, maybe no rules at all. They had no preparation, no training, no guidance.

"And they performed superbly."

More here:
hamptonroads.com/2012/07/navy-ship-named-site-flight-93-crash

[dustdevil28]

Nice story with a sad ending.

"The Somerset is the last Navy ship to be built at Avondale, which is scheduled to close once the ship is delivered. Officials are trying to find a civilian shipbuilder or other industrial partner to keep it open.

About 5,000 people worked at Avondale when defense giant Northrop Grumman Corp. announced in 2010 that it was spinning off its military shipbuilding division. That spinoff resulted in Huntington Ingalls, based in Newport News."

Hope they find a partner to keep that place open.

The Somerset is another San Antonio class LPD. Last I checked, these ships were still being turned out. I'm curious why this place wouldn't be kept open to build more. Downsizing?

-DD

[Sailor]

"Downsizing?"

Yep. The Navy continues to shrink and as a result of that the shipbuilding and repair industry is taking it in the shorts.

Check the Pilot DD, you'll see a story about how the Navy here in Hampton Roads is about to shrink.

Wait, here it is:
hamptonroads.com/2012/07/looming-navy-shuffle-make-big-waves-region