USS New York

On September 11, 2001, our nation's enemies brought their fight to New York.
The USS New York will now bring the fight to our nation's enemies well into the future.

Throughout America's history there have previously been seven United States Navy ships that have borne the name "New York".  Six were after the state of New York, and one after the City of New York.
  1. Gondola:  USS New York
     The first New York was a gondola built by Gen. Benedict Arnold's American troops on Lake Champlain at Skenesborough, NY. in the summer of 1776.  She participated in the Battle of Valcour Island.

  2. Frigate:  USS New York
     A 36-gun frigate, built in New York City and funded by the citizens of New York, she was commissioned in Octuber 1800.  The New York sailed to the Mediterranean in 1802 and served as a flagship in the war against the Barbary Pirates.  In two engagements the ship participated in driving off Tripolitan gunboats.  The New York returned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1803 where she remained for 11 years until the British burned the ship on August 24, 1814.

  3. Ship-of-the-Line:  USS New York
     After the War or 1812, Congress authorized the construction of 9 ships-of-the-line as a potential deterrent to future war with Britain.  War never came and so the New York, whose keel was laid in 1820 and was ready for launching in 1825, never left the stocks.  On April 20, 1861, this 74-gun ship-of-the-line was burned by Union forces to avoid capture by encroaching Virginians at the start of the Civil War.

  4. Armored Cruiser:  USS New York
    Armored Cruiser - USS New York
    Laid down in 1890, the armored cruiser New York (CA-2) was commissioned in August 1893.  She served as Admiral Sampson's flagship in the Battle of Santiago when the American Squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in 1898.  Renamed to Saratoga in 1911, renamed again in 1917 to Rochester, decommissioned in 1933, and scuttled in 1941.

  5. Battleship:  USS New York
    Battleship - USS New York
    On 11 September 1911, the battleship New York (BB-34) was laid down and commissioned on April 15, 1914.  She served as flagship of Battleship Division 9 in World War I, supporting the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea with blockade and escort missions.  The New York was present when the German High Seas Fleet surrendered on November 21, 1918.  She saw action in both WWI and WWII.  Between wars, the battleship USS New York served primarily in the Pacific Fleet until 1935, before transferring to the Atlantic Fleet.  At the start of World War II, she escorted convoys and later provided naval gunfire support in the Invasion of North Africa on November 8, 1942.  Following this action, the ship trained gunners and provided training cruises for the Naval Academy until transferring back to the Pacific Fleet in 1945.  The USS New York earned three battle stars for World War II service.  The USS New York was decommissioned on August 29, 1946 and sunk as a target ship in 1948.

  6. Submarine:  USS New York City
    Submarine - USS New York City
    A nuclear powered attack submarine, USS New York City, was commissioned in 1979 and decommissioned in 1997.

USS New York crest

New York Governor George E. Pataki wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy Gordon England requesting that the Navy revive the name USS New York in honor of the September 11th victims and to give it to a surface warship involved in the war on terror.  In the letter he said he understood state names presently are reserved for submarines but asked for special consideration so the name could be given to a surface ship.  The request was approved August 28, 2002.

Governor Pataki hailed the Secretary's decision to name a new LPD-17 class amphibious transport dock the "USS New York" in honor of the heroes who died on September 11th, as well as to honor the courage and compassion shown by countless New Yorkers in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

A ship's name is important. The tradition within the Naval Service is to name ships in honor of great national or military leaders, or heroes who sacrificed for the defense of freedom, or battles fought to secure our liberties. or great American communities that represent the resiliency, vitality and spirit of America.

On September 7, 2002 in a ceremony aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City, then Secretary of the Navy Gordon England announced the decision to name the fifth amphibious transport dock ship of the San Antonio class, New York (LPD 21).

"The USS New York will ensure that all New Yorkers and the world will never forget the evil attacks of September 11, and the courage and compassion New Yorkers showed in response to terror," said Governor Pataki. "I want to thank Secretary England for taking this extraordinary step and agreeing to pay special tribute to all New Yorkers by giving our name to a ship that will play an important role in the war on terror," the Governor said. "In addition, I look forward to the USS New York's first visit to our great City and State for Fleet Week."

Ship's Crest Symbolism
 (Source Northrop Grumman LPD 21 Christening Booklet)
  • Shield:  Dark blue and gold, the colors traditionally associated with the Navy, represent the sea and excellence.
  • The crossed swords represent the US Navy and Marine Corps.
  • The red is for sacrifice and valor and the white recalls purity of purpose.
  • The gray chevron and two vertical bars represent the bow of LPD-21 and The Twin Towers respectively.  They are conjoined to emphasize the use of 24 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center, to construct the 7.5 ton bow stem of the USS New York.
  • The phoenix rising personifies the hope and determination of this nation to rebuild and regroup to fight terrorism.
  • The shield on the phoenix's breast honors the New York City Fire Department, New York City Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
  • The vertical red stripe is for the Fire Department, the dark blue stripe is the traditional blue for the Police Department and the light blue stripe is for the Port Authority Police Department.
  • The Celeste is taken from the patch of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  It also alludes to costal waters and the Port of New York.
  • The red drops represent blood shed and the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of 9/11.
  • The stars commemorate the three battle stars the USS New York Battleship earned during World War 11.
  • The border of the shield is adapted from the New York State Seal.
  • The sunburst represents the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
  • They represent the seven seas and contenents of the world and also suggest a direct connection to the littoral missions of the USS New York anywhere in the world, past and present.
  • The mountains and lakes surrounded by the maple leaves represent the natural beauty of the State of New York.
The USS New York is the fifth ship in the LPD-17 San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ships, a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists.

Steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage has been used in the construction of New York.  The shipyard and Navy inspected the steel and found that it was of sufficient material strength so that it could be incorporated into the bow stem of New York.

When it was poured into the molds on September 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. &nbps;"It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."  Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.'  "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said.  "They knocked us down.  They can't keep us down.  We're going to be back."

LPD 21 New York is under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations, greater New Orleans area, LA.  NGSS' Avondale Operations, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River is approximately 12 miles upriver from downtown New Orleans.

On August 4, 2005, the LPD 21's bow stem, with its World Trade Center steel, was erected into the main hull and will forever lead the future USS New York.  The keel was laid for New York on September 10, 2004 and the complete bow was erected into place in March 2006.

The ship's sponsor is Mrs. Dotty England, the wife of Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England "christened thee New York" in a ceremony in early 2008.

USS New York Christening

Commissioning is the ceremony in which New York will become a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy.  It is the occasion when the ship will "Come Alive" and New York becomes USS New York.  USS New York's commissioning ceremony will occur in mid to late 2009 in New York City.

The USS New York, and her sister ships, the USS Arlington and USS Somerset, will be living tributes to every hero who died at the World Trade Centers, at the Pentagon and on United Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  These three ships , these Champions of Freedom, stand for "life, liberty and the pursuit of all who threaten it" and will ensure that we NEVER FORGET September 11, 2001.  They will take the fight to all who threaten peace and freedom.  The most important message America can send to the world is our commitment to freedom and liberty for our citizens and for all people.  USS New York will carry 360 Sailors and 3 Marines, who will form the New York's crew along with and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.  The Prospective Commanding Officer will be CDR Curt Jones.  The ship's moto ... NEVER FORGET.

small USS New York

More pages for
A Day to Remember

[ America Still Stands Proud | An Open Letter to A Terrorist | America Prays ]
[ A Global Tragedy | Where was GOD? | Can Osama Bin Laden Come Out to Play? ]
[ NY/NJ Port Authority Police Memorial | Remembering the Heroes of the PAPD ]
| In Memory of Officer George Howard | In Memory of K-9 Sirius | A K-9 Memorial Service ]
[ Remember the Heroes of Ground Zero | The Hero's Cross ]
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