The latest U.S. Navy ship to be named for Pittsburgh is approaching the halfway point of construction.
Current and retired U.S. Navy officers convened Thursday to celebrate the USS Pittsburgh, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship or landing platform dock (LPD) ship. LPDs are used to transport Marines and equipment augmented by landing craft and aerial support. Two such LPDs were recently deployed to Iran.
Around 350 sailors will crew the ship, which can transport more than 600 Marines.
“The Navy loves these ships,” Navy captain Matt Tardy told attendees at the Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park.
On hand were retired and active sailors and reservists, members of local media and submarine veterans from the USS Requin, which now serves as an exhibit at the Kamin Science Center, and the since-decommissioned USS Pittsburgh.
That submarine was the fourth ship named for the city and was preceded by two destroyers bearing the name and a Civil War-era ironclad ship that played a role in campaigns on the Mississippi and Red rivers.
The naming of the fifth USS Pittsburgh means the Steel City has now had more ships named for it than any other U.S. city.
“The Navy sure likes Pittsburgh,” retired Navy captain Byron King said during remarks on the name’s history. He noted that the city’s Navy bona fides date back to before a Pittsburgh shipyard constructed the vessel for Lewis & Clark’s cross-country expedition. “Five capital ships [named] after the city — that’s a record.”
The fifth and current USS Pittsburgh is currently more than 40% of the way through construction by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. When completed, four diesel engines totaling more than 41,000 horsepower will propel the ship to top speeds of over 22 knots (24.2 miles per hour). It will be armed with two missile launchers, two Mk 46 close-in guns and 10 .50 caliber machine guns.
Speakers said they anticipated a launch and christening in 2027, with the USS Pittsburgh joining the fleet in 2028 or 2029.
Two other LPD Flight II ships also named for Pennsylvania cities are underway. The USS Harrisburg was launched in 2024 and christened last year, and the USS Philadelphia will follow shortly after the Pittsburgh. The Navy has authorized three subsequent LPDs.
The latter portion of Thursday’s event also focused on the role of ship sponsors, in this case, Nancy Dettmer, who took over as the Pittsburgh’s sponsor following the death of her mother in 2024. Dettmer encouraged locals to support the ship with donations that will be used to provide amenities to sailors and Marines on board and to foster a community around the ship in the Greater Pittsburgh region.
Speakers said past sponsors had been enthusiastic, hosting sailors on shore leave, collecting Terrible Towels and even putting together cookie tables for homecoming events.
“Every new ship … has to raise money to host the crew and other events for the commissioning, to purchase TVs for the rec rooms, to secure gym equipment for the sailors on the ship and, hopefully, to fund and maintain a scholarship fund for the families of the women and men serving the USS Pittsburgh,” Dettmer said before presenting an inaugural $50,000 check.
Speakers said local connections to the ship extend beyond the name and material support, with Pennsylvania providing over $1 billion in supplies to Ingalls for the manufacture of LPDs and other Navy vessels. Navy representatives said Pittsburgh’s industrial base remained an important keystone for the armed forces.
“Modern war is industrial war,” King said. “The side that builds and maintains the most equipment is likely going to win.”
