Navy Christens Ship Built from World Trade Center

The United States Navy has christened its newest warship, the USS New York, a transport dock ship that was built with nearly ten tons of steel from the remnants of the World Trade Center in New York, the famed twin towers destroyed by Islamic extremists in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The ship was built and christened at a Navy shipyard in Avondale, Louisiana.

The use of steel from the downed New York towers will give special meaning to the ship, and will serve as a reminder to her crew of the death and destruction brought about six and a half years ago by the worst terrorist attack in American history. The ship is officially titled LPD-21, and was inaugurated into service at a ceremony that included the families of some victims of the September 2001 terrorist attacks. According to DefenseTech, the new warship can transport nearly 400 sailors and 700 marines who can be put ashore by either landing craft or helicopter.

LPD-21 is not the first U.S. Navy ship to be christened the USS New York. In fact, it is the sixth navy vessel to bear the city's name, and the fifth ship named New York to be put into service. According to the ship's web site, the first USS New York was a gondola that took part in the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776. The second ship, a frigate-class vessel, was destroyed by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812. The third ship, which never put to sea, was destroyed by Union forces in the Civil War to prevent its capture by Confederate soldiers. Fourth in line was an armored cruiser commissioned in the late 1800s. That ship participated in the Battle of Santiago in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. Fifth was the battleship USS New York, which served in both World Wars after being commissioned in 1914. During the first world war, the ship performed both blockade and escort duties, while in the second world war she provided naval gunfire in support of the invasion of North Africa and was used for pre-invasion bombardment at both Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The idea to use steel from the World Trade Center is largely attributed to former New York Governor George Pataki, who lobbied for the use of metal from the wreckage of the twin towers. Pataki is also believed to be largely responsible for getting the Navy to name the ship the USS New York.

Sources: DefenseTech, USS New York