USS Portland Warship (LPD 27)

USS Portland (LPD 27) is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship built for the United States Navy. It is the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name of Portland, Oregon. As the eleventh ship of the San Antonio class, USS Portland was produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries and designed to transport, deploy, and land Marines, vehicles, and equipment. The ship is equipped to support amphibious assaults, special operations, reconnaissance missions, as well as humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and counter-piracy operations.

As a member of the San Antonio class, USS Portland measures approximately 208 meters (684 feet) in length and 32 meters (105 feet) in width. Its full load displacement is around 24,900 tons and it can achieve speeds in excess of 22 knots powered by four diesel engines. The ship has the capacity to carry and deploy over 800 Marines.

The ship’s operational capability is provided by its well deck and flight deck. The well deck enables the launch and recovery of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels. The expansive flight deck is designed to support operations of CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

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The construction of USS Portland was carried out by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The keel was laid on 2 August 2013, the ship was launched on 13 February 2016, and it was christened on 21 May 2016. After completing construction, the ship successfully passed builder’s trials involving system tests in the Gulf of Mexico and was officially delivered to the United States Navy in September 2017. USS Portland was commissioned into active service on 21 April 2018 during a ceremony held in Portland, Oregon.

In addition to standard defensive armaments, the ship has also served as a test platform for modern technologies. USS Portland became the first platform to carry and test the High-Energy Laser Weapon System Demonstrator known as the Solid State Laser – Technology Maturation Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD MK 2 MOD 0).

During tests conducted in the Pacific Ocean on 16 May 2020, the ship’s laser weapon successfully neutralized an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight. This milestone is recognized as a significant step in the United States Navy’s integration of directed-energy weapon systems onto naval vessels.

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Throughout its service, USS Portland has participated in various amphibious task groups and contributed to maritime security operations in the Middle East and Pacific regions. On 6 August 2021, command of the ship was transferred from Captain Karrey Sanders to Captain Matthew C. Thomas during a at-sea change-of-command ceremony.

One of the ship’s most notable missions was conducted as part of NASA’s Artemis I mission. On 11 December 2022, the uncrewed Orion spacecraft returned from lunar orbit and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. USS Portland led the operation to recover the capsule and its flight data from the sea. The capsule was safely hoisted onto the ship’s deck using its well deck and transported ashore.

The emblem of USS Portland incorporates various elements symbolizing its heritage and mission. The gear represents Portland’s industrial history and its role in shipbuilding during World War II. The crossed swords behind the shield signify the integrated operations between the Navy and the Marine Corps.

The sixteen silver stars on the emblem represent the battle stars earned by the previous USS Portland (CA 33) during World War II. The three prongs of the trident emphasize that this is the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name Portland, while the yellow rose motif symbolizes the crew’s commitment to their families. The ship’s motto is “First Responders Brave and Determined”.