HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49)
The U.S. Navy will commission the dock landing ship, Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) at
10 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 1995, at the Navy Landing in New Orleans,
Louisiana.
The Mayor of the City of New Orleans, Marc Morial, will be the ceremony's
principal speaker. The ship's Sponsor, Mrs. Mimi Dailey, wife of former
assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, General John R. Dailey (Ret.), will
also attend the ceremony.
Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) honors the national historic site in West Virginia,
site of a major federal arsenal established in 1796. In 1859, Harpers Ferry
was seized in a raid by the abolitionist John Brown. Located in a strategic
position at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, the town changed hands
several times during the first two years of the Civil War.
Harpers Ferry is the first of four LSD 41 "Cargo Variant" (CV) Class ships
authorized for construction by Congress. Cargo variant dock landing ships carry
two Landing Craft Air Cushion Vehicles (LCAC's), instead of the standard four,
in order to provide additional cargo stowage. LCAC's are assault landing craft
capable of exceeding 40 knots while carrying a 60 ton payload. The primary
mission of the dock landing ship is to project naval power ashore by
transporting landing force elements and assault vehicles to an objective area
and provide command, control, and communication in support of an amphibious
operation, "Forward ...From the Sea."
Harpers Ferry is 609 feet in length, has a beam of 84 feet and displaces
16,820 tons. Commander Charles P. Salsman, U.S. Navy, a native of Newport,
Rhode Island, will be the ship's commanding officer.
