Hundreds of visitors gathered at the Coast Guard pier Sunday to tour one of the US Navy's newest ships, as Bristol once again welcomed a United States Navy ship to celebrate the Fourth of July. …
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Hundreds of visitors gathered at the Coast Guard pier Sunday to tour one of the US Navy's newest ships, as Bristol once again welcomed a United States Navy ship to celebrate the Fourth of July.
The USS Arlington is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, the third in the Navy named after Arlington, Va. It is named in commemoration of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, that killed nearly 200 people. Steel taken from the Pentagon is on display inside the ship.
The ship sailed into Bristol on July 1, and was open for tours Sunday, July 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors boarded a transport boat at the Coast Guard pier for the 20-minute ride to the ship. There was no charge for the tours.
Commissioned April 6, 2013, the Arlington has sailed extensively throughout the Atlantic and Middle East. The ship recently returned from a seven-month deployment in that region, with stops in Bahrain, Omar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.
Built by Northrup Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., the Annapolis measures 684 feet long, with a beam of 105 feet. It has a top speed of 22 knots, can transport up to 14 fighting vehicles, and its deck can accommodate helicopters of all sizes.
It carries a crew of 28 officers, 332 enlisted Navy personnel, and a Marine Detachment of 68 officers and 633 enlisted (can be expanded to 800 if necessary). It is armed with two Bushmaster II 30mm Close In Guns, and two Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers.
The ship is under the command of Capt. Sean R. Bailey, a native of Kansas who began his Navy career as a fighter pilot. He has flown more than 3,700 hours in the F-14 and F/A-18F and has logged more than 900 carrier landings.
“Arlington is proud to be closed to represent the Navy during the Bristol Independence Day celebration,” Capt. Bailey said in a release. “It is truly an honor to participate in such a storied event. The officers and crew are excited about enjoying the atmosphere and hospitality that Bristol is famous for.”