“The start of fabrication for Harrisburg marks the beginning of the LPD Flight II program. Through learning structured around consistent production, we’ve been able to identify design and construction modifications to make future ships in the class more affordable while fulfilling Navy and Marine Corps requirements,” said Steve Sloan, Ingalls LPD Program Manager.

Ingalls supplied the Navy with 11 San Antonio-class ships and has three more under construction including the LPD 30. The ship will be the 14th in the San Antonio class and the first LPD Flight II. Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) will be launched in March and will be completed in 2021.

LPD 30 is the second Navy submarine to be named after Harrisburg, Pa.

The first was a Navy-acquired troopship during World War I that served in commission from May 29, 1918 until September 25, 1919. The vessel also operated under another name with the Navy in the Spanish-American War. While being Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg is home to a variety of Defense Department facilities including the Naval Support Activity, Mechanicsburg.

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