USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)

	USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) during builders sea trials, circa December 2007.
Name:	USS Mesa Verde
Namesake:	Mesa Verde National Park
Awarded:	29 February 2000
Builder:	Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
Laid down:	25 February 2003
Launched:	19 November 2004
Commissioned:	15 December 2007
Homeport:	Norfolk, Virginia
Motto:	Courage Teamwork Tradition
Status:	in active service, as of 2024
Badge:	150px
General characteristics
Class and type:	San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
Displacement:	24,433 tons (full)
Length:	208.4 meters (684 ft) overall, ; 201.4 meters (661 ft) waterline
Beam:	32 meters (105 ft) extreme, ; 29.5 meters (97 ft) waterline
Draft:	7 meters (23 ft)
Propulsion:	Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, ; 40,000 hp (30 MW)
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats and landing; craft carried:	Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional); ; 14 EFVs
Capacity:	699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.
Complement:	28 officers, 332 enlisted, and 3 Marines
Armament:	1 × 16 cell MK 41 VLS(capable, but not currently installed), ; 2 × RIM-116 RAM launchers for air defense; ; 2 × 30 mm Bushmaster II cannons, for surface threat defense; for surface threat defense; ; 2 × .50 cal. machine guns for close protection
Aircraft carried:	Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously.

USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) is the third San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock and the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The ship is designed to deliver a fully equipped battalion of up to 800 Marines.

The contract to build her was awarded on 29 February 2000 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and her keel was laid down on 25 February 2003. She was launched on 19 November 2004, and christened on 15 January 2005 with Linda Price Campbell, wife of former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, serving as the ship’s sponsor. The ship was commissioned on 15 December 2007 in Panama City, Florida with its first commanding officer being Commander Shawn W. Lobree of Miami, Florida.^[1]

References

This article contains information from the Naval Vessel Registry and various other United States Navy Web sites.

Career
USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) during builders sea trials, circa December 2007.
Name:	USS Mesa Verde
Namesake:	Mesa Verde National Park
Awarded:	29 February 2000
Builder:	Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
Laid down:	25 February 2003
Launched:	19 November 2004
Commissioned:	15 December 2007
Homeport:	Norfolk, Virginia
Motto:	Courage Teamwork Tradition
Status:	in active service, as of 2024^[update]
Badge:	150px
General characteristics
Class and type:	San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
Displacement:	24,433 tons (full)
Length:	208.4 meters (684 ft) overall, 201.4 meters (661 ft) waterline
Beam:	32 meters (105 ft) extreme, 29.5 meters (97 ft) waterline
Draft:	7 meters (23 ft)
Propulsion:	Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 40,000 hp (30 MW)
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h)
Boats and landing craft carried:	Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional); 14 EFVs
Capacity:	699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.
Complement:	28 officers, 332 enlisted, and 3 Marines
Armament:	1 × 16 cell MK 41 VLS(capable, but not currently installed), 2 × RIM-116 RAM launchers for air defense; 2 × 30 mm Bushmaster II cannons, for surface threat defense; for surface threat defense; 2 × .50 cal. machine guns for close protection
Aircraft carried:	Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously.