The new mobile landing platform USNS Lewis B. Puller is officially ready to get to work.
The ship, named after Marine Corps Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, was christened at General Dynamics NASSCO's shipyard in Barrio Logan Saturday afternoon. Puller's daughter performed the traditional champagne bottle break.
USNS Lewis B. Puller is the first ship of its kind to include a flight deck, berthing, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces and accomodations for up to 250 personnel. The vessel is also capable of supporting missions including counter-piracy operations, according to one of its designers.
"Say Iran wants to mine the straights over there. This ship would be the ideal kind of ship to deal with that sort of threat," Aaron Rockwell, NASSCO's ASFB area manager said. "So the U.S. Navy is going to take it over there and it's going to be the base of mine operations."
Marine Corps Lt. Puller is the most decorated, and only Marine to be awarded five Navy Crosses.
The ship will be delivered to the Navy in the second quarter of 2015, according to General Dynamics NASSCO.
