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US Navy - Amphibious Transport Dock LPD 29 - USS Richard M. McCool |
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| 06/23 | ||
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Type,
class: Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD); San Antonio
class Builder: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA STATUS: Awarded: February 23, 2018 Laid down: April 12, 2019 Launched: January 5, 2022 Christened: June 11, 2022 Commissioned: ? OUTFITTING + TRIALS Homeport: - Namesake: Captain Richard Miles McCool Jr. (1922-2008) Ships Motto: - Technical Data: see: INFO > San Antonio class Amphibious Transport Dock - LPD |
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 outfitting at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - July 2022  christening ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - June 11, 2022  christening ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - June 11, 2022  under construction at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - October 2021  under construction at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - April 2021 |
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USS Richard M. McCool (LPD 29): Like her immediate predecessor, USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), Richard M. McCool Jr. will be a "transitional ship" between the current San Antonio-class design and future San Antonio-class Flight II vessels and as such will feature design improvements developed in connection with the Navy's development of San Antonio-class Flight II (which is intended to replace the current Whidbey Island-class and Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships). Richard M. McCool Jr. incorporates the changes that will be introduced in Fort Lauderdale intended to reduce the cost compared to the San Antonio-class, including: simplified bow works, replacement of the forward and aft composite masts with steel masts, removal of structures from the boat valley, and a stern gate which is open at the top. In addition, unlike Fort Lauderdale, Richard M. McCool Jr. will use the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) volume air search radar. - - - - - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced the Navy's newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship will be named in honor of Navy veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, Capt. Richard M. McCool Jr. McCool, a native of Oklahoma, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 and later served aboard Landing Craft Support (Large) 122 off the coast of Okinawa during World War II. "Capt. McCool served his nation with honor, distinction and an unparalleled sense of duty." said Spencer. "His exemplary service in defense of our nation spanned 30 years and three wars. His legacy will live on in the future USS Richard M. McCool and his heroic actions will continue to inspire Sailors and Marines for decades to come." On June 11, 1945, three kamikaze aircraft attacked McCool's ship, leaving him temporarily unconscious. After regaining consciousness, he began leading others in efforts to save the ship and rescue injured Sailors. On December 18, 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented McCool with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism. He would later serve in the Korean War and Vietnam conflict before retiring from naval service. - - - - - PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) started fabrication of the 13th LPD-17 San Antonio class ship, LPD-29, July 30, 2018, at its shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut. "We are excited to commence fabrication on the 13th and final ship of the LPD-17 Flight I class," said Capt. Brian Metcalf, LPD 17 class program manager for Program Executive Office Ships. "We continue to benefit from the maturity of this program, and look forward to achieving future production milestones as we work to deliver this versatile and capable warship to the fleet." LPD-29 is named in honor of Navy veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, Capt. Richard M. McCool, Jr., and will be the first vessel to bear the name. McCool served in defense of the nation for 30 years, spanning three wars. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for heroism, after his ship was attacked by kamikaze aircraft and he led efforts to save the ship and rescue injured Sailors. |
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Captain Richard Miles McCool Jr.
(January 4, 1922 - March 5, 2008) Richard Miles McCool Jr. was born on 4 January 1922 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Appointed from that same state to the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated an Ensign in June 1944. and was assigned to Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. In December, following training at the Amphibious Training Station, Solomons, Maryland, he assumed command of USS LCS 122 and was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1945. On 10 June, while operating off the Ryukyu Chain, Japan, he led his vessel to rescue survivors of USS William D. Porter after a Japanese kamikaze bomb exploded underneath her. The next evening, two Japanese kamikazes attacked. Organizing a counter attack, McCool's crew downed one of the kamikazes and damaged the second before it crashed into the vessel. Severely wounded and suffering severe burns, he led his men until evacuated due to his wounds. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty " on this occasion, McCool was awarded the Medal of Honor. In January 1946, McCool was reverted back to Lieutenant Junior Grade. In July, he assumed command of USS LSC 44, then transferred to the destroyer USS McKean. In July 1947, he became the Aide to Commandant, Eighth Naval District at New Orleans, Louisiana. After instructor duty at the University of Oklahoma with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps in June 1949, he received orders to USS Frank Knox, later transferring to USS Leyte. In January 1951, McCool was promoted to Lieutenant. Completing Armed Forces Information School at Fort Slocum, New York, in June, he received orders to Commander Naval Base, Long Beach, California, and served as the Public Information Officer. A year later, he returned for duty at the Eighth Naval District. In July 1954, he received orders to be the Assistant for Public Information at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. In June 1955, McCool was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. The following year, he reported overseas as a staff member of Commander, South Eastern Asia Treaty Organization at Bangkok, Thailand. In December 1958, he was assigned staff duty with Commandant of the Ninth Naval District at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he was promoted to Commander in July 1960. In April 1961, he reported served on the staff of Commander, First Fleet and transferred three years later for duty with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan. Returning to the U.S., he continued staff duty with Commander, Seventh Fleet. In July 1965, McCool was promoted to Captain. In April 1966, he became Deputy Commander of the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. Following his service in various public affairs posts, he retired from active duty in 1974 and became active in local politics in the Bremerton, Washington area. Richard M. McCool died on 5 March 2008 and is buried at Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland. NHHC Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Richard Miles McCool, Jr., USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 227): "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LCS 122, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Ryukyu Chain, 10 and 11 June 1945. Sharply vigilant during hostile air raids against Allied ships on radar picket duty off Okinawa on 10 June, Lieutenant McCool aided materially in evacuating all survivors from a sinking destroyer which had sustained mortal damage under the devastating attacks. When his own craft was attacked simultaneously by two of the enemy's suicide squadron early in the evening of 11 June, he instantly hurled the full power of his gun batteries against the plunging aircraft, shooting down the first and damaging the second before it crashed his station in the conning tower and engulfed the immediate area in a mass of flames. Although suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he rallied his concussion-shocked crew and initiated vigorous fire-fighting measures and then proceeded to the rescue of several trapped in a blazing compartment, subsequently carrying one man to safety despite the excruciating pain of additional severe burns. Unmindful of all personal danger, he continued his efforts without respite until aid arrived from other ships and he was evacuated. By his staunch leadership, capable direction and indomitable determination throughout the crisis, Lieutenant McCool saved the lives of many who otherwise might have perished and contributed materially to the saving of his ship for further combat service. His valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
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