HII: Construction advances on LPD USS Pittsburgh

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has reached a major milestone in the construction of the future USS Pittsburgh (LPD 31), successfully installing the vessel’s aft deckhouse and completing the placement of the final grand block that forms the ship’s superstructure.

The lift placed the final of the ship’s three grand blocks, completing the vessel’s external profile and paving the way for the next stage of construction. With the superstructure now fully assembled, the shipbuilder can focus on outfitting and activating the systems that will support the ship’s operational capabilities.

According to program officials, the milestone represents a key transition from structural construction to systems integration. The newly accessible spaces within the deckhouses will house a range of electronic and mission-critical equipment, allowing installation teams to accelerate work throughout the vessel.

The complex lift operation required close coordination between multiple departments, including Hull, Manufacturing Services, Ships Management and Engineering, to position and secure the massive structure.

Ingalls noted that completion of the final superstructure block will enable follow-on work across the ship. Once the remaining structural welds are completed, electrical, joiner and other outfitting teams will gain broader access to interior spaces, allowing them to move forward with installation activities at a faster pace.

LPD 31 is the second Flight II in the San Antonio class and the fifth US Navy vessel to be named after the city of Pittsburgh.

The first ship was an ironclad gunboat that served during the American Civil War. Since then, the name Pittsburgh has been assigned to four vessels that have served the U.S. during conflict. 

The unit is being built as part of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock program, which forms a key component of the service’s amphibious warfare fleet. The latest milestone brings the future warship another step closer to joining the fleet and entering operational service.

When completed, USS Pittsburgh will support a wide range of amphibious and expeditionary missions. The ship’s systems will facilitate flight operations, cargo handling and rapid deployment capabilities, providing critical support for Marine Corps and joint-force operations.

In addition to LPD 31, Ingalls is currently constructing Harrisburg (LPD 30) and Philadelphia (LPD 32) and has received contracts for the construction of LPDs 33-35. Ingalls is the sole builder of San Antonio-class ships and has delivered 13 LPDs to the US Navy.