Navy christens fast-transport ship USS Carson City in Ala. ceremony
The Navy will christen its newest fast-transport ship, the USS Carson City, during a ceremony Saturday in Mobile, Alabama.
Susan Asbury Crowell, wife of Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell, will carry out the Navy's tradition at the christening by giving the order, "Man our ship and bring her to life," according to a Navy news release announcing the event.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said the christening will mark the "beginning of what will be a long-standing partnership between the people of Carson City, the sailors, Marines and civilian mariners who will sail aboard this ship.
"This ship will provide a presence around the globe for years to come, serving as a tangible representation of the ideas and values the people of Carson City and our nation hold dear," Mabus said.
The expeditionary fast-transport ship, designated EPF 7, can carry 600 tons of military cargo for more than 1,000 miles, including a combat-ready Abrams tank, cruising at 35 knots to reach shallow-draft ports and waterways. It has a flight deck for helicopters and an off-load ramp for vehicles to quickly drive away.
The USS Carson City will be the second Navy ship named for Nevada's capital. The first Carson City was designated PF-50 and commissioned March 24, 1944. She was loaned to Japan in 1953 and served for nearly 20 years in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Carson City received two battle stars for World War II service.
Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2.
