We took a tour of the USS Arlington, the US Navy's amphibious warship that takes Marines ashore
Built by Northrop Grumman, the USS Arlington was commissioned in 2013.
It's about 684 feet long, 105 feet wide and has a maximum displacement of 25,883 tons.
Source: US Navy
Powered by four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, San Antonio-class ships have a maximum speed of 24.2 miles per hour.
Source: US Navy
Now, let's go aboard.
Upon entering, the well deck is to the left, which is where the ship transports marines and vehicles, such as the amphibious assault vehicle in the middle, ashore.
This is a landing craft air cushion, which brings vehicles and marines ashore. The Arlington can hold two LCACs in the well bay, or one landing craft utility ship.
The LCAC is basically a hovercraft, which inflates before taking vehicles and marines ashore.
But, obviously, this door has to drop before the LCACs or LCUs can disembark.
Like this...
Or this...
But in shallower waters, the AAVs can drive off themselves.
And here's a shot of the well deck from the storage area above.
To the right of the entrance, there's even more storage areas for vehicles.
And even a lower storage area.
Now, let's go out to the flight deck.
Here's a wide shot of the flight deck at the pier in Manhattan.
The flight deck can hold two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters or two MV-22 Ospreys or up to four CH-46 Sea Knights or SH-60 Seahawks.
The Navy also had an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter onboard.
The Cobra is akin to the US Army's Apache attack helicopter.
You can read more about the Cobra here.
San Antonio-class LPDs are also rather heavily armed with two rolling airframe missile launchers (one of which is in the top left), two Mk 46 30 mm guns and 10 .50 caliber machines guns.
Source: US Navy
And here's a shot of the tower from the back of the flight deck. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to go up, marking the end of the tour.
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