About The USS Somerset

  • USS Somerset is homeported in San Diego, California, and is the fifth ship to bear this name; in this case in honor of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. 
  • The ship was built in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was commissioned on March 1, 2014. 
  • USS Somerset (L-P-D 25) is named for Somerset County, in honor of the 40 passengers and crew who gave their lives on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The passengers and crew prevented the plane from reaching its intended target but tragically crashed in Stoneycreek Township in Somerset County. The ship is 684 feet in length and has a crew of 699 Sailors.   
  • Landing Platform Dock ships like the Somerset are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushion – also known as L-CAC – or conventional landing craft and Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles or Amphibious Assault Vehicles augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing craft like the M-V 22. These ships support amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions and can serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious ready groups.  
  • USS Somerset is the ninth ship of the San Antonio-Class. These ships combine 21st century amphibious ship building and warfighting technologies to support current and future Marine Corps aircraft and landing craft and are capable of transporting nearly 1,200 Sailors and Marines.