USS RICHARD M. MCCOOL, JR. LPD 29 |
The Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29) is the 13th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship and is named in honor of U.S. Navy officer and Medal of Honor recipient Richard Miles McCool, Jr. April 19, 2019 The keel authentication ceremony for the future USS Richard M. McCool, Jr., was held at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Operations shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. January 5, 2022 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Richard M. McCool, Jr., was launched from a floating dry-dock and moored at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf. June 11, 2022 PCU Richard M. McCool, Jr., was christened during a 9 a.m. CDT ceremony at Ingalls West Bank in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Ms. Shana McCool and Ms. Kate Oja, the granddaughters of the ship's namesake, served as sponsors of the ship. September 21, 2023 The Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf after a two-day underway for Builder's (Alpha) trials; Underway for Bravo trials from Jan. 3?- Feb. 1. March 1, 2024 PCU Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf, just after midnight, after underway for acceptance trials. April 11, U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the PCU Richard M. McCool, Jr., during a brief ceremony aboard the ship. May 14, PCU Richard M. McCool, Jr., moved from Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf to a pierside location on East Bank Yard. August 22, The Richard M. McCool, Jr., commanded by Capt. Jeffrey D. Baker, departed Pascagoula for the last time en route to Norfolk, Virginia; Anchored approx. 4 n.m. off the coast of Panama City Beach, Fla., for a day-long stop on Aug. 25 and 27th; Anchored off Panama City Beach again from Aug. 28-29. August 30, PCU Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Allegheny Pier on Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., for a 10-day port call. September 7, USS Richard M. McCool, Jr., was commissioned during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony on NAS Pensacola, Florida. September 12, The Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Wharf C1 on Naval Station Mayport, Fla, for a five-day port call; Transited eastbound, south of Grand Bahama Island, on Sept. 18; Conducted operations at the AUTEC range from Sept. 19-22; Moored at Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport from Sept. 28- Oct. 1. October 4, USS Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Berth 2, Pier 9 in its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk for the first time; Underway again on Jan. 27; Anchored off Virginia Beach for a brief stop on Jan. 29. January 29, 2025 Capt. Jeffery D. Betz relieved Capt. Jeffrey D. Baker as CO of the LPD 29 during a change-of-command ceremony in the ship's weel deck. February 3, USS Richard M. McCool, Jr., moored at Berth 5, Pier 7 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway again on Feb. 10; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 12 on Feb. 13. |