LPD 26 to be named Murtha

The Navy’s 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, LPD 26, will be named after the late Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania. The formal announcement was made by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus last week in Johnstown, Pa., at the John P. Murtha Johnstown-Cambia County airport. The ship will be built by Northrop Grumman in Avondale, La. The naming breaks the current tradition of naming the ships after U.S. cities. (Source: NNS, 04/23/10)