LPD-27 may be RIMPAC flagship

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii - This summer’s Rim of the Pacific naval exercise in Hawaii, the world's largest, is expected to include one of the Navy’s newest amphibious vessels as its flagship, the Army firing a Navy missile into the sea, and a first-ever innovation fair. USS Portland (LPD-27) has been tentatively tapped to serve as RIMPAC’s flagship. The final decision on flagship designation will not be made until a RIMPAC planning meeting in early April, Navy officials said. All 26 nations - including China - that participated in RIMPAC 2016 have been formally invited to this year’s international maritime exercise. Portland will be commissioned in April in Oregon. (Source: Stars and Stripes 01/24/18) Gulf Coast Note: LPD-27 was built at HII-Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. It is the 11th amphibious San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship in the Navy fleet.