HII’s LPD 29: First with MPDE

WASHINGTON - The next generation of LPD 17 Flight II Class amphibious transport dock ships are moving forward in Main Propulsion Diesel Engine (MPDE) efficiency by installing the common rail fuel injection system on the ship's Pielstick-Colt 2.5V Sequentially Turbocharged (STC) engine. The technically advanced system replaces the existing mechanical fuel delivery system and is expected to yield significant lifecycle cost savings due to reduced fuel usage and maintenance costs. The project began in 2015. Fairbanks Morse engineers collaborated to develop a prototype, which was tested on the future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) engine. Upon completion, the common rail fuel injection components were removed, and mechanical fuel injection components re-installed and retested. The future USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., will be the first amphib delivered to the Navy with common rail fuel injection MPDEs. (Source: Team Ships 02/08/19)