Bataan (LHD 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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IfTTir T.Birr: h 1 N k V i, . Above: The superstructure is lifted for inspection before it ' • ' gp JlU P - is mounted on the rest of the ship. Below: Diagram of how the ship fits together. Below right: Bataan is moved and ready to be ballasted down into the water. Fabrication work for BATAAN (LHD-5) began at Ingalls Shipbuilding on August 2, 1993, and the ship ' s keel ' was laid on June 22, 1994. LHD 5 was launched on March 15, 1996. LHD 5 ' s construction began with hundreds of smaller subassemblies in which piping sections, ventilation ducting, as well as major machinery items such as main propulsion ' equipment generators, and electric panels were installed. The forward most module of the ship is designated as ' Module No. 1 with modules No. 2, 3, and 4 being the mid to aft sections. Module No. 5 is the island structure , mounted atop Modules No. 2 and 3. The first step in assembling the hull is to move the ! ' 1 heaviest machinery module (No. 3) into the ship integration - area. The other modules are then moved to align with module No. 3. The ship ' s launching was just as innovative as her construction. LHD 5 was rolled from her constmction area to Ingalls ' floating dry-dock for launch on a rail transfer system. The dry-dock was positioned over a deep-water pit and ballasted down, allowing LHD 5 to float free. Following launch, LHD 5 was taken to her outfitting pier for christening, final outfitting and dockside testing. Service lines (water, power, steam, etc.) are connected when the ship is secured to the pier. Final outfitting performed during this period includes completion and integration of all ship subsystems, cleanup and painting. C o fc Bmiii»i mifmm:ami

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PPHl W i™ 1 esigned by the crew, the seahorse represents BATAAN ' s natural associa- tion with the sea. The central path commemorates the Bataan Death March. The spears form a wedge underscoring amphibious assault and deployment of men and cargo ashore, as well as combat readiness, while high- Hghting USS BATAAN ' s battle stars. Bamboo aUudes to the tropics and the Pa- cific Theater where the first USS BATAAN served. The wings represent the aviation heritage of the ship. The stars are for the seven batde stars earned dur- ing the Korean Conflict, while the five points of the central star are for World War II Battle stars. The mount suggests the mountainous terrain of Bataan; the sun is adopted from the seal of the RepubHc of the PhiHppines. The crossed swords represent the Navy-Marine Corps Team.

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nkmn ' The ship christening ceremony is a time-honored tradition, whose origin can be traced back to Kshipskd vhen ships first put to sea. This custom still survives today and is practiced in some form by all sea- Mon ;aring nations. Until the 19 century, U.S. Ships were christened by men. In 1846, Mrs. Lavina Vatson Fanning became the first woman to sponsor a United States warship as she christened the ' ' ilooD GERMANTOWN in Philadelphia, PA. Since that occasion, the honor has always been be- ilionduclins, ' iDTODukinn ' towcd upou a woman. erty Tradition holds that the spirit of the sponsor enters the ship at christening and remams forever. Medas The ship becomes part of her and she part of it, as it sails the sea to preserve America ' s Freedom. mikni The christening is a significant milestone in the service life of a ship. It is the moment when the ship receives a name and begins to emerge as more than an inanimate mass of metal. Christenings tie he bond between ships and the men and women who build and sail them. Mrs. Linda S. Mundy wife ' Df former Marine Commandant, Carl E. Mundy, christened BATAAN on May 18, 1996. integjtion