The History of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20)
The USS Mount Whitney is a command and control ship in the US Navy that is designed to coordinate all radio and data transmissions while underway, enabling it to provide fleet commanders with real-time situational awareness and intelligence, critical for any mission deployment.
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Size
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The USS Mount Whitney is 627 feet long, 108 feet wide, displaces over 12,000 tons of water, and can safely navigate in water as shallow as 25 feet.
Construction Contract
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The contract for the construction of the ship was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding in 1966; it was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
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Time Frame
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Construction began in January of 1969 and was completed in December of 1970. The ship was officially commissioned on January 16th, 1971.
Famous First
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The Mount Whitney was the first US Navy combat ship to provide permanent berthing for female crew members.
Significance
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In 1981, the Mount Whitney was named as the flagship of the Second Fleet based in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2005, she has served as the flagship of the US Navy's Sixth Fleet, based in Italy.
Fun Fact
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The Mount Whitney is named after the tallest peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is one of two ships of the Blue Ridge class, with the other being a sister ship, the USS Blue Ridge.
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