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can't do in the assembly building." Bollinger will use similar technologies for jig designs and cutting on the same panel lines. "Bollinger has representatives work- ing along side us here, and we have peo- ple down in Louisiana," Shaver said. "Bollinger is building one of the hull sections for LCS 1 at their yard in Louisiana which will be brought here for final assembly." The steel for the LCS hull is made in the U.S. The superstructure will be made from aluminum. That requires a different assembly area and tools because steel and aluminum contami- nate each other. According to Bernard, steel has the combined advantages of being relatively inexpensive — as opposed to compos- ites and other alloys — and immensely strong. Aluminum is best used in the deckhouse where its lighter weight will increase stability, vice below in the hull where slamming and stresses are higher. The problem of attaching one to the other was solved by a 'detacouple,' a bimetallic strip whose upper portion is aluminum and the lower is steel, with the halves bonded together explosively. This permits welding of aluminum-to- aluminum, steel-to-steel, thereby elimi- nating the obvious problems of a bolted and gasketed connection. Joining the sections together requires precision. When in place, the drive train from the engine to the reduction gear, shaft, and water jets will be more than 100-feet long, and all must be in perfect alignment. LCS will have more horsepower than a cruiser. "It will be just like a warship," says prospective commanding officer Cmdr. Don Gabrielson, " only faster." 34 # - % " ! % N G I N E E R I N G 3 C H O O L A D ; # O N V E R T E D = P D F ! - Circle 201 on Reader Service Card Circle 210 on Reader Service Card Circle 213 on Reader Service Card Circle 277 on Reader Service Card Don’t Get Burned. Firesafe & Watertight Cable and Pipe Penetration Seals Piping • Valves • Fittings • Valve Automation • Metrics • Metals RISE doesn’t just stop fire cold, it also cuts installation time dramatically so you won’t get burned financially. The RISE cable and pipe penetration sealing system is virtually impenetrable to fire, smoke, gas and water. For a copy of the groundbreaking booklet “Everything You Should Know About Cable and Pipe Transits to Ensure a Safe Vessel” or for more information, contact W&O Supply. Approved by ABS, USCG, Lloyd’s Register, DNV, TC and NAVSEA. 1-800-962-9696 www.wosupply.com Navy USS San Antonio (LPD 17) The USS San Antonio (LPD 17) is the first Amphibious Transport Dock Ship of the 12- ship San Antonio Class. Special innovations in the ship's design enable the San Antonio Class to perform multiple missions. This class of ships is the functional replacement for four earlier classes of less capable amphibious ships. The San Antonio LPD17 Class Ship is the first amphibious ship designed to accommodate the Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and the new tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey for high speed, long range tactical-lift operations. Deployments of this ship class will provide naval expeditionary forces with enhanced operational flexibility; operating as part of an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) or as a sin- gle ship operating independently. The LPD 17 class may directly support SEALS, joint U.S. forces and other forces because of her design mission flexibility. LPD 17 is the first U.S. Navy ship named for the city of San Antonio, Texas. The city of San Antonio was founded in 1718 by Father Antonio Olivares when he established the Mission San Antonio de Valero. The legend of this mission became permanently etched in the history of Texas as The Alamo. In 1836, 189 Texans commander by Colonel William Travis defended the Alamo and held the old mission against 4,000 Mexican troops under the command of General Santa Anna for 13 days. USS San Antonio (LPD 17) was commissioned at Ingelside, Texas on January 14, 2006. The ship's motto is "Never retreated, Never sur- render." (Text & Image: Peter Hsu, Anteon) MR MARCH2006 #5 (33-40).qxd 3/2/2006 11:40 AM Page 34