LHA 9—the future USS Fallujah—will be a sister ship to LHA 8, pictured here in an artist’s conception and currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries. Huntington Ingalls Industries
USNI News: SECNAV Names Next Big Deck Amphib USS Fallujah
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro named a future landing helicopter assault ship after the first and second Battle of Fallujah, the Navy announced Tuesday.
LHA-9, an America-class amphibious assault ship, will be called USS Fallujah, the Navy said in a news release. Del Toro announced the name at a promotion ceremony for Private 1st Class Chesty, the Marine Corps bulldog mascot.
“The name selection follows the tradition of naming amphibious ships after the U.S. Marine Corps battles, early U.S. sailing ships or legacy names of earlier carriers from World War II,” Del Toro said during the announcement. “It is an honor for me for our nation to memorialize the Marines, the soldiers and coalition forces that fought valiantly and those who sacrificed their lives during both battles of Fallujah.”
Read more ….
WNU Editor: Not everyone is happy with this naming …. ‘Shameful’: Critics Denounce US Warship Named ‘Fallujah,’ Site of Civilian Massacres in Iraq (Common Dreams).
US Navy Will Name The Next America-class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Fallujah After Historic Iraq Battles
SECNAV Names Future America-class Amphibious Assault Ship Fallujah — America’s Navy
USS Fallujah: Navy to name future assault ship after iconic Iraq War battles — FOX News
Amphibious Warship To Be Named for Fallujah Battles — Defense One
US names new warship ‘USS Fallujah’ after historic Iraq battles — Middle East Monitor