Trumpeter 05718 USS Mount Whitney LCC-20 2004

USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) is a modern American command ship. The keel for this unit was laid in 1969, the launch took place in January 1970, and the entry into service with the US Navy took place in 1971. The ship is 189 m long, 33 m wide, and has a displacement of about 18,400 tons. The maximum speed of the ship is approximately 23 knots. The unit has on-board armament such as: two 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx sets or two 25 mm Bushmaster cannons. The ship can also use two SH-60 / MH-60 helicopters.

USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) is the second and so far the last unit of the Blue Ridge class. The ships of this type were developed on the basis of the experience gained from landing operations conducted by the US armed forces during World War II and the Korean War (1950-1953), and their purpose was to replace the McKinley type units in the line. In order to shorten the research and development time, the plans of the Cleveland-class cruisers were used for their construction and were roughly based on the Iwo Jima-class landing craft. The main tasks of Blue Ridge units are to act as fleet command ships, with the ability to command land and air operations. Out of the planned three units of this type, only two entered service. The second was the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). The unit in the years 1981-2005 was the flagship of the United States Fleet, stationed in the Atlantic. As part of it, she participated in numerous maneuvers and trainings, also with fleets of allied countries. In 2002, the USS Mount Whitney supported US military operations in Iraq. Since 2005, the unit has been the flagship of the US VI Fleet operating in the Mediterranean basin - it is still in active service.