The amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset, named after the Pennsylvania county where a United Airlines jet crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, began its maiden deployment from San Diego Friday. The Somerset is operating as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, which also includes the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island and amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock.
Commissioned in Philadelphia in March, 2014, the 684-foot vessel was named in honor of the 40 crew members and passengers on United Flight 93 who attempted to regain control of the plane after it was hijacked. The aircraft crashed into a field near the town of Shanksville, killing 33 passengers, seven crew members and four hijackers. Somerset is the third of three amphibious transport dock ships named in remembrance of 9/11. The others are the USS New York, in honor of the victims and first-responders at the World Trade Center towers, and USS Arlington, for those who died — and the rescuers at — the Pentagon. FULL REPORT
