Laid down at the yard of Northrop Grumman Avondale at New Orleans, on 27 January 1995, launched on 24 February 1997 and commissioned on 30 may 1998. Of the Harpers Ferry-class with as sister ships the Harpers Ferry, Carter Hall and Oak Hill. With a displacement of 12,251-11,604 (light)-16,088-16,601 (full load) are her dimensions 176,80 (waterline)-185,50 x 25,60 x 6,04 metres. The armament consists of 2-21 round RAM SAM systems, 2-2cm Mk 15 Phalanx gatlings CIWS, 2x1-2,5cm guns and 8x1-12,7mm machine guns. The 4x1,300 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines provided 5,200 kw allowing a maximum speed of 22 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles with a speed of 18 knots, a fuel bunker capacity of 2,000 tons and maximum 75 days at sea. Her crew numbers maximum 333 men and she was able to transport 403 men with an accommodation for another 102 men.
