Ships Announced to Participate in Navy and Marine Corps 250th Birthday Celebration

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Peter Ticich | MAYPORT, FL (Sept. 20, 2025) The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) departs from Naval Station Mayport for UNITAS 2025, the 66th iteration of the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise. UNITAS, Latin for Unity, focuses on enhanced interoperability, building regional partnerships, demonstrating U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet as the trusted maritime partner in the Caribbean, Central and South America. UNITAS 2025 also leads off a series of events celebrating the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Peter Ticich/ Released)  

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

09.24.2025

Story by Chief Petty Officer Elizabeth Reisen 

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

The cities of Philadelphia and Camden will host the Navy Marine Corps 250 celebration October 9-16, 2025, with four U.S. Navy ships, two Coast Guard cutters, and four U.S. Navy Academy Yard Patrol boats (YPs) and sailboats. These vessels will participate in the Parade of Ships on Thursday, Oct 9.

USS Arlington (LPD 24) - https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/LPD24/, USS Lassen (DDG 82) - https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/ddg82/, USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) - https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/lcs23/, USS Billings (LCS 15) - https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/lcs15/, USCGC Lawrence Lawson (WPC 1120), and USCGC James Rankin (WLM 555) will be available for public ship tours Oct 10-15.

Ship and pier locations include:

Philadelphia, Penn’s Landing: (Ship public tours Oct 10-14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Freedom-class littoral combat ship, USS Cooperstown (LCS-23) from Mayport, Florida
• USCGC Lawrence Lawson (WPC 1120) from Cape May, New Jersey and USCGC James Rankin (WLM 555) from Baltimore, Maryland
• U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol boat and Sailboat from Annapolis, Maryland

Philadelphia, Pier 4: (Ship public tours Oct 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct 11-14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD-24) from Norfolk, Virginia
• U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol boat and Sailboat from Annapolis, Maryland

Gloucester City, NJ, Gloucester Marine Terminal: (Ship public tours Oct 10-14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG-82) from Mayport, Florida

Camden ex-Battleship New Jersey: (Ship public tours Oct 10-14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Oct 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS-15) from Mayport, Florida

Media interested in covering any NMC250 events can contact the Regional Public Affairs Office at [phone] for more information.

Vice Admiral John Gumbleton, Acting Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command - https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Flag-Officer-Biographies/Search/Article/2236432/vice-admiral-john-gumbleton/

For up-to-date information on all NMC250 events, visit the official website: https://www.navy.mil/Navy-250/Events/

Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #NMC250, #NavyBirthday

• Date Taken: 09.24.2025
• Date Posted: 09.24.2025 11:53
• Story ID: 549148
• Location: NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US