Dock Landing Ship - LSD
Updated: 1 October 2003
Description: Dock Landing Ships support amphibious operations including
landings via Landing
Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters, onto
hostile shores.
Background: These ships transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assault operations.
LSD 41 was designed specifically to operate LCAC vessels. It has the largest capacity for these landing craft (four) of any U.S. Navy amphibious platform. It will also provide docking and repair services for LCACs and for conventional landing craft.
In 1987, the Navy requested $324.2 million to fund one LSD 41 (Cargo Variant). The ship differs from the original LSD 41 by reducing its number of LCACs to two in favor of additional cargo capacity.
Point of Contact:
Public Affairs Office
Naval Sea Systems Command
Washington, DC 20362
General Characteristics, Harpers Ferry Class
Builders: Avondale Industries Inc., New Orleans, La.
Power Plant: Four Colt Industries, 16 Cylinder Diesels, two shafts, 33,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 609 feet (185.6 meters)
Beam: 84 feet
Displacement: 16,708 tons (16,976.13 metric tons) full load
Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour)
Landing Craft: Two Landing Craft, Air Cushion
Ships:
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49); Sasebo, Japan.
USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); Little Creek, Va.
USS Oak Hill (LSD 51); Little Creek, Va.
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); San Diego, Calif.
Crew: Ships Company: 22 officers, 397 enlisted; Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge
Armament: Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns, Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns
Date Deployed: 7 January 1995 (USS Harpers Ferry)
General Characteristics, Whidbey Island Class
Builders:
Lockheed Shipbuilding, Seattle, Wa. - LSD 41, 43
Arondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La. - LSD 44 - LSD 48
Power Plant: Four Colt Industries, 16 Cylinder Diesels, two shafts, 33,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 609 feet (185.6 meters)
Beam: 84 feet
Displacement: 15,939 tons (16,194.79 metric tons) full load
Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour)
Landing Craft: Four Landing Craft, Air Cushion
Ships:
USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41); Little Creek, Va.
USS Germantown (LSD 42); San Diego, Calif.
USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43); Sasebo, Japan
USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44); Little Creek, Va.
USS Comstock (LSD 45); San Diego, Calif.
USS Tortuga (LSD 46); Little Creek, Va.
USS Rushmore (LSD 47); San Diego, Calif.
USS Ashland (LSD 48); Little Creek, Va.
Crew: Ships Company: 22 officers, 391 enlisted; Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge
Armament: Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns; Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns
Date Deployed: Feb. 9, 1985 (USS Whidbey Island)
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