USS PLYMOUTH ROCK
- Name: USS PLYMOUTH ROCK
- Ship Class: LSD
- Ship Number:
- Date Commissioned:
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Ship History:
A new look in the Amphibious Force is contributed by the LSD Class 28 ships. Designed primarily to load,boyer13.jpg (71029 bytes) transport and launch combat cargo loaded landing craft and landing vehicles during Amphibious Operations, they are also equipped to effect repairs to landing craft and ships and to serve as hospital evacuation ships and fast transports.
With a length over-all of 510 feet and a beam of 84 feet and a draft limiot of 19 feet the “28” class is both larger and more versatile than their predecessors. Their speed in excess of 22 knots enables them to close in the assault area rapidly, preserving the element of surprise so essential in any military operation. Their two gargantuan fifty ton cranes make the handling of the heaviest troop equipment relatively simple. An armament of eight twin 3"/50 caliber mounts and six twin 20MM will be a valuable contribution to the defense of the task force. The new “28” LSD’s carry a crew of approximately 300 officers and men and can accommodate an equal number of combat ready troops. In an operation, they ballast down, flooding the well deck in about fifteen minutes and launch the loaded landing craft and amphibious vehicles for the beach assault. This article was obtained from the Gator, unknown date. All eight ships of the 28 class LSD were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi.The eight ships of the “28” class are: Click to see pictures of each ship) Picture postcards and Ingalls Advertisement contriburted by Earl Boyer, IC3.
USS Thomaston (LSD28) Named for the home of General Henry Knox, Secretary of War under George Washington. The home is located in Thomaston, Maine. The USS Thomaston was commissioned on September 17, 1954. Decommissioned September 5, 1984/ Stricken: February 24, 1992. Transferred to NDRF: November 18, 1998, Ship title to Marad: December 18, 1998/ Fate: was sold September 29, 1995 to Pegasus Inc., Navy repossed July 1, 1997, due to default, to be resold, was offered for sale November 18, 1998, no bidders, currently docked with NDRF, Suisin Bay, CA USS Plymouth Rock (LSD29) Named after the landing spot of the pilgrims in 1620 in what is now known as Plymouth Massachusetts. The USS Plymouth Rock was commissioned on November 29, 1954. Decommissioned September 30, 1983/ Stricken: February 24, 1992. Transferred to NDRF: November 8, 1989/Sold August 25, 1995/ Price $268,707/ Fate: Sold for scrap to Peck Recycling, Richmond, VA. USS Fort Snelling (LSD30) Named after a fort erected in Minnesota in 1820. The USS Fort Snelling was commissioned on January 24, 1955. Decommissioned September 28, 1984/ Stricken: September 7, 1989. Transferred to NDRF: September 7, 1989/ Sold August 25, 1995/ Price $268,707/ Fate: Sold for scrap to Peck Recycling, Richmond, VA. USS Point Defiance (LSD31) Named after Point Defiance on the northern tip of Tacoma Peninsula in the State of Washington. On this site was located Old Fort Nisqually. The USS Point Defiance was commissioned on March 341, 1955. Decommissioned September 30, 1983/ Stricken: February 24, 1992. Transferred to NDRF: November 18, 1998, Ship title to Marad: December 18, 1998/ Fate: was sold September 29, 1995 to Pegasus Inc., Navy repossed July 1, 1997, due to default, to be resold, was offered for sale November 18, 1998, no bidders, currently docked with NDRF, Suisin Bay, CA USS Spiegel Grove (LSD32) Spiegel Grove was the home of the 19th President of the United States, Rutherford Hayes. The home is located in Fremont, Ohio The USS Spiegel Grove was commissioned on June 8, 1956. Decommissioned October 2, 1989/ Stricken: December 13, 1989. Transferred to NDRF: December 13, 1989, Ship title to Marad: February 4, 1994/ Fate: Turned over to state of Florida on June 13, 2001. She was cleaned up and towed to Florida to be sunk off Key Largo. While completing final preparations for the sinking, the ship suddenly sank, landing upside down and ,poking out of the water on May 17, 2002. Salvage contractors flipped her on her starboard side and finally completed submerging her on June 11, 2002 USS Alamo (LSD33) Named after the Mission San Antonio De Valero. The Alamo was held and defended through a 13 day siege by the Mexican army. The USS Alamo was commissioned on August 24, 1956. Decommissioned September 28, 1989/ Stricken: January 24, 2001. Transferred to Brazil: November 21, 1990 by lease/ Name in Brazilian service: Rio de Janeiro/ Purchased by Brazil: January 24, 2001/ Fate: still active in Brazilian Navy. USS Hermitage (LSD34) Home of President Andrew Jackson, the home of “Old Hickory” is located twelve miles from Nashville, Tennessee. The Hermitage was built in 1819. The USS Hermitage was commissioned on December 14, 1956. Decommissioned October 2, 1989/ Stricken: January 24, 2001. Transferred to Brazil: November 28, 1989 by lease/ Name in Brazilian service: Ceara/ Purchased by Brazil: January 24, 2001/ Fate: still active in Brazilian Navy. USS Monticello (LSD35). Home of Thomas Jefferson. The Monticello is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States from 1801-1809. The USS Monticello was commissioned on March 29, 1957. Decommissioned October 2, 1989/ Stricken: February 24, 1992./ Fate: was sold September 29, 1995 to Pegasus Inc., Navy repossed July 1, 1997, due to default, to be resold, was offered for sale November 18, 1998, no bidders, currently docked with NDRF, Suisin Bay, CA