USS Rushmore (LSD-47)
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Rushmore |
Namesake | Mount Rushmore National Memorial |
Ordered | 11 December 1985 |
Builder | Avondale Shipyards |
Cost | $149 million |
Laid down | 9 November 1987 |
Launched | 6 May 1989 |
Sponsored by | Mrs. Meredith Brokaw |
Christened | 6 May 1989 |
Commissioned | 1 June 1991 |
Homeport | Sasebo |
Motto | Nobility Power |
Status | in active service |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship |
Displacement |
|
Length | 609 ft (186 m) |
Beam | 84 ft (26 m) |
Draft | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
Propulsion | 4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25 MW) |
Speed | 20+ knots (37+ km/h) |
Boats & landing craft carried | 4 RHIB (11m), and 1 LCPL ) |
Troops | USMC Landing Force: 27 officers, 375 enlisted + 102 surge |
Crew | 22 officers, 391 enlisted |
Armament |
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Aviation facilities | 2 helicopter landing spots, no hangar |
USS Rushmore (LSD-47) is a
Rushmore was laid down on 9 November 1987, by the
Mission
The assigned mission of the dock landing ship is to transport and launch loaded amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel in amphibious assaults by landing craft and amphibious vehicles. It can render limited docking repair service to small ships and craft.
General comments
The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship provides for greater storage space of weapons and equipment, improved facilities for embarked troops, greater range of operations, and the capability to embark either conventional landing craft or LCAC. The ships incorporate materiel handling equipment including elevators, package/roller conveyors and forklifts, pallet transporters, and a turntable. The turntable is located between the well deck and the helicopter deck forward of the boat deck to assist in the rapid turnaround of vehicles and equipment during loading/offloading operations.
History
1990s
The ship's first assignment was to deliver three Air Cushioned Landing Craft (
Rushmore's 1994 WestPac deployment came almost one year ahead of schedule. She deployed with only four weeks' notice and participated in Operation Support Hope off the coast of Mombasa, Kenya, the USLO relocation in Somalia, and exercises with forces of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. During this deployment, Rushmore also was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Rushmore's 1996 deployment followed a complete and highly successful training cycle during which Rushmore earned the Blue E and the
Rushmore concluded 1996 with a port visit to
Rushmore is the test platform for the Smart Ship program known as Gator 17. The ship was outfitted with several new technologies to reduce workload and manning levels. Information from the program aboard Rushmore will be used to assist in the design of the LPD-17 class amphibious ships. Installation was completed at the end of 1997.
Rushmore deployed in 1999 with the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU). During this deployment, Rushmore participated in Exercise Iron Magic with the United Arab Emirates and Exercise Red Reef with Saudi Arabia. Rushmore also had the distinction of becoming the first United States Naval warship to visit Doha, Qatar in 10 years. Other port visits included Japan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, Guam, Australia and Hawaii. On 12 March 1999, the ship made history when then Commander
2000s
With the new millennium, came a year of local operations for Rushmore. Rushmore participated in CARAT 2001 in cooperation with other navies in the Western Pacific, South China Sea and Southeast Asia. Returning home just days prior to the
The ship deployed on 6 December 2004 once again in support of
The ship became an afloat staging base for military helicopters to refuel and transport supplies. USS Rushmore launched both LCACs bringing tons of food and water ashore for distribution to survivors. Once the operation ended, Rushmore reset a course to the Persian Gulf to support Maritime Security Operations, and help defend Iraq's Kwar Al Amaya and Al Basra Oil Platforms. The Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Kuwait, and went further north into areas of Iraq before they were brought back on board in early April.
Rushmore sailors enjoyed two port visits during their two months in the Persian Gulf, one visit to the Mid-Eastern country of Bahrain, the other, a trip to the port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. During the transit home, Rushmore stopped for a port visit to Cairns, Australia. Rushmore returned to the ship's homeport of San Diego, California on 6 June 2005.
The ship completed a three-month maintenance period and participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (
Rushmore began 2007 by completing work ups with the Bonhomme Richard (ESG 5). They loaded more than 400 Marines of the 13th MEU onboard along with their equipment to prepare for the transit to the Middle East.
On 16 February 2007, Rushmore was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.[1]
As 10 April 2007 arrived Rushmore was ready to get underway for deployment to the Middle East. Rushmore visited several different ports, including Guam, Singapore, Jebel Ali, Dubai and Bahrain.
On 1 December 2007, Rushmore became the first ship since the
Rushmore certified in ULTRA-C in May 2008 and sailed up to Seattle, Washington, to take part in the Centennial Celebration of the Great White Fleet on 22 May. She participated in a parade of ships and later hosted tours to both the general public and guests for the gala. In late September 2008, Rushmore sailed to Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, to serve as the test platform for developing ASW systems in the Nanoose Firing Range. While there, Rushmore had a three-day port visit and was hosted by HMCS Regina (FFH 334).
Upon their return home, Rushmore finalized their preparations for the Congressionally-mandated Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) on 27 October 2008. She also underwent ULTRA-E in November 2008.
2010s
On 12 July 2012, Rushmore successfully completed its material inspection by the navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment and was found fit for sustained combat operations.
On 17 September 2012, Rushmore departed San Diego on a 7-month deployment with
In June 2015, Rushmore made news for rescuing 65 people who were stranded on a makeshift raft in the Makassar Strait after their ferry capsized.[2]
2020s
In December 2020 the U.S. Navy's Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels stated that the ship was planned to be placed Out of Commission in Reserve in 2024.[3]
Notes
- ^ Paula M. Ludwick (19 February 2007). "Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E"". Navy Newsstand. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ Castillo, Walbert (12 June 2015). "USS Rushmore rescues 65 stranded at sea near Indonesia". CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels" (PDF). Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. 9 December 2020. p. 16. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
References
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.