USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187)
_at_anchor_off_San_Diego_in_1976.JPEG) USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) at anchor off San Diego in 1976
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Tuscaloosa |
| Namesake | Tuscaloosa |
| Builder | National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California |
| Laid down | 23 November 1968 |
| Launched | 6 September 1969 |
| Commissioned | 24 October 1970 |
| Decommissioned | 18 February 1994 |
| Fate | Sunk as target , 14 July 2014 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | tank landing ship |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 69 ft 6 in (21.2 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) max |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) max |
| Range | 2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Troops | 431 max |
| Complement | 213 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament | 2 × twin 3"/50 caliber guns |
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter deck |
USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) was the ninth of the
Design and description
Tuscaloosa was a
The LST had a displacement of 4,793 long tons (4,870 t) when light and 8,342 long tons (8,476 t) at full load. Tuscaloosa was 522 feet 4 inches (159.2 m) long overall and 562 ft (171.3 m) over the derrick arms which protruded past the bow.[2][3] The vessel had a beam of 69 ft 6 in (21.2 m), a draft forward of 11 ft 5 in (3.5 m) and 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m) at the stern at full load.[4]
Tuscaloosa was fitted with six
The Newport class were larger and faster than previous LSTs and were able to transport tanks, heavy vehicles and engineer groups and supplies that were too large for helicopters or smaller landing craft to carry.[6] The LSTs have a ramp forward of the superstructure that connects the lower tank deck with the main deck and a passage large enough to allow access to the parking area amidships. The vessels are also equipped with a stern gate to allow the unloading of amphibious vehicles directly into the water or to unload onto a utility landing craft (LCU) or pier. At either end of the tank deck there is a 30 ft (9.1 m) turntable that permits vehicles to turn around without having to reverse.[1][2] The Newport class has the capacity for 500 long tons (510 t) of vehicles, 19,000 sq ft (1,800 m2) of cargo area and could carry up to 431 troops.[1][7] The vessels also have davits for four vehicle and personnel landing craft (LCVPs) and could carry four pontoon causeway sections along the sides of the hull.[2][3]
Tuscaloosa was initially armed with four Mark 33
Construction and career
The LST was ordered as the last of the second group in
1970s
Tuscaloosa was assigned to the
Tuscaloosa got underway for the
Tuscaloosa engaged in routine operations off the California coast into mid-1973. On 29 August, the ship deployed to WestPac with Project Handclasp material for delivery to communities in the Philippines. Tuscaloosa later participated in Operation Pagasa II in conjunction with units of the Philippine Navy and operated out of Subic Bay for the remainder of the year with port calls at Hong Kong and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[10]
1974 began with
At this time the situation in Southeast Asia deteriorated rapidly for the United States. Both the US-backed South Vietnamese and Cambodian governments were tottering and their forces retreating. Tuscaloosa arrived at Pearl Harbor on 6 April and proceeded on toward the Ryukyus on the same day. Arriving at Okinawa on 18 April, the LST's crew offloaded cargo and pressed on the next day for Subic Bay at full speed. Tuscaloosa arrived at Subic Bay on 21 April and embarked 280 sailors who had been unable to return to the aircraft carriers
Tuscaloosa was then assigned to
From Subic Bay, Tuscaloosa proceeded to Okinawa and, upon arrival there, was ordered to make best possible speed for the Gulf of Thailand to take part in the evacuation in that area. However, four days later, the ship was ordered to turn around as the evacuation had been completed. Thereafter the LST continued routine operations before returning to the west coast of the United States on 17 November 1975. The ship conducted another deployment to Westpac during the period 29 March to 17 November 1977 and underwent an overhaul from 3 February to 10 December 1978 at San Diego. The vessel then returned to routine operations off the US West Coast in 1979.[10]
Later service
In December 1989, Tuscaloosa sailed with marines to the Philippines from Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in response to the Coup attempt in the Philippines.[11]
Decommissioning and fate
_tows_USS_Tuscaloosa_(LST-1187)_from_Pearl_Harbor_in_July_2014.JPG)
Tuscaloosa was
Notes
- ^ PHIBRON 5 was composed of USS Tripoli, USS Duluth, USS Anchorage, USS Mobile and USS Schenectady.
Citations
- ^ a b c Blackman 1972, p. 504.
- ^ a b c d Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 621.
- ^ a b c d e Couhat 1986, pp. 655–666.
- ^ Moore 1975, p. 486.
- ^ Moore 1976, p. 614.
- ^ a b c Moore 1974, p. 467.
- ^ Moore 1978, p. 690.
- ^ Sharpe 1990, p. 761.
- ^ a b Naval Vessel Register
- ^ a b c d e f DANFS.
- ^ DeFrancisci 2002, p. 25.
- ^ "Missiles Sink Two Retired Navy Ships". military.com. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
References
- Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1972). Jane's Fighting Ships 1972–73. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company. OCLC 28197951.
- Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
- DeFrancisci, Leonard J. (2002). "1st Battalion, 3d Marines Respond to the Philippine Coup of 1989". Two Score and Thirteen: Third Marine Division Association History. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-798-3.
- "Tuscaloosa II (LST-1187)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Moore, John, ed. (1974). Jane's Fighting Ships 1974–75 (77th ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Incorporated. ISBN 0-531-02743-0.
- Moore, John, ed. (1975). Jane's Fighting Ships 1975–76 (78th ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Incorporated. ISBN 0-531-03251-5.
- Moore, John, ed. (1976). Jane's Fighting Ships 1976–77 (79th ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Incorporated. ISBN 0-531-03261-2.
- Moore, John, ed. (1978). Jane's Fighting Ships 1978–79 (81st ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Incorporated. ISBN 0-531-03297-3.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
- Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1990). Jane's Fighting Ships 1990–91 (93 ed.). Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0904-3.
External links
- usstuscaloosa.com
- Photo gallery of USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) at NavSource Naval History
- "Images: Ex-USS Tuscaloosa (LST 1187) is towed in preparation for a sink exercise (SINKEX)". 14 July 2014.
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
