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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

RALEIGH amphibious transport-docks (1962 - 1964)

Raleigh 1962

Raleigh 1979

Raleigh 1990

La Salle 2000

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
LPD1 Raleigh   New York N Yd, Brooklyn 23.6.1960 17.3.1962 8.9.1962 stricken 1.1992
LPD2 Vancouver   New York N Yd, Brooklyn 19.11.1960 15.9.1962 11.5.1963 stricken 4.1997
LPD3, 7.1972- AGF3 La Salle   New York N Yd, Brooklyn 2.4.1962 3.8.1963 22.2.1964 flagship 7.1972, stricken 5.2005

 

Displacement standard, t

8051

Displacement full, t

13745

Length, m

152.4 wl 156.4 oa

Breadth, m

25.6

Draught, m

6.30

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 sets De Laval geared steam turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers

Power, h. p.

24000

Max speed, kts

21

Fuel, t

oil

Endurance, nm(kts)

 

Armament

4 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, helicopter deck

Military load

932 troops, (1 LCU + 3 LCM(6)) or 4 LCM(8) or 20 LVT, 2 LCM(6) or 4 LCPL

Electronic equipment

SPS-10, SPS-40, 2x Mk 34 radars

Complement

501

Project history: These ships were intended as successors to die Landing Ship Dock with much increased troop (930, 840 in flagships) and cargo (about 2500t) capacity and a smaller well deck (51.2x15.2m), accommodating one LCU and three LCM-6 or four LCM-8 or twenty LVT; in addition there was a large crane at the after end of the superstructure which can launch craft carried on the flight deck, typically two LCM-6 or four LCPL. The Raleighs had no helicopter hangar or maintenance facilities, but ships after the Austin (LPD 4) have a hangar 17.7-19.5m in length and 5.6-7.3m in width, extensible to about 24.5m. The deck has two helicopter spots, but ships have deployed with up to six CH-46 embarked.

    The two classes differ in that the Austins were somewhat enlarged. La Salle (LPD3) was reclassified as a flagship (AGF3) for the Middle East Force, undergoing conversion during 1972. She received a small helicopter hangar and covered assembly area on her flight deck, as well as a lattice mast for a satellite communications antenna, and admiral's accommodation, plus additional air conditioning. She was painted white to help reduce heating m the Indian Ocean. The LPD Coronado served as Middle East Flagship (AGF11 vice LPD11) while La Salle underwent a major refit from 1980 to 1982.

    LPD7-13 were fitted as amphibious squadron flagships and had an extra bridge level. A proposed LPD16, to have been built under the FY66 programme, was deferred in favour of the LHA programme then cancelled in 1969. The other LPDs were built under the FY59 (prototype), FY60 (1), FY61 (1), FY62 (3), FY63 (4), FY64 (3) and FY65 (2) programmes.

Modernizations: 1972, La Salle: + hangar (1 small helicopter like UH-1) and other changes while rebuilt as AGF

1977-1978, all: - 1 x 2 - 76/50, 2x Mk 34 radars

early 1980s, all: + SLQ-32(v)1 ECM suite, 4x SRBOC Mk 36 decoy RL

late 1980s, Raleigh, La Salle: - 3 x 2 - 76/50; + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

late 1980s, Vancouver: - 1 x 2 - 76/50; + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

1990s, La Salle: + 2 x 1 - 25/75 Mk 38 Bushmaster, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, SPS-64 radar, SLQ-25 torpedo decoy

Naval service: No significant events.

Raleigh 1976

© Ivan Gogin, 2015