NAVYPEDIA

Photo

  Point Defiance 1955

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
LSD28	Thomaston	584	Ingalls, Pascagoula	3.3.1953	9.2.1954	17.9.1954	stricken 2.1992
LSD29	Plymouth Rock	585	Ingalls, Pascagoula	4.5.1953	7.5.1954	29.11.1954	stricken 2.1992
LSD30	Fort Snelling	586	Ingalls, Pascagoula	17.8.1953	16.7.1954	24.1.1955	stricken 2.1992
LSD31	Point Defiance	587	Ingalls, Pascagoula	23.11.1953	28.9.1954	31.3.1955	stricken 2.1992
LSD32	Spiegel Grove	593	Ingalls, Pascagoula	7.9.1954	10.11.1955	8.6.1956	stricken 12.1989
LSD33	Alamo	594	Ingalls, Pascagoula	11.10.1954	20.1.1956	24.8.1956	to Brazil 11.1990 (Rio de Janeiro)
LSD34	Hermitage	597	Ingalls, Pascagoula	11.4.1955	12.6.1956	14.12.1956	to Brazil 10.1989 (Ceará)
LSD35	Monticello	598	Ingalls, Pascagoula	6.6.1955	10.8.1956	29.3.1957	stricken 2.1992

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	6880
Displacement full, t	LSD28-31, 35: 11270 LSD32-34: 12150
Length, m	155.5
Breadth, m	25.6
Draught, m	5.80
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets General Electric geared steam turbines, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Power, h. p.	24000
Max speed, kts	22.5
Fuel, t	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	10000(20)
Armament	8 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, helicopter deck
Military load	341 troops, 21 LCM(6) or (3 LCU and 6 LCM) or 80 LVT
Electronic equipment	SPS-6, SPS-10, SPG-50, 2x Mk 35 radars
Complement	404

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These postwar LSDs were intended to provide a heavy landing craft capacity within the 20kts amphibious force; actually they could make 24kts. Their hull form was more refined, their well decks had a greater depth of water, their machinery (as in an LPD) was located entirely below the well deck rather than in the side walls, and they had mezzanine and super-decks (both portable) for cargo stowage and for helicopter operation. The 119.2x14.6m well deck accommodates three LCU or nine LCM-8 or fifty LVT. The helicopter deck was removable and there were no maintenance facilities; two 50t cranes can reach down to a 975m² mezzanine (vehicle stowage) or the well deck. Bows were strengthened for ice navigation, and the last two units were air conditioned.

The Thomastons were part of a general revitalisation of the amphibious force in the 1950s, traceable to Korean war experience: four were built under the FY52 programme, two under FY54 and two under FY55.

Modernizations

1960s, all: - 2 x 2 - 76/50

1977, all: - 3 x 2 - 76/50, SPG-50, 2x Mk 35 radars; + LN-66 radar

1980s, Plymouth Rock, Fort Snelling, Point Defiance, Spiegel Grove, Alamo, Hermitage, Monticello: + 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL

1980s, Spiegel Grove, Alamo, Hermitage: + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

Naval service

No significant events.