LSD (LANDING SHIP DOCK)
SHIP'S MISSION: To embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine Landing Force in an assault by helicopter, landing craft, amphibious vehicles or by a combination of these methods.
LSD stands for Landing Ship, Dock. The ‘D’ is reference to a well deck, which is an open space running almost the entire length of the ship, allowing the aft part to sink up to ten feet in order to flood its well deck with water. How it works? The stern gate is lowered, and all or some of the ship's ballast tanks would be filled with sea water, causing the controlled lowering of the stern, allowing water to enter the well deck. Once the well deck is low enough, amphibious landing craft are launched or retrieved.
As a dry dock, boats would enter and be secured, the water in ballast tanks pumped back out resulting in the dry docking of the boat(s), and the stern gate lifted. LSDs also have a flight deck for helicopter operations, aviation refueling and fuel storage capabilities, one or two cranes, and multiple small boats.
Like all Naval ships, LSDs have evolved. The 55 years between the first and last LSD saw the length increase over 150’, vehicle storage capacity increase by almost 7,000 square feet, and ship displacement increase by over 8,100 tons. Original 3”/50 caliber gun mounts have been replaced with modern weapon systems, flight operations have expanded to include multiple landing spots for helicopters up to V-22 Osprey in size, and well decks are larger to accommodate the Navy’s newest amphibious assault landing craft. LSDs have always been able to berth, feed, and transport hundreds of fully equipped combat troops; the last LSD built can hold over 500.
The very first class of LSDs was the Ashland Class (LSDs 1-8), followed by the Casa Grande Class (LSDs 13-27), Thomaston Class (LSDs 28-35), Anchorage Class (LSDs 36-40), Whidbey Island Class (LSDs 41-48), and Harpers Ferry Class (LSDs 49-52). NOTE: LSDs 9-12 were delivered to the British Navy.
The last LSD commissioned was in 1998 and there are ten still active. The decommissioning in 2023 of LSDs 42, 44, 46, and 48 was blocked by congress. This puts in question the decommissioning and placing in reserve of LSDs 47, 49, 50, and 52 which were scheduled for 2024; LSD 51 in 2025; and LSD 45 in 2026. Among the ten ships scheduled for early retirement in the Navy's FY2025 budget is one LSD (TBD).
- ASHLAND CLASS
- USS Ashland (LSD 1) 1943-1946, 1950-1957, 1961-1969
- USS Belle Grove (LSD 2) 1943-1969
- USS Carter Hall (LSD 3) 1943-1947, 1951-1969
- USS Epping Forest (LSD 4) 1943-1947, 1950-1968
- USS Gunston Hall (LSD 5) 1943-1947, 1949-1970
- USS Lindenwald (LSD 6) 1943-1947, 1949-1956, 1960-1967
- USS Oak Hill (LSD 7) 1944-1969
- USS White Marsh (LSD 8) 1944-1956, 1950-1960
- CASA GRANDE CLASS
- LSD 9 - HMS Eastway (F 130)
- LSD 10 - HMS Highway (F 140)
- LSD 11 - HMS Northway (F 142)
- LSD 12 - HMS Oceanway (F 143)
- USS Casa Grande (LSD 13) 1944-1969
- USS Rushmore (LSD 14) 1944-1970
- USS Shadwell (LSD 15) 1944-1947, 1950-1970
- USS Cabildo (LSD 16) 1945-1970
- USS Catamount (LSD 17) 1945-1970
- USS Colonial (LSD 18) 1945-1970
- USS Comstock (LSD 19) 1945-1970
- USS Donner (LSD 20) 1945-1970
- USS Fort Mandan (LSD 21) 1945-1971
- USS Fort Marion (LSD 22) 1946-1970
- USS Fort Snelling (LSD 23) CANCELED
- USS Point Defiance (LSD 24) CANCELED
- USS San Marcos (LSD 25) 1945-1971
- USS Tortuga (LSD 26) 1945-1970
- USS Whetstone (LSD 27) 1946-1970
- THOMASTON CLASS
- USS Thomaston (LSD 28) 1954-1984
- USS Plymouth Rock (LSD 29) 1954-1983
- USS Fort Snelling (LSD 30) 1955-1984
- USS Point Defiance (LSD 31) 1955-1983
- USS Spiegel Grove (LSD 32) 1956-1989
- USS Alamo (LSD 33) 1956-1990
- USS Hermitage (LSD 34) 1956-1989
- USS Monticello (LSD 35) 1957-1985
- ANCHORAGE CLASS
- USS Anchorage (LSD 36) 1969-2003
- USS Portland (LSD 37) 1970-2003
- USS Pensacola (LSD 38) 1971-1999
- USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39) 1972-2003
- USS Fort Fisher (LSD 40) 1972-1998
- WHIDBEY ISLAND CLASS
- USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) 1985-2022
- USS Germantown (LSD 42) 1986- *2023 decommissioning blocked, original means of disposal: dismantle 2024
- USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) 1987-2021
- USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) 1989- *2023 decommissioning blocked, original means of disposal: dismantle 2024
- USS Comstock (LSD 45) 1990- *scheduled for decommissioning 2026
- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) 1990- *2023 decommissioning blocked, original means of disposal: dismantle 2024
- USS Rushmore (LSD 47) 1991- *scheduled for decommissioning 2024, original means of disposal: out of commission in reserve 2024
- USS Ashland (LSD 48) 1992- *2023 decommissioning blocked, original means of disposal: dismantle 2025
- HARPERS FERRY CLASS
- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) 1995- *scheduled for decommissioning 2024
- USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) 1995- *scheduled for decommissioning 2024
- USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) 1996- *scheduled for decommissioning 2025
- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) 1998- *scheduled for decommissioning 2024
- *The future of these ships is currently in question as the US Navy, USMC, and Congress debate amphibious ship procurement and force-level. Among the ten ships scheduled for early retirement in the Navy's FY2025 budget is one LSD (TBD).