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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT
THOMASTON landing ship-docks (1954 - 1957)


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


<i>Thomaston </i>1990
Thomaston 1990
<i>Thomaston </i>1963
Thomaston 1963
<i>Thomaston </i>1979
Thomaston 1979
<i>Spiegel Grove </i>1968
Spiegel Grove 1968


Graphics


<i>Thomaston </i> 1983
Thomaston 1983
  <i>Point Defiance</i> 1955
  Point Defiance 1955


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.