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Austin-class amphibious transport dock

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The Austin class was a class of twelve amphibious transport dock ships in service with the United States Navy from 1965 to 2017. Note that the U.S. Naval Vessel Registry list separate Cleveland (seven built) and Trenton (two built) class ships, but most sources lists them as a single class.[1] Trenton was sold to India and is the only ship still active.

USS Austin (LPD-4)
Class overview
NameAustin class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byRaleigh class
Succeeded bySan Antonio class
In commission1965–2017 (U.S.)
Planned13
Completed12
Cancelled1
Active1 (with India)
Retired11
General characteristics
TypeAmphibious transport dock
Tonnage7,713 DWT
Displacement
  • 9,201 tons (light)
  • 16,914 tons (full)
Length
  • 548 ft (167 m)w/l
  • 569 ft (173 m) o/a
Beam
  • 84 ft (26 m) w/l
  • 105 ft (32 m) extreme
Draft
  • 22 ft (6.7 m) navigational,
  • 34 ft (10 m) ballasted
Propulsion2 × boilers, 2 × steam turbines, 2 × shafts, 24,000 shp (18,000 kW)
Speed21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Complement24 officers, 396 enlisted, 900 marines
Armament
  • 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 guns
  • 2 × Phalanx CIWS
  • 8 × .50-calibre machine guns
Aircraft carriedUp to 6 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
"Austin class" redirects here. For the class of Staten Island ferries, see Staten Island Ferry § Austen class.

Design

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The Austin class was an enlarged version of the preceding Raleigh class. Designed under project SCB 187B, the ships are about 47 ft (14 m) longer which increased the displacement by some 3,300 tons.[2] The dock is as large as that of the Raleigh-class. In front of the dock was a 70m long raised level to park vehicles which was connected via a ramp to the flight deck. The ramp ended in a new telescoping hangar. Although the flight deck had room for up to six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, the hangar was only a temporary shelter for a single helicopter and not a permanent facility.[3] The propulsion consists of two Foster Wheeler boilers (600 psi), powering two De Laval GT turbines, providing 12,000 SHP each for the two propellers.[4]

The reason for creating a Cleveland/Trenton sub-class is that the last nine ships of the class were built as flagships for amphibious ready groups with an additional deck above the bridge and accommodations for additional 90 personnel. The SPS-40 radar is also placed higher on the mast. Otherwise the ships are identical. Originally the ships were armed only with four 3-inch/50-caliber gun Mark 33 twin mounts. These were later removed and the weapon stations were used to fit two Phalanx CIWS.[5]

The last ship of the class, LPD-16, while authorized, was cancelled before being constructed. USS Coronado served for 10 years as an LPD before she was converted into a command ship. She kept her hull number and was redesignated AGF-11. From 2012 to 2017, USS Ponce served with the United States Military Sealift Command as a forward base ship with helicopter facilities, which was designated "Afloat Forward Staging Base, Interim".

Ships

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Ship Hull no. Builder In service Homeport NVR page
Austin LPD-4 New York Naval Shipyard 1965–2006 Norfolk, Virginia LPD04
Ogden LPD-5 New York Naval Shipyard 1965–2007 San Diego, California LPD05
Duluth LPD-6 New York Naval Shipyard 1965–2005 San Diego, California LPD06
Cleveland sub-class
Cleveland LPD-7 Ingalls Shipbuilding 1967–2011 San Diego, California LPD07
Dubuque LPD-8 Ingalls Shipbuilding 1967–2011 San Diego, California LPD08
Denver LPD-9 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1968–2014 Sasebo, Japan LPD09
Juneau LPD-10 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1969–2008 Sasebo, Japan LPD10
Coronado LPD-11/
AGF-11		 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970–2005 San Diego, California AGF11
Shreveport LPD-12 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970–2007 Norfolk, Virginia LPD12
Nashville LPD-13 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970–2009 Norfolk, Virginia LPD13
Trenton sub-class
Trenton LPD-14 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1971–2007, 2007–present Norfolk, Virginia LPD14
Ponce LPD-15/
AFSB(I)-15		 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1971–2017 Norfolk, Virginia LPD15

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd. Sheppertaon, Surrey (UK), 1986, ISBN 0711015988, p. 96.
  2. ^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 365
  3. ^ Stefan Terzibaschitsch: 50 Jahre amphibische Schiffe der U.S. Navy. Leonberg, Germany, 1995, p. 40.
  4. ^ "LPD 4 Austin class". GlobalSecurity.org. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  5. ^ Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Seemacht USA. Bechtermünz Verlang, Augsburg, Germany, 1997, ISBN 3860475762, pp. 576.

  This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

Sources

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  • Friedman, Norman (2002). U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-250-1.
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