Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Shreveport (LPD-12)

International Radio Call Sign:
November – Alpha – Delta – Yankee

NADY

What are the chances that I take a picture of a graveyard Navy ship yard and one of the pictures is that of a ship of blog reader, Kevin B. used to sail on.  The USS Shreveport.

I was on my way to Revzilla in Philly this past June 2014 and stumbled across this yard on a back route.Thought this would make an interesting post for those who love old ships and are decommissioned.

Kevin said to me,

“Most every Sailor, always knows their first ship when they see it. No matter how many years it’s been or how bad a shape it’s in. Hard to explain really…lol”

“A lot of history to that ship. Real shame their going to turn her into razor blades.”

See below the picture some interesting facts that I learned after Kevin sent me this link.  Thanks Kevin and thanks for idea for a new and different post on my blog.  I would have never known this name or history of this ship.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

SOURCE: NAVSource

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row – Navy Unit Commendation (4) – Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row – Navy Battle “E” Ribbon (6) – Navy Expeditionary Medal (2- Lebanon) – National Defense Service Medal
Third Row – Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2) – Southwest Asia Service Medal – Armed Forces Service Medal
Fourth Row – Humanitarian Service Medal (Op. Intensive Look) – Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) – Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock:

• Laid down, 27 December 1965, at Lockheed Shipbuilding Corp, Seattle, WA.

Current Disposition, laid up at NAVSEA Inactive Ships Philadelphia, PA. awaiting disposal

• Launched, 22 October 1966
• Commissioned USS Shreveport (LPD-12), 12 December 1970, CAPT. Pehr H. Pehrsson USN in command
• Shreveport is assigned to Amphibious Group Two, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, and is homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA.
• Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 September 2007, at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.
• Current Disposition, laid up at NAVSEA Inactive Ships Philadelphia, PA. awaiting disposal

 

Specifications:
Displacement 9,734 t.(lt) 17,326 t.(fl)
Length 570′
Beam 100′
Draft 23 ft.
Speed 21 kts.

Complement 24 Officers400 Enlisted

Flag Staff Complement 90

Troop Capacity 840

Boats, Assault Craft (well deck capacity) 1 LCU, or 2 LCM-8 or 4 LCM-6(ships boats) 2 LCPL, 1 motor whaleboat

Armament two 25 mm MK38 chain gunstwo Phalanx CIWSeight 50 cal. machine guns

Aircraft two CH-46/CH-53 or four UH-1/AH-1, or two AV-8B Harriers

Propulsion two Foster-Wheeler boilerstwo DeLaval steam turbinestwo propeller shafts, 24,000 SHP

Another shot I took as I past by this ghostly area outside Philly was this one:

Amazing I have to admit Kevin noticed his ship and then sent me a comment.  Small world in some ways.  In any case…I hope you the readers find this as interesting as I did.