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Ashland-class dock landing ship

{{Short description|WWII era built class of ships}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=USS Ashland;10120107.jpg

|Ship caption={{USS|Ashland|LSD-1|6}} underway off Cape Henry, Virginia, 20 May 1953

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

|Name=

|Builders=Moore Dry Dock Company

|Operators=* {{navy|United States}}

  • {{navy|Republic of China}}
  • {{navy|Argentina}}

|Class after={{sclass|Casa Grande|dock landing ship|4}}

|Subclasses=

|Cost=

|Built range=

|In service range=

|In commission range=1943–1985

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=8

|Total ships completed=8

|Total ships cancelled=

|Total ships active=

|Total ships laid up=

|Total ships lost=

|Total ships retired=8

|Total ships preserved=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship type=Dock landing ship

|Ship displacement=*4,032 tons (light draft),

  • 7,930 tons (loaded)

|Ship length={{convert|457|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam={{convert|72|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship draft={{convert|15|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} max

|Ship depth=

|Ship hold depth=

|Ship decks=

|Ship deck clearance=

|Ship power=

|Ship propulsion=2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, oil-fired; 2 Skinner Uni-Flow reciprocating engines; Twin screws

|Ship sail plan=

|Ship speed={{convert|17|kn}}

|Ship range={{convert|8000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}

|Ship endurance=

|Ship troops=

|Ship complement=254

|Ship sensors=

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=*1 × 5 in/38 cal. DP gun;

  • 2 × 40 mm quad AA guns
  • 2 × 40 mm twin AA guns
  • 16 × 20 mm AA guns

|Ship armor=

|Ship notes=

}}

The Ashland-class dock landing ship were the first class of dock landing ship of the United States Navy. They were built during World War II. A dock landing ship (hull classification LSD) is a form of auxiliary warship designed to support amphibious operations. Eight ships were built for the United States Navy and they remained in US service until the 1960s. Two of the class were sold for export overseas, with one joining the Republic of China Navy and the other the Argentinian Navy. The two transferred ships stayed in service until the 1980s. All eight ships were scrapped.

Design and description

The Ashlands were the first dock landing ships designed and constructed for the United States Navy. Though initially the American planners had no interest in the ship type, a design was developed from a British Staff Requirement which called for a ship with a floodable deck aft to operate at least two British landing craft tanks. The ship type was initially designated "tank landing carrier" (TLC).{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=127}} The dock landing ship was designed with the capability of moving smaller, pre-loaded amphibious warfare craft over long distances.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}} The Ashland-class ships measured {{convert|454|ft}} long at the waterline and {{cvt|457|ft|9|in}} overall with a beam of {{cvt|72|ft|2|in}} and a seagoing draft of {{cvt|15|ft|10|in}} and a maximum draft of {{cvt|18|ft}}.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}}{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=432}} The vessels had a light displacement of {{convert|4032|LT|t|lk=on}} and a full load displacement of {{cvt|5746|LT|t}}.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}}{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=129}} While loaded and seagoing, their displacement is {{cvt|7100|LT|t}} and {{cvt|13490|LT|t}} when the well deck was flooded down.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=129}} They had a complement of 254.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}}

The vessels were propelled by two shafts powered by two Skinner Uniflow reciprocating engines fed steam by two double boilers creating {{convert|7400|ihp|lk=on}}. This gave the dock landing ships a maximum speed of {{convert|15.4|kn|lk=in}} and a range of {{convert|7400|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}}{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=432}}{{efn|Friedman has the Ashlands' maximum speed at {{convert|17|kn}} but Couhat{{sfn|Couhat|1976|pp=7, 353}} has states it at 15 knots.}} In United States Navy service, the Ashlands were equipped with a single 5-inch/38-caliber gun gun, two twin-mounted Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and two quad-mounted 40 mm guns and sixteen Oerlikon 20 cannon.{{sfn|Friedman|1980|p=161}}{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=130}}{{efn|In United States Navy gun nomenclature, the "/38 caliber" denotes the length of the gun. In this case, the /38 gun is 38 caliber, meaning that the gun barrel is 38 times as long as it is in diameter.}}

=Amphibious capabilities=

Their well deck extended three-quarters the length of the ship and measured {{cvt|103|by|13.3|m|ftin|order=flip}}.{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=432}}{{sfn|Couhat|1976|p=7}} The stern gate that opened onto the well deck measured {{cvt|19|ft}}.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=130}} The original design called for the ability to transport 16 landing craft mechanized (LCMs), with each LCM able to embark a single tank. With four TLCs a medium tank battalion (comprising 48 tanks) could be transported. Furthermore, the ships had to transport the vehicle crews, numbering 280 troops and maintain a sustained speed of 15 knots at full load to keep up with the invasion fleets. The final design allowed for the ships to embark either two British {{cvt|193|ft}} landing craft tanks (LCT) side by side or three US Mk 5 LCTs with one forward of the other two which were positioned side by side or 14 LCMs or {{cvt|1500|LT|t}} of cargo in the well deck. Furthermore, they could store {{convert|12000|USgal}} of fuel for the vehicles also with accommodate the crews of up to 24 vehicles in addition to a headquarters staff.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|pp=127–128}} Beginning in November 1943 during World War II, a deck was erected over the top of the well deck which doubled the carrying capacity of light vehicles such as trucks and DUKWs. Further additions included the installation of a mezzanine or spar deck beneath the new deck and atop the well deck to increase the carrying capacity of small vehicles again, with the decks being connected by ramps allowing for the vehicles to be driven onto the ship via the stern.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=131}}

Ships in class

class="wikitable "
colspan="8" align="center"| Ashland class construction data{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=519}}
scope="col"| Hull number

! scope="col"| Ship name

! scope="col"| Builder

! scope="col"| Laid down

! scope="col"| Launched

! scope="col"| Commissioned

! scope="col"| Decommissioned

! scope="col"| Fate

scope="row"| LSD-1

| {{USS|Ashland|LSD-1|2}}

| rowspan="8" | Moore Dry Dock Company

| 22 June 1942

| 21 December 1942

| 5 June 1943

| 22 November 1969

| Stricken 25 November 1969

scope="row"| LSD-2

| {{USS|Belle Grove|LSD-2|2}}

| 27 October 1942

| 17 February 1943

| 9 August 1943

| 12 November 1969

| Stricken 12 November 1969

scope="row"| LSD-3

| {{USS|Carter Hall|LSD-3|2}}

| 27 October 1942

| 4 March 1943

| 18 September 1943

| 31 October 1969

| Stricken 31 October 1969

scope="row"| LSD-4

| {{USS|Epping Forest|LSD-4|2}}

| 23 November 1942

| 2 April 1943

| 11 October 1943

| 31 October 1968

| Stricken 1 November 1968

scope="row"| LSD-5

| {{USS|Gunston Hall|LSD-5|2}}

| 28 December 1942

| 1 May 1943

| 10 November 1943

| 25 May 1970

| Transferred to Argentina, 1970

scope="row"| LSD-6

| {{USS|Lindenwald|LSD-6|2}}

| 22 February 1943

| 11 June 1943

| 9 December 1943

| 30 November 1967

| Stricken 1 December 1967

scope="row"| LSD-7

| {{USS|Oak Hill|LSD-7|2}}

| 9 March 1943

| 25 June 1943

| 5 January 1944

| 26 October 1969

| Stricken 31 October 1969

scope="row"| LSD-8

| {{USS|White Marsh|LSD-8|2}}

| 7 April 1943

| 19 July 1943

| 29 January 1944

| 23 January 1957

| Transferred to Taiwan, November 1960

Construction and career

On 26 November 1941, eight LSDs were ordered for construction at the Moore Dry Dock Company yard in Oakland, California for the United States Navy.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=127}} They entered service at the height of World War II and saw action in the Pacific theater, taking part in several major invasions including the battles of Saipan, Philippines,{{sfn|DANFS Ashland}} Okinawa{{sfn|DANFS Epping Forest}} and Iwo Jima.{{sfn|DANFS Belle Grove}} Following the war, the vessels were placed in reserve.{{sfn|DANFS Ashland}} During the war, the ability to transport smaller vessels such as PT boats or minesweepers sometimes led to criticism that the Ashland-class ships were not available for their primary jobs. Furthermore, the landing ship docks were fitted with repair shops and some acted as repair ships in forward areas.{{sfn|Friedman|2002|p=131}} They were reactivated for the Korean War, taking part in fleet exercises.{{sfn|DANFS Belle Grove}} Epping Forest operated in Korean waters, taking part in minesweeping operations, the first for an LSD.{{sfn|DANFS Epping Forest}} In 1954, Belle Grove was part of the fleet monitoring Operation Castle, a nuclear test at Bikini Atoll and again in 1957 for Operation Hardtack I.{{sfn|DANFS Belle Grove}} In 1956, Ashland was re-configured to operate six Martin P5M-2 Marlin aircraft before being taken out of service again 1957.{{sfn|DANFS Ashland}}

In 1956 White Marsh was decommissioned, but remained in active service with a civilian crew as part of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). White Marsh remained in this service until being transferred to the Taiwan.{{sfn|DANFS White Marsh}} Lindenwald also saw service with the MSTS but was reacquired by the United States Navy.{{sfn|DANFS Lindenwald}} Belle Grove and Gunston Hall operated off the coast of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and performed several transport missions in support of operations there.{{sfn|DANFS Belle Grove}}{{sfn|DANFS Gunston Hall}} Lindenwald also took part in the landings of US troops in the Dominican Republic in 1965.{{sfn|DANFS Lindenwald}}

=Export=

Following the Korean War, the Republic of China Navy sought to expand its amphibious capability in case an opportunity arose to invade mainland China. They acquired White Marsh on 17 November 1960 on loan and renamed the ship Tung Hai and gave it the pennant number 191. The vessel was later purchased outright in May 1976 and was renamed Chung Cheng with the pennant number 639. Chung Cheng was discarded in 1988.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|pp=454, 458}}

On 24 April 1970, Argentina purchased Gunston Hall, renaming the ship Candido de Lasala with the pennant number Q43,{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=12}} later B10.{{sfn|Couhat|1976|p=7}} Candido de Lasala was used both as a landing ship dock and as a depot ship for small craft. The vessel was deleted in 1982.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=12}}

Gallery

File:USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) underway off San Franciso in April 1944.jpg|USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) underway off San Francisco in April 1944

File:USS Gunston Hall;10120515.jpg|USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) underway, soon after recommissioning in March 1949

File:LSM-175 and LSD-3.jpg|LSM-175 about to enter the well of USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) in San Diego Bay, Spring 1951

File:Gunston Hall;0096887.jpg|USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) launches PACV c. 1967

Notes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

References

{{Commons category|Ashland class dock landing ships}}

  • {{cite book |editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |year=1953 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54 |location=London |publisher=Sampson, Low and Marston |oclc=913556389}}
  • {{cite book |editor-last=Couhat |editor-first=Jean Labayle |year=1976 |title=Combat Fleets of the World 1976/77: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-183-8}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/ashland-lsd-1.html |title=Ashland (LSD-1) |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS Ashland}}}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/belle-grove-i.html |title=Belle Grove |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS Belle Grove}}}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/epping-forest.html |title=Epping Forest |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS Epping Forest}}}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/gunston-hall.html |title=Gunston Hall I (LSD-5) |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS Gunston Hall}}}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lindenwald.html |title=Lindenwald |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS Lindenwald}}}}
  • {{cite DANFS |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/white-marsh.html |title=White Marsh |publisher=United States Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=30 October 2022 |ref={{sfnref|DANFS White Marsh}}}}
  • {{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |chapter=United States of America |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
  • {{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |date=2002 |title=U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-250-1}}
  • {{cite book |editor-last1=Gardiner |editor-first1=Robert |editor-last2=Chumbley |editor-first2=Stephen |editor-last3=Budzbon |editor-first3=Przemysław |name-list-style=amp |year=1995 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-132-7}}

{{Ashland class dock landing ship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship}}

Category:Ship classes of the United States Navy