Austin (LPD 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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u ' N-E-D-O, AUSTIN ' S call sipi. nited States Ship AUSTIN (LPD-4), an amphibious transport dock, is the first of her class and the third ship of the Fleet to bear the name. She is named for the city of Austin, Texas, and honors Stephen F. Austin, Texas patriot. Launched and christened in June, 1964, and commissioned in February, 1965. she has consistently demonstrated the capability- expressed by her motto Seapower through Mobility, to deliver combat-ready troops and dispatch them with precision, by landing craft or helicopter, to the scene of action at any position on the littorals of the earth. Throughout her history AUSTIN and her crew have been instrumental in developing new systems and incorporating operational experiences as the tactical role and physical configuration of the modern LPD has evolved to meet the changing needs of the amphibious arm of the Fleet. The AUSTIN is designed to combine the functions of several amphibious ships — the troop transport, attack cargo ship, helicopter carrier, and dock landing ship. The ship can carry over 900 combat-ready Marines and deliver 2,500 tons of heavy equipment, either by helicopter, launching two at a time from the landing platform on the after part of the ship, or by landing craft from the well deck that opens to the sea from the stern of the ship. The AUSTIN can carry up to six amphibious transport helicopters and up to 12 pre-loaded landing craft. She has the fuel storage capacity to act as an underway refueling platform for both ships and aircraft. Just prior to this most recent deployment AUSTIN was reconfigured to handle the LCAC, the Navy ' s new air-cushioned fast assault craft, and to transport and launch up to 15 of the Marines ' new Rigid Raider Craft. MARG 1-89 is the AUSTIN ' S seventh deployment to the Mediterranean.

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COMMANDING OFFICER MSSG-22 LTCOLJ. W.SCHMIDT UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ieutenant Colonel J. W. Schmidt graduated from Al- abama College, Montevallo, Alabama in 1969 and was then commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class program. Thereafter he served as platoon and com- pany commander of Marine units in Okinawa, Vietnam, and ' Camp Pendleton. . LtCol. Schmidt attended the Marine Corps Special Kd- ucation Program (Journalism) in 1972 and the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a M.A. degree in Jour- nalism Mass Communication in 1973. He was subsequent- ly assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps where he served ' as Press Officer in the Public Affairs Branch. In 1981 he was G-3 Assistant Operations Officer in Okinawa. LtCol Schmidt attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1982-1983 and then from July 1983 to August 1985 he served with Marine Aircraft Group-26 in the air-ground exchange program. He was G-3 Plans Of- ficer of 2nd FSSG between 1985 and 1987. He assumed command of MSSG-22 in March 1987, directing that unit through the MARG 4-87 Mediterranean deployment on- board USS SHRFVKPOR T (LPD-12). LTCol. Schmidt ' s decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, and Combat Action Ribbon. Embarked Marine Officers.

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