Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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uss DENVER 1904-1933 The first DENVER, Cruiser No. 14, was commissioned 17 May 1904, Commander J. B. Murdoch, USN, commanding. She was reclas- sified a gunboat (PG-28) in 1920 and then a Light Cruiser (CL-16), effective 8 August 1921. Between 15 July 1904 and September 1906, DENVER was involved in several operations, including cruises in the Caribbean and Haiti. DENVER also cruised the Atlantic coasts, helping to protect American interests from political disturbances in the West Indies. In 1906 DENVER participated in the interment of John Paul Jones at the Naval Academy and the September Fleet Review by Pres- ident Theodore Roosevelt. The cruiser participated in several operations before switching coasts in 1912, patrolling the Pacific Coast from San Francisco to the Canal Zone, again protecting Amer- ican interest. Five years later, DENVER returned to duty on the East Coast, out of her old Philadel- phia homeport. DENVER participated in many more local and coastal operations, her last ceremonial function being participation in the commemoration of the sinking of the USS MAINE, from 14 to 19 February, 1929. She returned to Philadelphia afterward where she was decommissioned 14 February 1931 and sold on 13 September 1933.

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DENVER is officially rated as an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD). This is a new all purpose amphibious class which employs the balance load concept. The LPD class is capable of carrying troops, cargo, assault craft and tanks. In addition they operate troop and cargo-carrying helicopters to project assault forces inland in support of the beachhead from the helicopter landing platform, CH-46, CH-53, COBRAS, and VSTOL. The DENVER was built at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington and commissioned 26 October 1968. The keel for the DENVER was laid in February 1964 and she was launched on 23 January 1965. The crew consists of approximately 420 enlisted and 25 officers. More than 750,000 repair parts are stored on board to permit all levels of maintenance while underway. The diesel and steam generators can produce sufficient electricity to light all the homes in a city the size of Tacoma. The evaporators have the capacity to distill more than 30,000 gallons of water per day. DENVER has an offical U.S. Post Office where the crew can purchase stamps and money orders, and mail letters and packages anywhere in the world. A large air conditioning plant cools all electronics spaces as well as all living, berthing, and dining areas. The overall length of DENVER is nearly twice that of a football field. DENVER storerooms and refrigerators can hold enough food to feed her crew for three months without replenish- She has a fully automatic laundry which provides daily service, three barber shops, and a general store which sells more than $15,000 worth of clothing, candy, and merchandise per month. The crew ' s galley is capable of serving more than 3,600 meals per day. A general purpose library is stocked with over a thousand books. There are several technical libraries containing over 10 thousand technical books and trade journals. The pharmacy is supplied with the latest medicines and antibiotics and staffed by a doctor and six experienced hospital corps- men. Facilities for alltypes of surgery are available. USS DENVER LPD-9 Overall. Length 570 feet Breadth Molded Displacement ' tons Complement 0 troops Speed Armament two 3 .50 cal. twin mounts Propulsion screw, steam turbine 24,000 shaft horsepower

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The second DENVER (CL-58) was built between 1940 and 1942, commissioned 15 October 1942, Captain R. B. Carney, USN, commanding. DENVER proved very ef- ficient early, sailing from Philadel- phia on 23 January 1943, arriving in the New Hebrides 14 February. The new cruiser first saw action in the bombardment of Vila, Solomon Islands on 6 March. During this same action, DENVER ' S force sank two Japanese destroyers and par- ticipated in the invasion landing of New Georgia. The same year, DENVER sorties from Port Purvis with M-39 to intercept an enemy force at- tempting to disrupt the landing at Cape Terekina, Bougainville, a move which proved successful. During those operations, DENVER received the Navy Unit 1942-1960 Commendation award. DENVER participated in several other operations throughout the remainder of 1943 and through- out most of 1944. She returned to the Philippines in 1945, providing support for various operations. DENVER received 11 battle stars during the war. They included awards for efforts in the Solomon Islands, New Georgia, Feasbury, Bougainville, Marianas, Western Carolina Islands, Leyte, Luzon, Manila Bay, Borneo Operations, The Consolication of the Southern Philippines and the Third Fleet Operations against Japan. DENVER was placed out of commission 7 February 1947 and sold 29 February 1960.