Tuscaloosa (LST 1187) - Naval Cruise Book

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ff-'f' CJ 1 ,S USS TUSCALOOSA CLST 11879 LS THE SECOND SHIP OF THE FLEET TO HONOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA. TWO SHIPS OF THE NAME SERVED THE CONFEDERA TE NA VY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. THE I-IRST OF THESE CONFEDERA TE SHIPS WAS THE BARK TUSCALOOSA, FORMERLY UNION DARK CONRAD CAPTURED BY CSS ALABAMA IN JUNE 1863. HER I-IGHTING DA YS ENDED ABRUPTLY IN DECEMBER THAT YEAR WHEN SHE WAS SEEED BY BRIWSH AUTHORITIES A TSM4ONS BA Y THE CONFEDERA TE IRON-CLAD RAM LAUNCHED A TSELMA, ALABAMA, IN FEBRUAR Y 1863 ALSO BORE THE NAME TUSCALOOSA. A DEFENDER OF MOBILE ALABAMA UNHL 12 APRIL 1865, WHEN THAT UTY FELL TO THE UNION FORCES, SHE WAS SCUTTLED TO A VOID CAPTURE THE ORIGINAL USS TUSCALOOSA IN THE UNITED STA TES NA VY WAS A HEAVY CRUISER CCA 372 BUILT BY NEW YORK SHIPBUILDING COMPANY CAMDEN NEW JERSEY SHE WAS COMMESIONED 17 AUGUST 1934 IN THE PHILADELPHIA NA VY YARD. SHE WAS 558 FEET LONG MTH A BEAM OF 61 FEET 9 INCHES AND SHE DLSPLACED 9,375 TONS. HER COMPLEMENT WAS 51 OFHCER AND 700 MEN SHE WAS ARMED WITH NINE 8 INCH .55 CALIBER GUNS. DURING WORLD WAR II SHE SER VED AS A FLAG SHIP AND SAW ACIION IN BOTH EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC THE CURRENT USS TUSCALOOSA CLST1187J WAS BUILTB Y NA IIONAL STEEL AND SHIPBUILDING COMPANY AND WAS COMMLSSIONED ON 24 OCTOBER 1970 AT LONG BEA CH SHIPYARD IN LONG BEA CI-I CALIFORNIA. SHE LS DESIGNED TO LOAD, TRANSPOR 7, AND LAND TR OOPS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT IN AMPHIBIOUS ASSA UL T OPERATIONS. DURING HER TWENTY TWO YEARS OF SER VICE TUSCALOOSA HAS MADE THIRTEEN WESTERN PACIHC DEPLOYMENTS AND HAS SERVED IN AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRONS SEVEN FIVE AND ONE TUSCALOOSA HAS PAR TICIPA TED IN THE E VACUA TION OF SOUTH VIETNAM IN 1975 AND A MUL TITUDE OF AMPHIBIOUS EXERCISES INCLUDING BEAGLE DANCER '73, FOR TRESS GALE '79, BELL VOLCANO, VALIANT USHER, KER WAL BLITZ TEAM SPIRIT, AND QUICK JAB. SHE HAS VLSITED SUCH PLACES AS NUMAZU YOKOSUKA, AND SASEBO, JAPAN KAOH SIUNG AND KEELUNG, TAIWAN INCHON PUSAN POHANG AND CHINHAE KOREA, MINDORD, DUMAGHETT AND SUBIC BAY PHILIPPINES,- PHA ITA YA BEACI-L THAILAND,- FREEMANTLE AUSTRALIA,- ACAPULCO, MEXICO, BELE WAN SUMA TRA,- ESQUWAL7, BRIWSH COLUMBIA, SINGAPORE MOMBASA, KENYA, LUMU71 MALAYSIA, BAHRAIN HONG KONG, AND KUWAIT CITY DURING TUSCALOOSAS DISHNGUISHED HISTORY SHE GAINED THE HONOR OF BEING THE FIRST SHIP IN THE PAGFIC FLEET TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS A DIBEL OPERA IIONAL PROPULSION EXAMINA WON COPPEJ. TUSCALOOSA WAS ALSO THE I-IRST US. NA VAL SHIP TO VLSIT THE COUNTRY OF BANGLADESH USS TUSCALOOSA RECENTLY COMPLETED WESTPAC '92 IN WHICH SHE PROVED ONCE AGAIN SHE 5 THE HNEST LST IN THE FLEET

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195 L os 004' 'll' 1? Blillliw ll' Mb' ll' The insignia of the USS TUSCALOOSA incorporates the rich heritage of the city and county for which she is named the proud history of the previous TUSCALOOSA, and the strength of the NavyfMarine Corps amphibious team. The black indian Hgure is in honor of the city and county of Tuscaloosa which were named for the Choctaw Indian warriozg Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa means black warrior in Choctaw and the city is located on the Black Warrior River. The red cross on the white field is taken from the state flag of Alabama. The tusks on the sides of the emblem represent the former TUSCALOOSA f CA 37j which was affectionately known as Tusky . The note 'Extra Three Percent is from that ship, and her reputation for meeting commitments by can- do spirit. The blue color is selected for the blue waters which will pass under the keel of the USS TUSCALOOSA during her lifetime. The red highlights the role of the Marines in the NavyfMarine Corps amphibious team.