Anchorage (LSD 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER CYRUS A. RANK CAPT. USN

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a. — ji ' Sill GENERIS ' LSD -36 THE LSD The LSD is designed to operate as an integral part of a balanced, mobile and modern amphibious striking force giving greater dimen- sions to the Navy ' s troop and vehicle lifting ability. Designated a Dock Landing Ship, the ship couples a well deck, mezzanine deck and a flight deck for added versatility. A system of joining ramps allows vehicles to be loaded by boat, crane or helicopter, stored on any of the three decks and unloaded by the same or any of the other means. Primarily designed to transport pre - loaded landing craft to an objective area and discharge them rapidly, the ship is also equipped with machine shops and repair facilities to provide drydock repair services to small ships up to the size of harbor tugs. This class of LSD has the capability to berth, feed and transport over 400 fully equipped combat troops and equipment and to unload them in pre-loaded landing craft or to other boats in the landing force. Intrinsically a part of the well deck operation is a ballasting system which allows the well deck to be flooded with sea water to a depth necessary for loading such landing craft as the LCU or the smaller LCM-8. Although not specifically designed for hel- icopter operations in great volume, the flight deck is large enough to service and stow one medium -sized helo. Aviation features include limited repair and maintenance facilities, hel icopter refueling stations, aviation fuel stowage tanks and troop debarkation stations for hel- icopter assaults. ANCHQHAG DOCK G SHf ir;?. ALASKA . IC ORATICM INSIGNIA OF USS ANCHORAGE (LSD- 36) The ANCHORAGE insignia portrays both the origin and meaning of her name, including the reason for her existence and depicting that she is the first of her type in a new class of Dock Landing ships. Symbolized in the anchor and line are stability and security which this ship will provide for the United States Navy on the high seas. The Latin term Sui Generis is literally translated to mean of a particular kind or first of a class. This ship is unique in two respects; first, it is the largest LSD ever con- structed and second, it is the first ship to be named after the largest city of alaska, AN- CHORAGE, which is represented by the star on the map.

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Captain Cyrus A. Rank was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Aviation program upon completion of Flight Training in 1945. During the Korean War he served with Fighter Squadron 93 aboard the carrier PHILIPPINE SEA. More recently he served as Executive Officer of Fighter Squadron 102, Executive Officer and Command- ing Officer of Fighter Squadron 74 and Commanding Of- ficer of Fighter Squadron 101, the Atlantic Fleet F-4 (Phantom) Replacement Squadron. Captain Rank has al- so served as First Lieutenant and Damage Control Assistant on the USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) and Air Officer of the USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59). In July 1967, Captain Rank reported as Head, Air Superiority Section in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He is a graduate of General Line School at Monterey, California and the Command and Staff Course at the U.S. Naval War College. Captain Rank is married to the former Marjorie Harper of Tiffin, Ohio. They have two daughters, Pru- dence, who is married to Roger McClurg, who is serving with the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia and Deborah who resides with her parents in San Diego, California.