Duluth (LPD 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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HIP HI TGRY The Duluth is an amphibious transport dock ship CLPDD, which is one of the most versatile classes of ships in the Navy. The LPD combines the functions of four different classes of ships, the dock landing ship CLSDJ, the tank landing ship CLSTD, the attack transport CLPAD, and the attack cargo ship CLKAD. The Duluth is named after the city of Duluth, Minnesota, which in turn is named after the French explorer Daniel Greysolon Sieyr Du Lhut. Du Lhut lived from 1636-1710, and gained fame when he set out on an expedition to Lake Superior to pacify the indians and end the Ojibwa-Sioux war. Duluth was constructed at the New York Naval Shipyard, and her keel was laid on December 18, 1965. She was commissioned there on December 18, 1965, and is the last fighting ship to be commissioned at that shipyard. She is over 569 feet long, with a beam of 110 feet. Her displacement is approximately 16,710 tons, and she has a sustained speed capability of twenty knots. Due to her design, Duluth can maneuver as easily as a destroyer. Duluth can carry four medium landing craft or one LCU boat, six amphibious transport helicopters or three CH53s, and over 900 combat troops. She can also carry 2,000 tons of supplies and equipment, all in addition to her crew of 400 officers and enlisted men. I I Duluth is unique in having a helicopter platform built over a well deck in the rear of the vessel. This provides the tactical advantage of being able to lift troops, their combat equipment and supplies onto the same ship. Therefore, the-ship contributes to all phases of the amphibious assault. The well deck is a large hollow area inside the hull of the ship. Located within the well deck are upper and lower vehicle storage areas, which hold most of the embarked troops heavy combat equipment, such as tanks and jeeps. To facilitate the docking and loading of various sized landing craft, the ship can ballast down under the water, thereby flooding the well deck with enough water to enable the landing craft to enter the well deck thru the stern gate door. Once docked inside the well deck, troops, supplies, and combat equipment can be loaded on to or off of the amphibious boats and vehicles. Flight operations play a major role in amphibious warfare. The Duluth can bring troops and supplies aboard using any of the helicopters in the Navy and Marine Corps inventory. Duluth can land, load and launch two CH53s with 70 fully equipped combat troops in less than two minutes. The Duluth can also land and deploy the AV-8A Vstol Harrier attack jet. Through radio contact and visual communications from our well trained airmen, the helicopters are guided to a safe landing on the -flight deck. Today, our Air Department maintains a perfect record of over 20,000 accident free helo landings. Fuel replenishments are provided to the helicopters when needed.