Fresno (LST 1182) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS FRESNO LST-1182 The keel for FRESNO was laid 16 December 1967 at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego as the first of the eventual Seventeen Newport Class LST ' s to be constructed at NASSCO. The ship was launched in September 1968 and commissioned on 22 November 1969. FRESNO is larger than either of the two other ships bearing this name, is an entirely new design, and represents a complete departure from previous concept of Amphibious Landing Ships. In order to achieve a sustained cruising speed of 20 knots, faster than the LST had ever gone before, the FRESNO was designed with a Destroyer Type bow in place of the bow design of the old LST. Since commissioning, FRESNO has served as a unit of the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. FRESNO is homeported in San Diego, California and is assigned to Commander Amphibious Squadron ONE.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR D.L. Brewer

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Rapid and flexible loading and offloading of troops and equipment are accomplished through a hugh 40 ton bow ramp lowered from the main deck to a beach or causeway. Integral bow doors, located high to avoid interference with the fast hull design, allow the ramp to be lowered at a shallow angle, and the two derrick arms from which the ramp is suspended gives the ship its distinctive silhouette. A second large ramp serves as a means of transit between the main deck and the lower, or tank deck, where vehicles and equipment may be stored. Supplementing loading and offloading can be accomplished by stern gate, making this the first class of the LST with this unusual capability. Many other departures from traditional shipbuilding concepts mark the FRESNO and her sister ships as unique. All ships of the class are equipped with a bow thruster, a transversely mounted controllable pitch propeller in the forward part of the hull, allowing fine maneuvering of the vessel at slow speeds. The ship ' s two stacks are offset and of unequal size, thus allowing the quickest and most direct passage of exhaust gases from the engineering spaces to the outside, rather than sacrificing practicality for symmetry of design as in past ships. The ship ' s superstructure is pierced longitudinally to provide vehicular traffic from one end of the main deck to the other, and, a helicopter landing area is provided on the after portion of the ship ' s main deck. Ship ' s speed is controlled by a unique joystick arrangement; control consoles are provided in both engineering spaces and on the bridge for control of shaft speed from either location. The six main propulsion engines, which are linked to twin controllable-pitch screws, may also be controlled locally in the engine rooms for added flexibility. The latest electronic navigation and communication systems are installed aboard. In addition to the technical side of the ship ' s features, human comport is assured by numerous habitability facilities, such as the ship ' s barber shop, ice cream bar, laundry and dry cleaning plants, and crew ' s lounge. The aspect of the ship ' s design is enhanced by unusually comfortable living quarters and full air-conditioning throughout the ship.