Monticello (LSD 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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CROSSING THE Shellbacks scour ship for pollywogs ' Now ALL pollywogs REPORT TO THE WELL- DFCK NEVER LOST A CASEj NEVER HAD ONE That impartial group of King Neptunes Court War II, THE former Italian Liner, SS CONTE GRANDE, became the USS MONTICELLO, AP-61, serving as a troop transport through many European campaigns The third MONTICELLO is the eighth and most recent of the USS THOMASTON LSD-28 Class of the Landing Ships Dock. The salient characteristics of the LSD-35 are to transport combat loaded boats, craft, vehicles, and tanks to be landed early in assault waves on enemy beaches. In addition to troop space for 350 men, this ship possesses facilities for accommodating several troop carrying assault helicopters. She has a capacity for emergency hull damage repairs to landing craft including LCU ' s, as well as large patrol sea planes. Its armament, electronics AND speed make IT THE TOP PERFORMER IN THE AMPHIBIOUS FORCES . EMBRACING A MULTITUDE OF AMPHI- BIOUS tasks, its versatility AND EFFICIENCY CAUSE THIS TYPE OF SHIP TO BE VERY MUCH IN DEMAND BY THE Fleet, Army, Marine Corps, and the Sea Transportation Service. The history of the LSD— 35 actually begins with the laying of her keel 6 June 1955. Like her eight sister ships , SHE WAS BUILT BY INGALLS SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION OF PASCAGOULA , MISSISSIPPI. On AUGUST 10, 195 6 she was launched and christened by Mrs . Harry R . Sheppard, wife of the con- gressmen from California , WHO AT THE TIME WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS SUB- COMMITTEE. On 29 March 1957, Captain H . M. Heiser, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding , accepted THE MONTICELLO as a vessel of the Navy in behalf of the Commandant, Sixth Naval District. Immediately thereafter. Captain J.T. Hodgson Jr., USN, her first commanding officer, assumed command .

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.1 From the keel .... HISTORY OF USS MONTICELLO LSD-35) The USS MONTICELLO LSD-35) bears THE NAME OF THE FAMOUS HISTORIC SITE, MON- TICELLO, THE HOME OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THIRD PRESIDENT OF TH E UNITED STATES . THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL HOUSE NEAR CHAR- LOTTESVILLE, Virginia, has lent its name to TWO other ships of the United States Navy. The first of these ships was a steamer which SERVED with the UNION FLEET DURING THE CiVIL War from 1861 until 1865. During World FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE MAST mmiBBmte r mv . -m,i--

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LINE CEREMONY ROYAL COURT DECIDES FATE OF CAPT. KELLOGG Now KISS BABY ON THE BELLY ll:i. ' iiL ii Royal Barber with Royal lawn mower Into the tunnel with able bodied assistance Finally the end and 125 psi of salt water to cleam off the dirt. After a brief outfitting period of two weeks, the MONTICELLO departed Pascagoula on 13 April 1957. Shearrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 April, and began her two week readiness-for- sea period. With this completed, she sailed for a short stay in Boston, Massachusetts, on 29 April. From Boston, she traveled south and proceeded through the Panama Canal, on her way to HER permanent HOME PORT OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. WHILE IN PANAMA, THE SHIP MADE A FOUR DAY call in BALBOA . On 27 May 1957, the MONTICELLO arrived in San Diego, and started her career as a ship of the AMPHIBIOUS Forces, Pacific Fleet. In June and the early part of July, she conducted her shake- down training in the San Diego operating AREA . These exercises were satisfactorily completed on 19 July, and the MONTICELLO then held a two day open house for the public of San Diego as A part of Visit Your Navy Ships Week .