Raleigh (LPD 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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Amphibious Warfare lsn't New The earliest amphibious task force was probably a fleet of dugout canoes and rafts transporting a band of prehistoric marines along a coast to attack an enemy village. A modern amphibious operation, with landings on hostile shores, is launched from the sea by Naval landing craft. Its aim may be to prosecute further combat operations, obtain sites for bases, or deny areas or facilities to the enemy. Modern amphibious planning and training was begun by the Navy and Marine Corps in the early thirties. It paid off in an efficient amphibious force in World War ll. In fact, every major drive made by the U. S. forces in the war was started with an amphibious assault, beginning with the invasion of North Africa in 1942 and ending with Okinawa in 1945. By the end of the war, America had the most powerful amphibious warfare capability in the world. She has never lost this lead. Modern amphibious operations are quite different from their historical predecessors. First of all, Naval Forces in a modern am hibious o eration have an important command role Gunfire from Navy ships and carrier aircraft sub- D P - stantially reduce enemy defenses before the first troops ever land. Secondly, troops engaged in modern amphibious operations are highly trained for their role. Marines of the Fleet Marine Force are not merely soldiers transported to their battleground by ship. They are as much at home on board Navy ships as ashore. They know how to fight using gun and missile power from Navy ships and air power from carrier aircraft to help them take their objectives. alezfgb History of Ships named RALEIGH The first RALEIGH was one of the original 13 frigates author- ized by the new Continental Congress in1775. The ship was launched on 21 May 1776. RALEIGH participated in many battles in in 1777 captured the British ship NANCY The second RALEIGH was designated PROTECTED CRUISER NUMBER EIGHT, and commissioned on 17 April 1894. This ship took an active part in the Spanish American War as part of Admiral Dewey's forces in the Phillippine Island Campaign. The ship again saw action as a patrol ship with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I. The name RALEIGH emerged again as a light cruiser, commissioned on 6 February 1924. Designated QCL-71 this ship served gallantly during the Second World War receiving three battle stars. I -CI 'P S' SSL' , - YPD-I

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r Lt.: 'V ' 57 41,14 oth, ff. A-.,f,.f' . gf ,V ,Q .,g . , 2 f 1 gg f , 1 f X fi .wg . r,k, if , ,, . V , , fy ,. Z ,H .,,, g.,.V. I ,f I' ,. . f I , f 'm.www- f. ' H f The Ship and Its Mission USS RALEIGH is the first ship of the Landing Platform Dock QLPDJ class. The ship's structure and design allow it to under- take tasks which previously required many different types of amphibious ships. RALEIGH and the LPDS which followed, combine the characteristics of the helicopter assault ship QLPHI, the attack transport ship QLPAI, the attack cargO Ship ILKAI, and the landing ship dock QLSDI. The ship has the capability of transporting 919 combat Marines and their equip' ment including such heavy equipment as trucks, tanks and amphibious vehicles and landing craft. , Amphibious operations can be launched from the ship's floodable well deck. The well deck can be flooded by DUmP'n9 sea water into ballast tanks located in the ship's sides, in effect sinking the ship's stern to a depth of about eight feet. Melt and equipment can also be launched through the well deck with the aid of overhead bridge cranes which can load HSSHUH boats prior to launching. Vehicle stowage areas are located above and below the well deck, and can be connected I0 The flight deck through two 30 ton capacity ramps. d Amphibious assaults are not confined to waterborne transport. RALEIGH has the capacity to conduct all-weather dal' an night helicopter flight operations. RALEIGH can land and launch two helos simultaneously. 2

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Commanding Officer Vhsvfd Captain Rex B. Fitch Jr U. S. Navy n