Tortuga (LSD 46) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHIP'S HISTORY USS TORTUGA QLSD 461 is the sixth ship of the Whidbey sland QLSD 415 class. Construction began in September 1986 at ivondale Shipyards, New Orleans, LA. The keel was laid March 13, 1987 and the ship was launched September 15, 1988. TOR- TUGA was christened on November 19, 1988 by Mrs. Rosemary 'arker Schoultz. On November 17, 1990, after more than 4 years n construction, the mighty warship TORTUGA was commis- ioned. Following commissioning TORTUGA plowed through the igorous post commissioning inspection and maintenance chedule including Refresher Training QREFTRAJ in Guan- anamo Bay, Cuba in january and February, OPPRE COpera- ional Propulsion Plant Readiness Examj in April, and INSURV n May. In june, 1991 TORTUGA went back to the yards in Norfolk, fa, for a three month post Shakedown availability. TORTUGA re-entered the training arena in September when he participated in Amphibious REFTRA, followed by another QEFTRA in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Nearly at completion of KEFTRA TORTUGA began her first mission oriented opera- ional commitment when she accommodated Haitian migrants Jrior to the building of temporary camps at NAS Guantanamo Say. During her three weeks of participation in Operation GTMO she was home to over 1500 migrants and 400 joint Task ?orce personnel. Upon detachment from Operation GTMO TORTUGA sailed Lo Panama City, Fl where she picked up the first ever load of five SHIP,S MISSION The mission of USS TORTUGA is to conduct prompt and sus- Qained combat operations at sea anywhere in the world in sup- port of national policy. The ship operates independently and or with other forces in projecting naval power ashore. Officially designated a Landing Ship Dock QLSDJ, T ORTUGA is principal mission is Amphibious Warfare, i.e., rapid build up of combat power ashore. As such, the ship is superbly designed to carry out that mission. With a 440ft well deck capable of holding four landing craft, air cushioned vehicles CLCAC,sj, two helo spots able to simultaneously land and launch two CH-53E USMC helos, extensive boat and landing craft repair facilities, and troop berthing accommodations for up to 627 embarked per- sonnel. TORTUGA transports landing craft, rolling stock, and ele- ments of a landing force to an amphibious objective area CAOAJ, launching preloaded assault craft and troops in support of amphibious assault operations. USS TORTUGA will normal- ly operate with an amphibious task force in sustained operations to gain or maintain sea control through power projection ashore. Secondary Mission areas incorporated into the ship's design are: Special Warfare, Fleet Support Operations, Noncombat Operations, Electronic Warfare, Ocean Surveillance, and Law Enforcement Operations. LCAC's in an LSD 41 class ship. TORTUGA began 1992 back at sea providing local LCAC, and helo services in january and February, followed by deploy- ment work-ups with other units of MARG 2-92 in March and April. The latter part of April Sc most of May found TORTUGA pierside making final preparations for deployment. On May 27th, 1992 TORTUGA said goodbye to Little Creek as she began her maiden deployment with the IWO JIMA Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group. Ports of call on the deployment included: Rota, Spain, Palma de Mallorca, Corfu, Greece, Haifa, Israel, Siracusa, Sicily, Augusta Bay, Sicily, Toulon, France, Thessaloniki, Greece, Almeria, Spain, and Casablanca, Morocco. During the deployment TORTUGA 8c her embarked units participated in amphibious, and joint forces exercises and oper- ations including: Spanish Phiblex 2-92, Exercise Ellipse Bravo, Operation Provide Promise, Italian Cross Training, Exercise Display Determination, and Betacom 192. Other key events during the deployment included TORTUGA 's first Change of Command in Haifa, Israel, and the hosting of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of allied landings in North Africa while inport Casablanca, Morocco. TORTUGA has earned the following unit awards: the Nation- al Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Sea Service Ribbon. VVI-IAT'S A TORTUGA? The TORTUGA takes its name from a group of seven small islands located about 68nm west of Key West, Fl. The Tortuga Islands were discovered in 1513 by Ponce de Leon who gave them the Spanish name for the huge sea turtles found there. For 300 years they were home to pirates. The U.S. bought the islands from Spain in 1819 to strengthen the defense of her southern coast. Fortjefferson, completed in 1861, is the landmark of the islands. Centrally located and sur- rounded by a deep channel and harbor, it is a hexagonal, three- tiered citadel with a 70 ft wide, 30 ft deep moat, five ft thick outer walls, and sides measuring 450 ft long and 60 ft high. 243 large caliber guns protect the fort, but not one of them has ever been fired. The fort has been used as a prison, and as a communication and coaling station by the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Fleet was sta- tioned there in 1989 in anticipation of war with Spain. In 1904 the islands were set aside as a Federal Bird Reservation, and they have been a national historic site since 1935. This is the second ship to bear the name TORTUGA. The TORTUGA QLSD 261 was commissioned in 1945 and earned 5 battle stars for her service during the Korean War and 8 more for Vietnam action. Her name was stricken from the Naval Ves- sel register in 1976. 9

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ww? i WV . W RCC Normally represented by about 25 naval officers and an ever changing number of Marine Corps officers TORTUGA's ward- room strived to maintain a balance between work and play, and to promote a positive command climate throughout the cruise. Led by Commander Allan Wall and Commander Stephen Gilmore and supported by the best crew in the MARC they ensured TORTUGA outshined all others in everything that she E did- V Lt Dando plays the perfect Navy-country western song . The Blue'GreCn team at Play in Sifacusa- A group of Display Exasperationv mustache contestants 1 he wardroom gathers one last time to say farewell to Commander Wall and to hail their new CO Commander Gilm 10 ore.