Tulare (LKA 112) - Naval Cruise Book

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I lllll all , Uss TULARE QL A-1125 The USS TULARE was originally constructed by the Bethlehem Pacific Construction Steel Corporation at San Francisco, California in 1953 for the United States Maritime Commission. Her keel was laid on 16 February 1953 and was launched and christened EVERGREEN MARINER on 22 December 1953 by Miss Carolyn Knight, daughter of the former California Governor Goodwin J. Knight. The EVERGREEN MARINER never sailed in her civilian capacity. Just prior to delivery to the Maritime Commission, the United States Navy exercised its option under the provision of the Subsidization Program and acquired ownership of the newly constructed ship. The task of converting the vessel into the Navy's Attack Cargo Ship was completed by the same corporation that built her. By 12 January 1956, the conversions were com- pleted and the ship was rechristened USS TULARE CLKA-1125 in honor of Tulare County, California. She was the first vessel in Naval History to be named so. The name Tulare is derived from the word tule',, a large species ofibullrush found in Tulare County. As an attack cargo ship, TULA RE was the first to be rigged with four large booms capable of lifting loads of as much as sixty tons, which includes some of the heaviest trucks and tanks now in service. These Jumbo,' booms and many smaller booms provide the means for rapid handling of cargo. The concept of amphibious vertical assault was incorporated on TULARE by the construc- tion ofa 4,000 square foot flight deck. From this platform TU LARE is capable of transferring cargo and personnel by helicopter. Six large cargo holds, each equipped with quick opening hatch covers, permit the ship to carry at full capacity 7,750 tons ofcargo. To augment her capabilities as a part of an amphibious support ship, nine LCM-6's are nested aboard her six hatches. Each of these boats is capable of carrying a large truck or two jeeps or 120 com- bat ready troops. The ship offloads cargo into her landing craft. These boats, having ramps which may be fully lowered, race through the water to the beaches in a con- tinuous cycle of unloading. TULARE,s overall length is 564 feet, while her beam is 76 feet. Her converted Merchant-Class hull has a dis- placement of 18,000 tons. She is an extremely fast single screw ship capable of sustained speeds in excess oftwenty knots for a distance over 10,000 miles and can go around the world at twelve knots without refueling. Ship's com- pany includes approximately 28 officers and 300 enlisted men. 1

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