The Austin class was a class of twelve amphibious transport dock ships in service with the United States Navy from 1965 to 2017. Note that the U.S. Naval Vessel Registry list separate Cleveland (seven built) and Trenton (two built) class ships, but most sources lists them as a single class.[1]Trenton was sold to India and is the only ship still active.
The Austin class was an enlarged version of the preceding Raleigh class. Designed under project SCB 187B, the ships are about 47 ft (14 m) longer which increased the displacement by some 3,300 tons.[2] The dock is as large as that of the Raleigh-class. In front of the dock was a 70m long raised level to park vehicles which was connected via a ramp to the flight deck. The ramp ended in a new telescoping hangar. Although the flight deck had room for up to six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, the hangar was only a temporary shelter for a single helicopter and not a permanent facility.[3] The propulsion consists of two Foster Wheeler boilers (600 psi), powering two De Laval GT turbines, providing 12,000 SHP each for the two propellers.[4]
The reason for creating a Cleveland/Trenton sub-class is that the last nine ships of the class were built as flagships for amphibious ready groups with an additional deck above the bridge and accommodations for additional 90 personnel. The SPS-40 radar is also placed higher on the mast. Otherwise the ships are identical. Originally the ships were armed only with four 3-inch/50-caliber gun Mark 33 twin mounts. These were later removed and the weapon stations were used to fit two Phalanx CIWS.[5]
The last ship of the class, LPD-16, while authorized, was cancelled before being constructed. USS Coronado served for 10 years as an LPD before she was converted into a command ship. She kept her hull number and was redesignated AGF-11. From 2012 to 2017, USS Ponce served with the United States Military Sealift Command as a forward base ship with helicopter facilities, which was designated "Afloat Forward Staging Base, Interim".
^Stefan Terzibaschitsch: 50 Jahre amphibische Schiffe der U.S. Navy. Leonberg, Germany, 1995, p. 40.
^"LPD 4 Austin class". GlobalSecurity.org. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
^Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Seemacht USA. Bechtermünz Verlang, Augsburg, Germany, 1997, ISBN 3860475762, pp. 576.
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
Sourcesedit
Friedman, Norman (2002). U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN1-55750-250-1.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Austin class amphibious transport dock ships.
U.S. Navy Fact File: Amphibious Transport Dock - LPD
Federation of American Scientists: LPD 4 Austin class
GlobalSecurity.org: LPD 4 Austin class
April 09, 2024
austin, class, amphibious, transport, dock, austin, class, class, twelve, amphibious, transport, dock, ships, service, with, united, states, navy, from, 1965, 2017, note, that, naval, vessel, registry, list, separate, cleveland, seven, built, trenton, built, c. The Austin class was a class of twelve amphibious transport dock ships in service with the United States Navy from 1965 to 2017 Note that the U S Naval Vessel Registry list separate Cleveland seven built and Trenton two built class ships but most sources lists them as a single class 1 Trenton was sold to India and is the only ship still active USS Austin LPD 4 Class overviewNameAustin classBuildersNew York Naval Shipyard Ingalls LockheedOperators United States Navy Indian NavyPreceded byRaleigh classSucceeded bySan Antonio classIn commission1965 2017 U S Planned13Completed12Cancelled1Active1 with India Retired11General characteristicsTypeAmphibious transport dockTonnage7 713 DWTDisplacement9 201 tons light 16 914 tons full Length548 ft 167 m w l 569 ft 173 m o aBeam84 ft 26 m w l 105 ft 32 m extremeDraft22 ft 6 7 m navigational 34 ft 10 m ballastedPropulsion2 boilers 2 steam turbines 2 shafts 24 000 shp 18 000 kW Speed21 knots 24 mph 39 km h Boats amp landing craft carried1 LCAC or 1 LCU amp 3 LCM 6 or 4 LCM 8 or 9 LCM 6 or 24 AAVComplement24 officers 396 enlisted 900 marinesArmament2 25 mm Mk 38 guns 2 Phalanx CIWS 8 50 calibre machine gunsAircraft carriedUp to 6 CH 46 Sea Knight helicopters Austin class redirects here For the class of Staten Island ferries see Staten Island Ferry Austen class Contents 1 Design 2 Ships 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Sources 4 External linksDesign editThe Austin class was an enlarged version of the preceding Raleigh class Designed under project SCB 187B the ships are about 47 ft 14 m longer which increased the displacement by some 3 300 tons 2 The dock is as large as that of the Raleigh class In front of the dock was a 70m long raised level to park vehicles which was connected via a ramp to the flight deck The ramp ended in a new telescoping hangar Although the flight deck had room for up to six CH 46 Sea Knight helicopters the hangar was only a temporary shelter for a single helicopter and not a permanent facility 3 The propulsion consists of two Foster Wheeler boilers 600 psi powering two De Laval GT turbines providing 12 000 SHP each for the two propellers 4 The reason for creating a Cleveland Trenton sub class is that the last nine ships of the class were built as flagships for amphibious ready groups with an additional deck above the bridge and accommodations for additional 90 personnel The SPS 40 radar is also placed higher on the mast Otherwise the ships are identical Originally the ships were armed only with four 3 inch 50 caliber gun Mark 33 twin mounts These were later removed and the weapon stations were used to fit two Phalanx CIWS 5 The last ship of the class LPD 16 while authorized was cancelled before being constructed USS Coronado served for 10 years as an LPD before she was converted into a command ship She kept her hull number and was redesignated AGF 11 From 2012 to 2017 USS Ponce served with the United States Military Sealift Command as a forward base ship with helicopter facilities which was designated Afloat Forward Staging Base Interim Ships editShip Hull no Builder In service Homeport NVR pageAustin LPD 4 New York Naval Shipyard 1965 2006 Norfolk Virginia LPD04Ogden LPD 5 New York Naval Shipyard 1965 2007 San Diego California LPD05Duluth LPD 6 New York Naval Shipyard 1965 2005 San Diego California LPD06Cleveland sub classCleveland LPD 7 Ingalls Shipbuilding 1967 2011 San Diego California LPD07Dubuque LPD 8 Ingalls Shipbuilding 1967 2011 San Diego California LPD08Denver LPD 9 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1968 2014 Sasebo Japan LPD09Juneau LPD 10 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1969 2008 Sasebo Japan LPD10Coronado LPD 11 AGF 11 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970 2005 San Diego California AGF11Shreveport LPD 12 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970 2007 Norfolk Virginia LPD12Nashville LPD 13 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1970 2009 Norfolk Virginia LPD13Trenton sub classTrenton LPD 14 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1971 2007 2007 present Norfolk Virginia LPD14Ponce LPD 15 AFSB I 15 Lockheed Shipbuilding 1971 2017 Norfolk Virginia LPD15References editNotes edit Paul H Silverstone U S Warships since 1945 Ian Allan Ltd Sheppertaon Surrey UK 1986 ISBN 0711015988 p 96 Friedman Amphibious Ships pp 365 Stefan Terzibaschitsch 50 Jahre amphibische Schiffe der U S Navy Leonberg Germany 1995 p 40 LPD 4 Austin class GlobalSecurity org 30 July 2022 Retrieved 30 July 2022 Stefan Terzibaschitsch Seemacht USA Bechtermunz Verlang Augsburg Germany 1997 ISBN 3860475762 pp 576 This article includes information collected from theNaval Vessel Register which as a U S government publication is in the public domain Sources edit Friedman Norman 2002 U S Amphibious Ships and Craft An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 1 55750 250 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Austin class amphibious transport dock ships U S Navy Fact File Amphibious Transport Dock LPD Federation of American Scientists LPD 4 Austin class GlobalSecurity org LPD 4 Austin class Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Austin class amphibious transport dock amp oldid 1215572257, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
