USS Denver (LPD-9)
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| Career (US) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Denver |
| Namesake: | city of Denver, Colorado |
| Operator: |  United States Navy |
| Awarded: | 23 May 1963 |
| Builder: | Lockheed Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 7 July 1964 |
| Launched: | 23 January 1965 |
| Commissioned: | 26 October 1968 |
| Homeport: | Sasebo, Japan |
| Motto: | "America's 911 LPD" |
| Nickname: | "D9" "Liberty D9ed" |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2013[update] |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Austin class amphibious transport dock |
| Tonnage: | 9,687 tons |
| Displacement: | 17,425 tons |
| Length: | 171 meters (570 ft) overall |
| Beam: | 25.2 meters (84 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Two boilers, two steam turbines, two shafts, 24,000 shaft horsepower (18 MW) |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
| Complement: | 24 officers, 396 enlisted, 900 marines |
| Armament: | Two 25 mm Mk 38 guns; two Phalanx CIWS; and eight .50-calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns. |
| Aircraft carried: | Up to six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters |
USS Denver (LPD-9), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of United States Navy to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A. Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado, and commissioned 26 October 1968. Denver is currently the oldest active ship in US service, following the deactivation of Enterprise on Dec 1, 2012.
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Role in the SS Columbia Eagle mutiny [edit]
In 1970, the USS John Denver played a key role in the SS Columbia Eagle incident. When the SS Columbia Eagle was commandeered by two mutinous crewmembers on 14 March 1970, Denver was immediately dispatched to intercept and recapture Columbia Eagle.[citation needed]
Vietnam War, 1975 [edit]
In April 1975, Denver participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam.[1]
1984 [edit]
Denver took part in Westpac 84 and took part in several operations including Operation Beach Guard, Operation Cobra Gold, & Operation Valiant Usher. On her return trip in December 1984, Denver participated in a tiger cruise. It was during this time that she collided with USS New Orleans in a refueling exercise, New Orleans who had her elevator out and smashed into the Denver several times.[citation needed]
Collision with USNS Yukon [edit]
On 13 July 2000, the ship was participating in a refueling exercise near the end of a deployment with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) BHR ARG. Denver, off the coast of Oahu, rear-ended its refueling vessel, USNS Yukon. Damage to Denver was severe, tearing away 3/4 of her bow, leaving only the very top portion. Denver remained in port at Pearl Harbor for two weeks undergoing repairs before leaving for her final destination in San Diego, California.[1]
Typhoon Morakot [edit]
Beginning on 17 August 2009 Denver started rendering humanitarian assistance to Taiwan due to the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot. Denver was tasked independently to render aid, along with two embarked squadrons, HM-14 and HSC-25. They were supporting efforts by airlifting food, medical supplies, and providing heavy lift support for earth moving equipment to assist with recovery efforts.[2] Due to the sensitive nature surrounding Taiwan, especially with the One China policy, the Department of Defense did not publicly announce relief efforts. Denver is planned to be in the vicinity of Taiwan until 22 August 2009 to render aid to the people of Taiwan. Denver had just completed Talisman Saber 2009 and was on her way to her homeport when she was directly tasked with this humanitarian mission.
2009 Sumatra earthquakes [edit]
The Denver was sent to Sumatra to assist in the recovery efforts following the earthquakes there in September, 2009.[3]
2010 Fall Patrol [edit]
During the 2010 Fall Patrol, from 1 September to 25 November 2010, the Denver accompanied the USS Essex and the USS Harper's Ferry on a tour of Southeast Asia. During the patrol, the Denver took part in the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Incheon, Korea and assisted the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Megi. On 17 Nov., the Denver, Essex and Harper's Ferry became the first U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor in more than two years.
2011 [edit]
The ship departed Sasebo in September 2011 for a patrol of the western Pacific. Accompanying the ship were the USS Germantown (LSD-42) and USS Essex (LHD-2).[4]
Decommissioning [edit]
The Denver is scheduled to be decommissioned and mothballed in 2014.
References [edit]
- ^ By Sea, Air and Land: An Illustrated History of the U.S. Navy and the war in Southeast Asia Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973-1975
- ^ "MORAKOT: THE AFTERMATH: US helicopters to join rescue effort". Taipei Times. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ McMichael, William H. (2 October 2009). "Pacific Command sends aid to storm-torn areas". Navy Times. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
- ^ Stars and Stripes, "Essex Ready Group and 31st MEU underway for fall patrol", 26 September 2011.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: USS Denver (LPD-9) |
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This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (August 2009) |
- official website of USS Denver
- nvr.navy.mil: USS Denver
- globalsecurity.org: USS Denver
- navsource.org: USS Denver
- navysite.de: USS Denver
- USS Denver (LPD-9) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command
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