USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
 USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) transits the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. |
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Oak Hill |
| Ordered: | 27 March 1991 |
| Laid down: | 21 September 1992 |
| Launched: | 11 June 1994 |
| Commissioned: | 8 June 1996 |
| Homeport: | NAB Little Creek, Virginia |
| Motto: | Nation's Protector |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2012[update] |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 11,314 tons (light) 16,386 tons (full) |
| Length: | 610 ft (190 m) |
| Beam: | 84 ft (26 m) |
| Draft: | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25 MW) |
| Speed: | 20+ knots (37+ km/h) |
| Boats and landing craft carried: |
2 LCACs |
| Troops: | Marine detachment: 402 + 102 surge |
| Complement: | 22 officers, 397 enlisted |
| Armament: | 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 cannons 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts 2 × Rolling Airframe Missile 6 × .50 caliber M2HB machine guns |
USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. Oak Hill is the second United States Navy ship to be named after Oak Hill, the home of U.S. President James Monroe.
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[edit] Overview
As of January 2011, the USS Oak Hill is commanded by Commander David E. Bauer, U.S. Navy. The ship is homeported at JEBLCFS Little Creek, Virginia, and is assigned to Amphibious Group 4.[1]
[edit] History
Oak Hill was laid down on 21 September 1992, by Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ship was launched on 11 June 1994, and commissioned on 8 June 1996.
[edit] 2006 pirate incident
In April 2006, Oak Hill rescued an "Indian-flagged vessel believed to have been looted and then set adrift by pirates off the coast of Somalia." The boarding crew was led by U.S. Marine Captain Clennon Roe. Oak Hill was commanded by Commander Ray Stapf at the time.[2]
[edit] 2009 Uruguayan embassy party
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On 4 July 2009, the United States embassy in Uruguay held its annual 4th of July celebration aboard Oak Hill while the ship was in the port of Montevideo. Brittney Longbons and Laura Gabito attended the celebration.
[edit] Riverine Well Deck Certification
On 31 May 2011, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON) 2 and 3 became the first Riverine Forces certified for well deck operations onboard the Oak Hill.[3]
[edit] First kiss milestone
On 21 December 2011, when the ship returned to Virginia Beach from a 80-day deployment to Central America, the ceremonial "first kiss" from one of the returning sailors was the first openly homosexual kiss since the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell." Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kissed her fiancée, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell on the dock as the waiting crowd cheered.[4][5][6]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.oak-hill.navy.mil/
- ^ Steve Stone (2006-04-03). "Beach-based ship aids piracy victims off Somalia". The Virginian-Pilot. http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=102452&ran=105635. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
- ^ Hinchcliffe, Michael R. "Riverine Forces Make History with Well Deck Certification." Navy News Service, 3 June 2011.
- ^ Pilkington, Ed (23 December 2011). "Sailors share US navy's first official gay kiss". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/23/sailors-us-navy-gay-kiss. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Fire Controlman 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) kisses her fiancée, Fire Controlman 3rd Class Citlalic Snell". Navy News Service. 21 December 2011. http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=112656. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "US Navy lesbian couple share first gay dockside kiss". BBC News. 21 December 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16297406.
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