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LSD-29 Deployments - Major Events

Add a LSD-29 Shellback Initiation Add a LSD-29 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
MAY 1953       Keel Date: 4 MAY 1953
at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula MS
MAY 1954       Launch Date: 7 MAY 1954
NOV 1954       Commissioned: 29 NOV 1954
MAR 1956 - OCT 1956 Mediterranean
MAR 1956 - OCT 1956 North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
APR 1956 - OCT 1956 amphibious exercises med.
JUL 1957 - SEP 1957 Blue Nose - Artic Circle
JAN 1958 - MAR 1958 Mediterranean-Lebanon
JAN 1958 - JAN 1958 Beirut landing operations 1958
FEB 1960 -     Shellback Initiation - 11 FEB 1960 - Atlantic Ocean
JUN 1960 - DEC 1960 Mediterranean
OCT 1962 - OCT 1962 Cuban Missle Blockade
MAY 1963 - OCT 1963 Mediterranean
OCT 1965 - DEC 1965 Guantanamo Bay
JAN 1966 - MAR 1966 North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
JAN 1966 - MAR 1966 North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
JAN 1966 - MAR 1966 H-Bomb recovery operations off Palomares Spain
JUL 1970 - AUG 1970 North Atlantic
FEB 1972 - AUG 1972 Mediterranean
OCT 1972 - MAR 1973 Caribbean
JUL 1978 - FEB 1979 North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
AUG 1978 - JAN 1979 North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
JUL 1979 - AUG 1979 Caribbean
JAN 1981 - DEC 1983 UNITAS
JUN 1981 - DEC 1981 UNITAS
JUL 1981 -     Shellback Initiation - 16 JUL 1981 - Atlantic Ocean
SEP 1982 - NOV 1982 North Atlantic
SEP 1983       Decommissioned: 30 SEP 1983

 


 

 

From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. V (1979), pp. 332

Site of the landing of the first permanent settlers in New England in 1620.

(LSD-29: dp. 6,880; l. 510'; b. 84'; dr. 19'; s. 21 k.; cpl. 766; a. 16 3"; cl. Thomaston)

Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) was laid down by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss. 4 May 1953, launched 7 May 1954; Sponsored by Mrs. Francis C. Denebrink; and commissioned 29 November 1954, Comdr. D. Bontecou in command.

After sailing in January 1955 to Norfolk, her homeport, Plymouth Rock conducted shakedown off the East Coast and in the Caribbean. In the summer of 1955 she transported men and equipment to early warning sites in the far north. In March 1956 she deployed to the Mediterranean for amphibious operations, returning in October. During 1957 she made numerous trips to the Caribbean, and again resupplied the Arctic Distant Early Warning Line.

>From May to October 1958 Plymouth Rock operated as a unit of the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean participating in the landing of U.S. Marines in Lebanon in July. After developing the concept of "vertical envelopment" by helicopter assault in early 1959, she made a Caribbean cruise to Puerto Rico and Cuba. In February 1960 she participated in operation "Amigo," carrying support helicopters and other equipment for President Eisenhower's visit to South America. From March to December, she again deployed to the Mediterranean.

During 1961 Plymouth Rock made several cruises to the Caribbean and one to the Mediterranean, including work on project "Mercury" and project ASROC. During 1962 she made several deployments to the Caribbean, and was a member of the blockade force during the Cuban Missile Crisis. On 7 May 1963 she again deployed to the Mediterranean, returning in October.

In 1964 Plymouth Rock made two Caribbean cruises and then took part in operation "Steel Pike I" off the coast of Spain, the largest amphibious operation since World War II. Early 1965 found Plymouth Rock on another Caribbean cruise. From 28 January 1966 to 7 March she was involved in H-Bomb recovery operations off Palomares, Spain. Late 1966 found her once again in the Caribbean, providing for the victims of hurricane "Inez" in Haiti. After three Caribbean cruises in early 1967, Plymouth Rock deployed to northern Europe. She made two more Caribbean deployments in 1968. From June to July 1969 she again deployed to northern Europe. She remains with the Atlantic Fleet into 1970.

-[NOTE: Plymouth Rock was decommissioned 30 September 1983 and transferred to the Maritime Administration 8 Nov. 1989. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 24 February 1992 and she was sold 25 August 1995.]

 


 


From Navy Times 1/87
Navy Times - Ship In The Spotlight by Mario Demar
United States Ship Plymouth Rock LSD29

Named for the famous site in Massachusetts, this ship, is the first to bear the name PLYMOUTH ROCK.  She was commissioned Nov. 29, 1954.   Her home port is Little Creek, Va.

Plymouth Rock's mission is to provide underway launch of landing craft during an amphibious assault.  Her floodable well deck 400 by 50 feet, can hold up to three utility landing craft.

Her missions since July 1979 have included laying underwater acoustic cable, landing marines in a training mission at Guantanamo Bay, transporting construction equipment from Jamaica, refueling minesweepers under way, supporting submarine missile test shots and in February 1980, becoming the first 'GATOR' to receive fuel from an oiler the the astern refueling method. 

The ship has won the Battle Efficiency E, Communications C, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal, Expeditionary  Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon and several Amphibious Assault Awards.

She is 510 feet long, has a beam of 84 feet and displaces 12,250 tons.  She has a crew of 322 enlisted and 24 officers

 


 

Picture appearing in LIFE Magazine, November 9, 1962, USS Plymouth Rock off Cuba.  This stanby operation lasted for six weeks.  Photo donated by Rocco Musella 

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