Austin-class amphibious transport dock

Class of US amphibious transport docks

USS Austin (LPD-4)

Class overview
Name| Austin class
Builders|

* New York Naval Shipyard,
* Ingalls, Lockheed

Operators|

* United States Navy
* Indian Navy

Preceded by| Raleigh class
Succeeded by| San Antonio class
In commission| 1965–2017 (U.S.)
Planned| 13
Completed| 12
Cancelled| 1
Active| 1 (with India)
Retired| 11
General characteristics
Type| Amphibious transport dock
Tonnage| 7,713 DWT
Displacement|

* 9,201 tons (light)
* 16,914 tons (full)

Length|

* 548 ft (167 m)w/l
* 569 ft (173 m) o/a

Beam|

* 84 ft (26 m) w/l
* 105 ft (32 m) extreme

Draft|

* 22 ft (6.7 m) navigational,
* 34 ft (10 m) ballasted

Propulsion| 2 × boilers, 2 × steam turbines, 2 × shafts, 24,000 shp (18,000 kW)
Speed| 21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried|

* 1 × LCAC, or
* 1 × LCU & 3 × LCM-6, or
* 4 × LCM-8, or
* 9 × LCM-6, or
* 24 × AAV

Complement| 24 officers, 396 enlisted, 900 marines
Armament|

* 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 guns
* 2 × Phalanx CIWS
* 8 × .50-calibre machine guns

Aircraft carried| Up to 6 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters

"Austin class" redirects here. For the class of Staten Island ferries, see Staten Island Ferry § Austen class.

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.

## Design

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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".

## Ships

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Ship | Hull no. | Builder | In service | Homeport | NVR page

|
|
|
|
|

Austin | LPD-4 | New York Naval Shipyard | 1965–2006 | Norfolk, Virginia | LPD04
Ogden | LPD-5 | New York Naval Shipyard | 1965–2007 | San Diego, California | LPD05
Duluth | LPD-6 | New York Naval Shipyard | 1965–2005 | San Diego, California | LPD06
Cleveland sub-class
Cleveland | LPD-7 | Ingalls Shipbuilding | 1967–2011 | San Diego, California | LPD07
Dubuque | LPD-8 | Ingalls Shipbuilding | 1967–2011 | San Diego, California | LPD08
Denver | LPD-9 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1968–2014 | Sasebo, Japan | LPD09
Juneau | LPD-10 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1969–2008 | Sasebo, Japan | LPD10
Coronado | LPD-11/
AGF-11 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1970–2005 | San Diego, California | AGF11
Shreveport | LPD-12 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1970–2007 | Norfolk, Virginia | LPD12
Nashville | LPD-13 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1970–2009 | Norfolk, Virginia | LPD13
Trenton sub-class
Trenton | LPD-14 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1971–2007, 2007–present | Norfolk, Virginia | LPD14
Ponce | LPD-15/
AFSB(I)-15 | Lockheed Shipbuilding | 1971–2017 | Norfolk, Virginia | LPD15

## References

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### Notes

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1. ^ Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd. Sheppertaon, Surrey (UK), 1986, ISBN 0711015988, p. 96.
2. ^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 365
3. ^ Stefan Terzibaschitsch: 50 Jahre amphibische Schiffe der U.S. Navy. Leonberg, Germany, 1995, p. 40.
4. ^ "LPD 4 Austin class". GlobalSecurity.org. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
5. ^ 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.

### Sources

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* 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

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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

* v
* t
* e

Austin-class amphibious transport docks

United States Navy|

* Austin
* Ogden
* Duluth
* Cleveland
* Dubuque
* Denver
* Juneau
* Coronado
* Shreveport
* Nashville
* Trenton
* Ponce

Indian Navy|

* Jalashwa (ex-Trenton)

* Preceded by: Raleigh class
* Followed by: San Antonio class

* List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships

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