USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43)
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| History | |
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| Namesake: | Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland |
| Ordered: | 11 December 1985 |
| Builder: | Lockheed Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 10 June 1983 |
| Launched: | 1 February 1986 |
| Sponsored by: | Helen D. Bentley |
| Commissioned: | 8 August 1987 |
| Homeport: | Mayport, Florida |
| Motto: | Domus Fortium |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: |
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| 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 & landing craft carried: |
5 LCACs or 21 LCM-6s |
| Troops: | Marine detachment: 402 + 102 surge |
| Complement: | 22 officers, 391 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was named for Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, the 1814 defense of which inspired The Star-Spangled Banner.
USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) was laid down on 10 June 1983 by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Washington. She was launched on 1 February 1986 (sponsored by Helen D. Bentley), and commissioned on 8 August 1987 in Seattle, Commander George S. "Dusty" Rhodes in command.
Fort McHenry's maiden deployment was from June 1988 to December 1988 to the Western Pacific. Following her return, Fort McHenry participated in the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill from 28 April – 22 June 1989. In recognition of the crew's effectiveness during the cleanup operation, Fort McHenry was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.
On 20 June 1990, Fort McHenry began her second deployment and spent 10 months in the Persian Gulf for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. When she returned to her homeport of San Diego on 17 April 1991, Fort McHenry received the Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Combat Action Ribbon. Eight months later, Fort McHenry deployed to the Western Pacific on 6 January 1992. After several successful multinational exercises and port visits, Fort McHenry returned to San Diego on 6 July 1992.
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