USS Inchon
_underway_in_the_Gulf_of_Mexico_2001.JPEG)
USS Inchon (MCS-12) in the Gulf of Mexico, 2001
|
|
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
|
| Name: | USS Inchon |
| Namesake: | Battle of Inchon |
| Ordered: | 16 June 1966 |
| Builder: | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 8 April 1968 |
| Launched: | 24 May 1969 |
| Commissioned: | 20 June 1970 |
| Decommissioned: | 20 June 2002 |
| Struck: | 24 May 2004 |
| Identification: | LPH/MCS-12 |
| Motto: | Never More Brightly |
| Fate: |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement: | 19,500 tons |
| Length: | 603.65 ft (183.99 m) |
| Beam: | 104 ft (32 m) |
| Draft: | 25.9 ft (7.9 m) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: | One geared steam turbine, one shaft, |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement: | 1,443 (122 officer, 1,321 enlisted) |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 8 × MH-53E Sea Stallion, 2 × UH-46D Sea Knight |
USS Inchon (LPH/MCS-12) was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy named for the Battle of Inchon, a turning point of the Korean War.
Inchon was laid down on 8 April 1968 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi with the hull classification number LPH-12. The ship was launched on 24 May 1969; and commissioned on 20 June 1970.
On 5 February 1980, while involved in an underway refueling with USS Spiegel Grove in the Atlantic, the two vessels collided, with Inchon's helicopter elevator ripping through a Marine berthing space on Spiegel Grove and destroying one of that ship's 50-ton cranes. There were no injuries, however.
In October 1982, Inchon, flagship of Amphibious Squadron 6, relieved the 32d MAU on station in Beirut, Lebanon. For their service, the ships of MARG 3-82 were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Expeditionary Medal.
The Citation for the Navy Unit Commendation reads:
For exceptionally meritorious service from 29 October 1982 to 15 February 1983 in a mission of great national and international importance while serving as the United States Forces Ashore Lebanon and supporting forces of the Multinational Force peace initiatives in Lebanon. on 29 October 1982, Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-82 and Marine Amphibious Unit 24 conducted a combined surface and helo landing across Black Beach and the International Airport of Beirut, Lebanon and immediately commenced coordinated motorized and foot patrols with other Multinational Force contingents throughout the City of Beirut. Simultaneously with operations ashore, Amphibious Task Force helicopters provided special support to the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and special Presidential envoys, and provided major logistics lifts from Air Support Head at Larnaca, Cyprus, to Beirut. Their superior performance and tireless devotion contributed significantly to the national objectives of world peace and Middle East stability. By their resolute determination, unrelenting perseverance, and steadfast dedication to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-82 and Marine Amphibious Unit 24 reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
...
Wikipedia