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USN Amphibious Ships - The Gator Navy "L" Ships & AKA/APA


Bearmon
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firefighter

Hi Guys,

I forgot that I had this Viet made patch. Well I didn't really forget I had it , I just forgot is was for a LCPL. It is an early patch that is Viet handmade with quilting and machine sewn border. I believe this patch to represent a LCPL Mark IV converted for Harbor defense and support for IUWG and Seal guys. If anyone can translate the Viet saying to the top of the patch, that would be much appreciated.

Regards, Mitch

 

 

Mitch nice looking patch.Thats Freddie Frog on the deck.

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A few more while catching up

 

USS Boxer I believe after her conversion to a LPH

LPH 4

post-582-0-84110100-1405545360.jpg

 

USS Elmore APA 42

post-582-0-43785200-1405545370.jpg

And a pretty cool one the Ex LST USS Tallahatchie County AVB 2

 

An Advanced Aviation Base Ship (P2 and P3 support)

post-582-0-97821900-1405545377.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

I didn't believe I had many gators in the patch garden, but seems I do.......

 

AMPHIPIOUS FORCE US ATLANTIC FLEET

The Scuba Gator

post-2322-0-11107000-1405630244.jpg

 

01 Amphibious Force US Atlantic Fleet 02.jpg

 

I've seen several USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20) patches.  For reference, these were made by Swiss Tex, supplier of USN patches from the mid 1970's to the 1990's

03 USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20) 01.jpg

 

Going present day

USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6)

WASP class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1998, homeported in Sasebo, Japan

04 USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6) 01.jpg

 

04 USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6) 02.jpg

 

.....which reminded me that I also have the class leader in my Division specific collection

 

USS WASP (LHD-1) ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Finest in the Fleet - Everyone else is just along for the ride.  The namesake of a long lineage, the tenth WASP was commissioned in 1989 - flagship of the Second Fleet

24 USS WASP (LHD-1) 01.jpg

 

24 USS WASP (LHD-1) 02.jpg

 

USS OGDEN (LPD-5) the "Oggie Doggie"  Motto: FLEXIBLE RESPONSE

Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock, in service 1965 to 2007

This is the earlier 1970's version of the patch with the light blue background rather than the white patch shown previously in this topic.

05 USS OGDEN (LPD-5) 01.jpg

 

05 USS OGDEN (LPD-5) 02.jpg

 

Prior to her conversion to an AGF Command Ship in 1972, she was a Raleigh Class LPD

 

USS LA SALLE (LPD-3) cut edge 1960's

06 USS LA SALLE (LPD-3) 01.jpg

 

06 USS LA SALLE (LPD-3) 02.jpg

 

LA SALLE was in commission from 1964 to 2005. Many of us on this forum will recall that she was the diplomatic flagship homeported at Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. She was painted white and covered with awnings to keep the hot Arabian sun off of the decks. A friend of mine served as an OS aboard her and prior to the Iranian Crisis in 1979, it was considered a hardship assignment, just like Diego Garcia and Antarctic/Arctic service.

 

She was known by several nicknames including

THE GREAT WHITE GHOST OF THE ARABIAN COAST

07 USS LA SALLE (AGF-3) GREAT WHITE GHOST 01.jpg

 

07 USS LA SALLE (AGF-3) GREAT WHITE GHOST 02.jpg

 

Sticking with the Austin Class

USS DULUTH (LPD-6) In service 1965 to 2005

08 USS DULUTH (LPD-6) 01.jpg

 

08 USS DULUTH (LPD-6) 02.jpg

 

USS JUNEAU (LPD-10) Austin class in service 1969 to 2008 early cut edge

09 USS JUNEAU (LPD-10) 01.jpg

 

09 USS JUNEAU (LPD-10) 02.jpg

 

USS SHREVEPORT (LPD-12) NO SHORE TOO DISTANT

This is the red Marine version of the patch with the Anchor on the left and EGA on the right.  There's a Navy blue one posted earlier a few pages back.  Austin Class in service 1966 to 2007

10 USS SHREVEPORT (LPD-12) 01.jpg

 

10 USS SHREVEPORT (LPD-12) 02.jpg

 

USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10) Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship in service 1966 to 1995.

This is a sailors Vietnam era patch.  TRIPOLI earned nine stars in Vietnam service the hard way with the USMC.  She also participated in the clean up at Haiphong - Operation Endsweep

11 USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10) 01.jpg

 

11 USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10) 02.jpg

 

AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON 12 Atlantic Fleet PHIBRON, Flagship was USS HERMITAGE

02 Amphibious Squadron 12 01.jpg

 

02 Amphibious Squadron 12 02.jpg

 

I haven't even cracked into my LST, LHA, LHD types yet, I've got a hundred or more of them to post on this topic so stay tuned.

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Salvage Sailor

Then there are the Gators of the Ashland class dock landing ships, including the long serving and hard fighting

 

USS EPPING FOREST (LSD-4) pre 1962 patch  In service from 1943 to 1968 Kwajalein, Majuro, Hollandia, Guam, Peleliu, Leyte, Okinawa, Inchon and beyond.  Operation Crossroads, Bikini, other Atom testing, Op Passage to Freedom (evacuation of French Indo-China for us old salts)  She was reclassified (MCS-7) in 1962, serving extensively in Vietnam

 

post-2322-0-57105500-1405644465.jpg

Epping Forrest earned eight battle stars for World War II service, five for Korea and six more in Vietnam as (MCS-7)

 

12 USS EPPING FOREST (LSD-4) 02.jpg

 

...and her sister ship, the original USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-5)

She also had much the same three-war career as Epping Forest plus Arctic service and the Cuban Missile Crisis

Gunston Hall earned nine battle stars in WWII, eight in Korea and seven in Vietnam

13 USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-5) 01.jpg

 

13 USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-5) 02.jpg

 

The next Ashland Class dock landing ship USS LINDENWALD (LSD-6) - VERSATILITY

After WWII service, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and served in the Caribbean Sea, the Med and Europe

In service 1943 to 1967

14 USS LINDENWALD (LSD-6) 01.jpg

 

14 USS LINDENWALD (LSD-6) 02.jpg

 

This is a Casa Grande class dock landing ship

USS FORT MARION (LSD-22) in service 1946 to 1970 Five battle stars in both Korea and Vietnam

15 USS FORT MARION (LSD-22) 01.jpg

 

15 USS FORT MARION (LSD-22) 02.jpg

 

There are several of these already posted, but here's mine

 

USS FORT SNELLING (LSD-30) AMPHIBIOUS FORCE U.S. ATLANTIC FLEET 

Thomaston class dock landing ship, in service 1954 to 1984

16 USS FORT SNELLING (LSD-30) 01.jpg

 

16 USS FORT SNELLING (LSD-30) 02.jpg

 

....and another Atlantic Fleet sister ship

USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD-32) in service 1956 to 1989

17 USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD-32) 01.jpg

 

17 USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD-32) 02.jpg

 

Please pardon the crappy photos, have to fix the autofocus on my camera.

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Salvage Sailor

...and another Thomaston class sister ship

USS HERMITAGE (LSD-34) In service 1956 to 1989, one tour in Vietnam. This is an early black background patch, still need the white one

18 USS HERMITAGE (LSD-34) 01.jpg

 

18 USS HERMITAGE (LSD-34) 02.jpg

 

Lead ship of the Anchorage class dock landing ships (five in the class)

USS ANCHORAGE (LSD-16) in service 1969 to 2003 Six campaign stars for Vietnam service, Frequent Wind. 19 Westpacs, Operations Desert Storm, Continue Hope, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom.  Assisted the USS COLE after she was mined.

19 USS ANCHORAGE (LSD-36) 01.jpg

 

19 USS ANCHORAGE (LSD-36) 02.jpg

 

The second USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-44) A Whidbey Island class dock landing ship (eight ships in the class)

In service with the Fleet since 1989

20 USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-44) 01.jpg

 

20 USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD-44) 02.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Newport class USS MANITOWOC (LST-1180) In service 1970-1993 - Two tours in Vietnam, Beirut Crisis and Desert Storm

LST 1180 USS MANITOWOC Desert Storm 001.jpg

 

LST 1180 USS MANITOWOC Swiss Tex 002.jpg

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okay for your further viewing pleasure

 

USS Clarke County LST 601

post-582-0-98440500-1418926854.jpg

 

USS Garrett County AGP 786 (used to be a LST so it's Gator good)

post-582-0-58856800-1418926865.jpg

 

USS Grant County LST 1174

post-582-0-59146400-1418926948.jpg

 

USS Monticello LSD 35

post-582-0-38252800-1418926956.jpg

 

USS Oak Hill LSD 7

post-582-0-28572500-1418927019.jpg

 

USS Rockbridge APA 228

post-582-0-60350100-1418927027.jpg

 

USS Snohomish County LST 1126

post-582-0-64867100-1418927102.jpg

 

USS Stone County LST 1141

post-582-0-03775900-1418927114.jpg

 

USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187

post-582-0-25413600-1418927222.jpg

 

USS Wexford County LST 1168

post-582-0-95672900-1418927230.jpg

 

 

4902

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I believe this should go in this topic, Inshore Fire Support

USS Carronade From Wikipedia

"As an Inshore Fire Support Ship (IFS), part of the so-called "brown-water navy", Carronade was built to provide direct naval gunfire support to amphibious landings or operations close to shore. Carronade was armed with two twin 40mm anti-aircraft mounts (mounted fore and aft of the superstructure), one dual-purpose 5" .38caliber naval cannon, and eight mk.105 twin automatic rocket launchers. Each launcher was capable of firing thirty spin-stabilized rockets per minute"

 

link to a YouTube video:

 

and the patch "The Little Armada" fitting motto.

post-582-0-53917600-1419030130.jpg

 

 

4934

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Very nice additions Bearmon in several categories. Looks like alot of nice Japanese made patches. I really like the patch above and the video is crazy. It would be a blast to light that one up !!!

Mitch

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Salvage Sailor

We've done the L-Ship 'Gator Freighters' on the forum, but let's see the older Transports and Attack Transports in your collections.....

 

USS GENERAL W.A. MANN T-AP 112 General John Pope class transport in service 1943-1965

AP 112 T-AP 112 USS GENERAL W.A. MANN 001.jpg

 

AP 112 T-AP 112 USS GENERAL W.A. MANN 002.jpg

 

USS GENERAL WILLIAM MITCHELL (AP-114) Steward's Ward Room Mess patch, General John Pope class transport in service 1944-1950.  The UIM rocker is from her T-AP-114 service

AP 114 USS GENERAL WILLIAM MITCHELL 001.jpg

 

AP 114 USS GENERAL WILLIAM MITCHELL 002.jpg

 

Class Leader USS BAYFIELD (APA-33) In service 1943-1968

APA 33 USS BAYFIELD 001.jpg

 

APA 33 USS BAYFIELD 002.jpg

 

A different USS BAYFIELD (APA-33) merrowed edge version

APA 33 USS BAYFIELD 003.jpg

 

APA 33 USS BAYFIELD 004.jpg

 

USS CAVALIER (APA-37) Bayfield class in service 1943-1968

APA 37 USS CAVALIER 001.jpg

 

APA 37 USS CAVALIER 002.jpg

 

Gemsco USS FREMONT (APA-44) Bayfield class in service 1943-1969

APA 44 USS FREMONT 001.jpg

 

USS HENRICO (APA-45) Task Force 90 Korea - Bayfield class in service 1943-1969

APA 45 USS HENRICO 001.jpg

 

APA 45 USS HENRICO 002.jpg

 

The Leapin Lena USS LEWANEE (APA 195) Haskell class attack transport in service 1944-1967

APA 195 USS LENAWEE 001.jpg

 

This belonged to a China Service sailor

APA 195 USS LENAWEE 002.jpg

 

APA 195 USS LENAWEE 003.jpg

 

Ace Novelty USS MAGOFFIN (APA-199) Haskell class in service 1944-1969

APA 199 USS MAGOFFIN Ace Novelty 003.jpg

 

APA 199 USS MAGOFFIN Ace Novelty 004.jpg

 

USS MONTROSE (APA-212) Haskell class in service 1944-1968

A bit dirty and with a thumbtack hole in it where it was pinned to a garage wall

APA 212 USS MONTROSE 001.jpg

 

APA 212 USS MONTROSE 002.jpg

 

USS MOUNTRAIL (APA-213) Haskell class in service 1944-1969

APA 213 USS MOUNTRAIL 001.jpg

 

Reverse - pulled from a patch album

APA 213 USS MOUNTRAIL 002.jpg

 

Gemsco USS OKANOGAN (APA-220) Haskell class in service 1944-1969

APA 220 USS OKANOGAN Gemsco 002.jpg

 

Metal Plaque plate USS ROCKBRIDGE (APA-228) Haskell class in service 1944-1968

APA 228 USS ROCKBRIDGE 001.jpg

 

APA 228 USS ROCKBRIDGE 002.jpg

 

Class Leader USS PAUL REVERE (APA-248) in service as an APA 1958-1969

APA 248 USS PAUL REVERE 001.jpg

 

APA 248 USS PAUL REVERE 002.jpg

 

Redesignated as LPA-248 and in service as LPA 1969 to January 1980 - This is the "Paul Revere's Last Mid-Pac Ride" patch just prior to her decommissioning

APA 248 LPA 248 USS PAUL REVERE 001.jpg

 

APA 248 LPA 248 USS PAUL REVERE 002.jpg

 

USS FRANCIS MARION in service as (APA-249) 1961-1969 - Paul Revere class

Both the Red Fox and the Brown Fox versions of the patch

APA 249 USS FRANCIS MARION 001.jpg

 

APA 249 USS FRANCIS MARION 002.jpg

 

...and her 1969-1980 (LPA-249) patch - USS FRANCIS MARION was the last Attack Transport to be built and commissioned by the USN, the end of an era.

APA 249 USS FRANCIS MARION 003.jpg

 

APA 249 USS FRANCIS MARION 004.jpg

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My humble opinion is that these should be in with the gator thread, many APA's and AKA's are already posted there including some in this post and it would keep them together for future reference.

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Salvage Sailor

My humble opinion is that these should be in with the gator thread, many APA's and AKA's are already posted there including some in this post and it would keep them together for future reference.

 

Noted and merged - there weren't many APA's in here and AKA's are cargo ships. Your original post asked for L type ships but I agree, this is where they should be.

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Salvage Sailor! Love your Paul Revere and Francic Marion patches. They were still in service in my day. Paul Revere was called the "Peter Rabbit" by other Sailors, and her boats had a "Playboy Bunny" painted on the bow ramps instead of a standard "PR" ID. Francis Marrion was called the "Famny Mae"

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Salvage Sailor

Thanks Steve,

 

I was at Pearl in 1979 when she passed through on her final Midpac cruise.

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