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USS Denver (LPD-9)
Encyclopedia
USS Denver (LPD-9), an Austin-class
amphibious transport dock
, is the third ship of United States Navy
to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle
, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A. Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado
, and commissioned 26 October 1968.
In 1970 the USS Denver played a key role in the SS Columbia Eagle incident
. When the SS Columbia Eagle was commandeered by two mutinous crewmembers on 14 March 1970, Denver was immediately dispatched to intercept and recapture Columbia Eagle.
In April 1975, Denver participated in Operation Frequent Wind
, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam.
Denver took part in Westpac 84 and took part in several operations including Operation Beach Guard, Operation Cobra Gold, & Operation Valiant Usher. On her return trip in December 1984, Denver participated in a tiger cruise
. It was during this time that she collided with in a refueling exercise, New Orleans who had her elevator out and smashed into the Denver several times.
, rear-ended its refueling vessel, . Damage to Denver was severe, tearing away 3/4 of her bow, leaving only the very top portion. Denver remained in port at Pearl Harbor for two weeks undergoing repairs before leaving for her final destination in San Diego, California.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/07/14/ships.collide.02/index.html
due to the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot. Denver was tasked independently to render aid, along with two embarked squadrons, HM-14
and HSC-25
. They are currently supporting efforts by airlifting food, medical supplies, and providing heavy lift support for earth moving equipment to assist with recovery efforts. Due to the sensitive nature surrounding Taiwan, especially with the One China policy, the Department of Defense
did not publicly announce relief efforts. Denver is planned to be in the vicinity of Taiwan until August 22, 2009 to render aid to the people of Taiwan. Denver had just completed Talisman Saber 2009 and was on her way to her homeport when she was directly tasked with this humanitarian mission.
. On Nov. 17, the Denver, Essex and Harper's Ferry became the first U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong
's Victoria Harbor in more than two years.
and USS Essex (LHD-2)
.
Austin class amphibious transport dock
The Austin class of amphibious transport dock followed theRaleigh class and was followed by the San Antonio classes. Note that some sources consider Cleveland and Trenton ships to be a part of the Austin class, but the Naval Vessel Registry lists them as a separate class.- Ships :-Cleveland...
amphibious transport dock
Amphibious transport dock
An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform/dock , is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operate this kind of ship...
, is the third ship of United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A. Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and commissioned 26 October 1968.
Role in the SS Columbia Eagle mutiny
SS Columbia Eagle incident
The SS Columbia Eagle incident refers to a mutiny that occurred aboard the merchant vessel Columbia Eagle in March 1970 when crewmembers seized the vessel and sailed to Cambodia.-History:...
. When the SS Columbia Eagle was commandeered by two mutinous crewmembers on 14 March 1970, Denver was immediately dispatched to intercept and recapture Columbia Eagle.
In April 1975, Denver participated in Operation Frequent Wind
Operation Frequent Wind
Operation Frequent Wind was the evacuation by helicopter of American civilians and 'at-risk' Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, on 29–30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War...
, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam.
Denver took part in Westpac 84 and took part in several operations including Operation Beach Guard, Operation Cobra Gold, & Operation Valiant Usher. On her return trip in December 1984, Denver participated in a tiger cruise
Tiger Cruise
Tiger Cruise is the 54th Disney Channel Original Movie. It stars Hayden Panettiere, Bill Pullman and Jansen Panettiere, Hayden's real-life younger brother...
. It was during this time that she collided with in a refueling exercise, New Orleans who had her elevator out and smashed into the Denver several times.
Collision with USNS Yukon
On July 13, 2000, the ship was participating in a refueling exercise near the end of a deployment with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) BHR ARG. Denver, off the coast of OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, rear-ended its refueling vessel, . Damage to Denver was severe, tearing away 3/4 of her bow, leaving only the very top portion. Denver remained in port at Pearl Harbor for two weeks undergoing repairs before leaving for her final destination in San Diego, California.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/07/14/ships.collide.02/index.html
Typhoon Morakot
Beginning on August 17, 2009 Denver started rendering humanitarian assistance to TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
due to the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot. Denver was tasked independently to render aid, along with two embarked squadrons, HM-14
HM-14
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Nicknamed the "Vanguard" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon, it comprises both active duty and reserve personnel...
and HSC-25
HSC-25
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Twenty Five "Island Knights" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The "Island Knights" are the Navy's only forward deployed Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron...
. They are currently supporting efforts by airlifting food, medical supplies, and providing heavy lift support for earth moving equipment to assist with recovery efforts. Due to the sensitive nature surrounding Taiwan, especially with the One China policy, the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
did not publicly announce relief efforts. Denver is planned to be in the vicinity of Taiwan until August 22, 2009 to render aid to the people of Taiwan. Denver had just completed Talisman Saber 2009 and was on her way to her homeport when she was directly tasked with this humanitarian mission.
2009 Sumatra earthquakes
The Denver was sent to Sumatra to assist in the recovery efforts following the earthquakes there2010 Fall Patrol
During the 2010 Fall Patrol, from September 1 to November 25, 2010, the Denver accompanied the USS Essex and the USS Harper's Ferry on a tour of Southeast Asia. During the patrol, the Denver took part in the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Incheon, Korea and assisted the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon MegiTyphoon Megi
The name Megi has been used for two tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The name was submitted by South Korea and is a Korean word for catfish....
. On Nov. 17, the Denver, Essex and Harper's Ferry became the first U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's Victoria Harbor in more than two years.
2011
The ship departed Sasebo in September 2011 for a patrol of the western Pacific. Accompanying the ship were the USS Germantown (LSD-42)USS Germantown (LSD-42)
USS Germantown is the second Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in the United States Navy. She is the second Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown....
and USS Essex (LHD-2)
USS Essex (LHD-2)
USS Essex is a built at what is now Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned on 17 October 1992 while moored at North Island NAS beside the Kitty Hawk . It is the fifth ship named for Essex County, Massachusetts...
.
Decommissioning
The Denver is scheduled to be decommissioned and mothballed in 2013.External links
- official website of USS Denver
- nvr.navy.mil: USS Denver
- globalsecurity.org: USS Denver
- navsource.org: USS Denver
- navysite.de: USS Denver
- USS Denver (LPD-9) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command