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USS Dubuque (LPD-8)
Encyclopedia
USS Dubuque (LPD-8), an Austin-class
amphibious transport dock
, is the second ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the city of Dubuque, Iowa
.
USS DUBUQUE is named after Dubuque, Iowa on the Mississippi River and her founder, Julien Dubuque - a French Canadian explorer. The second ship to bear the name, USS Dubuque was commissioned on September 1st, 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
in Pascagoula
, Mississippi
. She was launched
on 6 August 1966 and commissioned
on 1 September 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
in Portsmouth, Virginia
. In November 1967, the ship arrived at her first homeport of San Diego, California after transiting the Panama Canal
.
From 1968 until 1975, Dubuque made five Western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam
. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war
to North Vietnam
. From 1969 until 1971 the ship conducted ten "Keystone Cardinal" troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization
" of the war. Dubuque relieved USS Cleveland (LPD-7) as the launch platform for HMA-369's Marine Hunter-Killer (MARHUK) Operations near Hon La (Tiger Island) off the coast of North Vietnam. From February to June 1973 the ship operated helicopter
s that conducted naval mine
clearance operations in Haiphong
Harbor as part of Operation End Sweep
. In April 1975 the ship participated in Operation Frequent Wind
, the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam
.
On 15 August 1985 Dubuque departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan
, where she arrived 4 September 1985. There, she joined the Seventh Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program, her primary mission to support the Marine Corps
in the Western Pacific.
In May 1988 Dubuque deployed to the Persian Gulf
and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect US-flagged tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation
. In 1989 the ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate American personnel from the Philippines
during a failed coup
attempt.
Immediately following the Iraq
i invasion of Kuwait
in August 1990, Dubuque was deployed to the Persian Gulf
as part of Operation Desert Shield. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national buildup.
In November 1998 Dubuque again deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on support of Operation Desert Fox
.
On 30 July 1999, Dubuque was relieved by as part of the forward-deployed naval forces. Since then, she has been once again home-ported in San Diego
, California
.
From June to September 1999, Dubuque participated in the first SHIP-SWAP with her sister-ship Juneau, where each ship's crew remained in their original home ports, allowing Dubuque to return to the homeport of San Diego.
From September 2006 to May 2007 Dubuque was deployed with the and the , transporting the 15th MEU to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where among other missions the ship served as a holding facility for Iraqi POWs. Dubuque also assisted in the protection and maintenance of oil platforms in the northern part of the Persian Gulf.
Dubuque deployed again in 2008 with the Expeditionary Strike Group. Her crew participated in the pursuit of identifying pirates and collecting intelligence on piracy off the Gulf of Oman and the Horn of Africa. She also participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel off the Philippine coast line on the way to the Persian Gulf. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37542. The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. maritime strategy in time of crisis or emergency.
In early May 2009 the Dubuque had to abort a humanitarian aid mission to the South Pacific after a sailor on board developed swine flu. It was later found out that approximately 50 more cases were likely H1N1 (swine flu) also.
On 9 September 2010, Marines attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force launched from the Dubuque and boarded and seized control German flagged M/V Magellan Star off the coast of Somalia. The pirates had taken control of the ship the previous day. The Marines captured nine pirates and rescued eleven crew members who had taken refuge in a "safe room" on the ship. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
USS Dubuque was laid to rest at her decommissioning ceremony June 30th 2011
s escaping from Vietnam
; at least 20 others had already died on the voyage. The Vietnamese refugees had been stranded out at sea for 19 days due to an engine failure, but because of translation errors Dubuques commanding officer, Captain Alexander Balian, believed the refugees had been adrift for only 7 days and that there were only 60 people on board. He provided the boat with food, water and navigation charts, but did not embark the refugees or render further assistance. The food and water lasted only several days, but the boat continued to drift for a further 19 days. Thirty more people died, and the remaining refugees were forced to engage in cannibalism in order to survive. The boat was eventually rescued by Filipino fisherman.
Captain Balian was relieved of command by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He refused Admiral's Mast
and per his rights under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
requested court martial, where he was found guilty of dereliction of duty and given a letter of reprimand.
in support of the Pacific Partnership
program was canceled.
According to the Navy Awards website http://awards.navy.mil/, the Dubuque has received one Navy Unit Commendation
, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, three Battle Efficiency Award
s, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
s, three Humanitarian Service Medal
s and participated in countless amphibious exercises and operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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 second ship of the 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 be named for the city of Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
.
USS DUBUQUE is named after Dubuque, Iowa on the Mississippi River and her founder, Julien Dubuque - a French Canadian explorer. The second ship to bear the name, USS Dubuque was commissioned on September 1st, 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
History
Dubuques keel was laid down on 25 January 1965 by Ingalls ShipbuildingIngalls Shipbuilding
Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...
in Pascagoula
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 6 August 1966 and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 1 September 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
. In November 1967, the ship arrived at her first homeport of San Diego, California after transiting the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
From 1968 until 1975, Dubuque made five Western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
. From 1969 until 1971 the ship conducted ten "Keystone Cardinal" troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization
Vietnamization
Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard M. Nixon administration during the Vietnam War, as a result of the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive, to "expand, equip, and train South Vietnam's forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S....
" of the war. Dubuque relieved USS Cleveland (LPD-7) as the launch platform for HMA-369's Marine Hunter-Killer (MARHUK) Operations near Hon La (Tiger Island) off the coast of North Vietnam.
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s that conducted naval mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
clearance operations in Haiphong
Haiphong
, also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong...
Harbor as part of Operation End Sweep
Operation End Sweep
Operation End Sweep was a U.S. Navy operation to remove the naval mines from Haiphong harbor in North Vietnam in July 1973. This action was done in favor of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, abiding to the Paris Peace Accord.-References:*...
. In April 1975 the ship 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 and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
On 15 August 1985 Dubuque departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where she arrived 4 September 1985. There, she joined the Seventh Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program, her primary mission to support the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in the Western Pacific.
In May 1988 Dubuque deployed to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect US-flagged tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
. In 1989 the ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate American personnel from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during a failed coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
attempt.
Immediately following the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i invasion of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in August 1990, Dubuque was deployed to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
as part of Operation Desert Shield. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national buildup.
In November 1998 Dubuque again deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on support of Operation Desert Fox
Operation Desert Fox
The December 1998 bombing of Iraq was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16–19, 1998 by the United States and United Kingdom...
.
- Need information from 1992 to present.
On 30 July 1999, Dubuque was relieved by as part of the forward-deployed naval forces. Since then, she has been once again home-ported in San Diego
Naval Station San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is the largest base of the United States Navy on the west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 54 ships and over 120 tenant commands. The base is composed of 13 piers stretched...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
From June to September 1999, Dubuque participated in the first SHIP-SWAP with her sister-ship Juneau, where each ship's crew remained in their original home ports, allowing Dubuque to return to the homeport of San Diego.
- Need information from 1999 to 2006; particularly during its exercise deployment in the western Pacific, Australia; and its operational deployment to the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Pakistan, projecting Marines into Afghanistan in November, in response to the terrorist attacks in Sept. 11, 2001. See book: "One Bullet Away" by Nathaniel Fick for accounts during and following 9/11/01.
From September 2006 to May 2007 Dubuque was deployed with the and the , transporting the 15th MEU to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where among other missions the ship served as a holding facility for Iraqi POWs. Dubuque also assisted in the protection and maintenance of oil platforms in the northern part of the Persian Gulf.
Dubuque deployed again in 2008 with the Expeditionary Strike Group. Her crew participated in the pursuit of identifying pirates and collecting intelligence on piracy off the Gulf of Oman and the Horn of Africa. She also participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel off the Philippine coast line on the way to the Persian Gulf. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37542. The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. maritime strategy in time of crisis or emergency.
In early May 2009 the Dubuque had to abort a humanitarian aid mission to the South Pacific after a sailor on board developed swine flu. It was later found out that approximately 50 more cases were likely H1N1 (swine flu) also.
On 9 September 2010, Marines attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force launched from the Dubuque and boarded and seized control German flagged M/V Magellan Star off the coast of Somalia. The pirates had taken control of the ship the previous day. The Marines captured nine pirates and rescued eleven crew members who had taken refuge in a "safe room" on the ship. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
USS Dubuque was laid to rest at her decommissioning ceremony June 30th 2011
Refugee controversy
On 10 June 1988 Dubuque discovered a boat containing 110 refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s escaping from Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
; at least 20 others had already died on the voyage. The Vietnamese refugees had been stranded out at sea for 19 days due to an engine failure, but because of translation errors Dubuques commanding officer, Captain Alexander Balian, believed the refugees had been adrift for only 7 days and that there were only 60 people on board. He provided the boat with food, water and navigation charts, but did not embark the refugees or render further assistance. The food and water lasted only several days, but the boat continued to drift for a further 19 days. Thirty more people died, and the remaining refugees were forced to engage in cannibalism in order to survive. The boat was eventually rescued by Filipino fisherman.
Captain Balian was relieved of command by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He refused Admiral's Mast
Nonjudicial punishment
Non-judicial punishment in the United States military, is a form of military justice authorized by Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Non-judicial punishment or "NJP" permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial...
and per his rights under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
requested court martial, where he was found guilty of dereliction of duty and given a letter of reprimand.
Swine flu outbreak
In May 2009 the Navy announced that a sailor on the ship had been confirmed as infected with Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 during the worldwide 2009 swine flu outbreak. Fifty more of the ship's sailors were suspected to have also been infected. As a result, the ship's June 2009 deployment to OceaniaOceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
in support of the Pacific Partnership
Pacific Partnership
Pacific Partnership is an annual deployment of forces from the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy , in cooperation with regional governments and military forces, along with humanitarian and non-government organizations....
program was canceled.
Awards
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, three Battle Efficiency Award
Battle Efficiency Award
The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S...
s, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
s, three Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
s and participated in countless amphibious exercises and operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.