USS Pensacola (LSD-38)

USS Pensacola (LSD-38) was an Anchorage-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was the fourth Navy ship to be named for the naval town of Pensacola, Florida. She was built at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, and commissioned in 1971.

USS Pensacola
History
United States
NameUSS Pensacola
NamesakePensacola, Florida
Awarded25 February 1966
BuilderFore River Shipyard
Laid down12 March 1969
Launched11 July 1970
Commissioned27 March 1971
Decommissioned30 September 1999
Stricken30 September 1999
FateSold to the Republic of China, 30 September 1999
Taiwan
NameROCS Hsu Hai (LSD-193)
Acquired30 September 1999
CommissionedJune 2000
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeAnchorage-class dock landing ship
Displacement14,000 long tons (14,000 t) full load
Length553 ft (169 m)
Beam85 ft (26 m)
Draft18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × steam turbines
  • 2 × boilers, 600 psi (4.1 MPa)
  • 2 shafts
Speed22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h)
Range14,800 nm at 12 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried
well deck size: 131.06 m × 15.24 m for 3 LCACs or 50 AAV7
Capacity
  • vehicle garage (1,115 m2),
  • on upper deck: 2 LCM(6), on davits: 1 LCVP, and 1 LCPL
Troops330 man Marine detachment
Complement18 officers, 340–345 enlisted
Armament

Operational history

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In early 1995, the Commanding Officer of USS Pensacola was relieved because the preceding November, the ship had run aground off the East Coast. In 1995, while cruising in the Mediterranean, the ship suffered a major fuel leak, causing the ship to go to General Quarters. The fuel leak was repaired, and no one was injured. In 1996, USS Pensacola ran aground once again while en route to Newport, Rhode Island. During the 1996 deployment, assisted in the non-combatant evacuation of Albania. During 1999 deployment stood guard during the events that lead to the invasion of Kosovo.

Transfer to the Republic of China in Taiwan

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Pensacola was finally decommissioned in 1999, transferred to the Republic of China Navy(ROCN) in Taiwan and redesignated ROCS Hsu Hai (LSD-193).

References

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