Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Vancouver (LPD-2)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Alpha - November NVAN

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Vietnam, 1 Op. Eagle Pull, 1-Op. Frequent Wind) - *Vietnam Service Medal (10 or 11) - Southwest Asia Service Medal
Fourth Row - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Eagle Pull, 1-Frequent Wind) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (10) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Raleigh Class Amphibious Transport Dock:

Laid down, 19 November 1960, at New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Launched, 15 September 1962

Commissioned USS Vancouver (LPD-2), 11 May 1963

During the Vietnam War USS Vancouver (LPD-2) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 9 February to 13 March 1965 13 to 18 April 1965	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 26 to 28 August 1969 9 September to 23 October 1969
Vietnamese Defense 24 to 25 August 1965	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 15 to 25 November 1969 7 to 15 December 1969 30 December 1969 to 10 January 1970 9 to 12 February 1970 10 to 13 March 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 13 August to 1 September 1966 13 to 28 September 1966 7 October to 11 November 1966 31 December 1966 to 17 January 1967 13 February to 4 March 1967	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 8 to 11 July 1970 8 to 12 August 1970 1 to 3 May 1971 12 to 13 May 1971 20 to 22 May 1971 13 to 15 June 1971 18 to 20 June 1971
Tet Counteroffensive 22 to 24 February 1968 1 March to 1 April 1968	Consolidation I 15 to 16 July 1971 13 to 14 August 1971 5 to 6 September 1971 10 to 15 September 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 to 15 April 1968 1 March to 15 April 1968 27 April to 17 June 1968	Vietnam Ceasefire 9 to 10 July 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 6 July to 20 August 1968 1 September 1968	*Vietnam Evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) 29 to 30 April 1975

Decommissioned, 27 March 1992, at Naval Station San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Pearl Harbor, HI., maintenance category X

Struck from Naval Register, 8 April 1997

USS Vancouver (LPD-2) earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service and Op. Frequent Wind of eleven campaign stars if the Armed Forces Medal is exchanged for the 18th Vietnam campaign, Operation Frequent Wind

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 29 November 2001 of lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, date unknown, to International Shipbreaking LTD, Brownsville, TX., for $657,000

Withdrawn from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet anchorage for hull cleaning at Mare Island Drydocks, 21 February 2013, cost to the Federal Government $530,000, expected completion, 8 March 2013

Specifications:
Displacement 8,650 t.(lt) 14,113 t.(fl)
Length 522 '
Beam 100'
Draft 23'
Speed 20 kts.
Complement 436
Troop Accommodations 1,000

Armament

(as built) four twin 3"/50 gun mounts

(early 1970s) three twin 3"/50 gun mounts, one CIWS

Propulsion

two Boilers

two Geared Turbines

two Propellers, 24,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	39k	Vancouver (LPD-2) under construction at New York Navy Yard in 1962.
	197k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** under way near the New York Navy Yard in 1963. US Navy photo from 1966/67 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships".	Robert Hurst
	305k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** under way in 1963, location unknown. Note staggered funnels, boats stowed between funnels, and helicopter control tower outboard of after funnel. Note two LCPLs on the boat deck which are lowered by crane. US Navy photo from 1968/69 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships".	Robert Hurst
	132k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** with her stern gate open during amphibious operations, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1964	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	98k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** arrives at San Diego, 13 August 1964. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
	152k	*LCU-1476* back loading Third Battalion/Third Marines to *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2) from USS Thomaston (LSD-28)** at Subic Bay, date unknown.	Jerry Patterson ENCS USN Ret LCU-1624
	320k	During Operation Deckhouse V the three ships of a 20-knot "amphibious ready group" steam toward the objective site, 4 January 1967. Ships from front to back are; *USS Iwo Jima* (LPH-2), USS Thomaston (LSD-28), and USS Vancouver (LPD-2)*. US National Archives Catalog #: USN 1119682*, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Tommy Trampp
	710k	Port bow view of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** off the coast of Oahu, HI. US Navy photo # USN 1121666 by PH3 D.R. Hyder, dated 4 February 1967.	Robert M. Cieri and Chris Stanley , from the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray USS Essex
	85k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** off the Vietnam coast near DMZ, during amphibious ops, 1969.	Photo by William P Jones MD, ex Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	1239k	A Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve (HM-12) MH-53 helicopter landing on *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** while moored to the Alava Pier at Naval Base Subic Bay, circa summer 1973	Photo by CDR. Michale Cosgrove USS Conquest
	77k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** outbound from San Diego in 1974. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
	536k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2) refueling from USNS Taluga (T-AO-62)** in the Gulf of Siam during Operation Eagle Pull in March 1975.	Photo by Richard Spring, CMDCM (SW/AW) USN Ret.
	96k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** off Silver Strand at Coronado, CA., 28 April 1976. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
10090241	165k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
	70k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** off San Diego, circa 1980.	Bob Thomaston
	113k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
	51k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** moored pierside at San Francisco, CA. during Fleet Week, October 1982.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	73k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** under way in San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week, October 1982.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	2077k	Port beam view of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** under way, 1 September 1989, during the combined Thai/U.S. joint exercise Thalay Thai '89. DVIC photo # DN-ST-90-05692 (1 September 1989) A US Navy Photo by PH1 Michael D. P. Flynn, now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	55k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** moored in the stream at Hong Kong, 24 November 1989.	William Chiu
10090242	229k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** underway, outbound to sea from San Diego, CA. with Point Loma in the background, date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
10090243	185k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
	1579k	Aerial port side view of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** arriving on station in the North Arabian Sea, 12 January 1991, for Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DN-SC-05-01656 from the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	36k	Aerial starboard side view of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** arriving on station in the North Arabian Sea, 12 January 1991, for Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DN-SC-05-01655 from the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	39k	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** underway at Pearl Harbor, date unknown.	Tommy Trampp
	1550k	Port beam view of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** departing Pearl Harbor through the channel, 1 June 1991. She is enroute to her homeport of Naval Station San Diego following her deployment to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. DVIC photo # DN-SC-92-03402 (1 June 1991) A US Navy Photo by OS2 John Bouvia, now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	2874k	Officers and enlisted men stand beneath the colors at the stern of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2) upon her return to Naval Station San Diego, her homeport, following a deployment to the Persian Gulf region for Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Vancouver** also took part in Operation Sea Angel, which provided aid to cyclone victims in Bangladesh. DVIC photo # DN-ST-91-12026 (30 June 1991) A US Navy Photo by PHC Bix Wallace, now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	1241k	Summer Dress Whites was the uniform-of-the-day as sailors stand in formation on the flight deck of *USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** during the ship's decommissioning ceremony, 27 March 1992, at Naval Station San Diego. DVIC photo # DN-ST-97-00546 a US Navy photo by PHCS Brown now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.	Robert M. Cieri
	1241k	Ex-*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** and St. Louis (LKA-116) laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF, Middle Loch, Pearl Harbor HI., circa 2000.	Photo by Jim Bedient
MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet
	68k	Ex-*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., circa October 2006.	Bob Thomaston
	262k	Ex-*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., date unknown. US Maritime Administration photo.	Ron Reeves
	190k		Ron Reeves
	198k	Ex-*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** in dry dock at Mare Island for cleaning prior to being towed to Brownsville for scrapping, 23 February 2013.	Chris Rasmussen
	232k
	209k
	47k	Ex-*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** resting at Gamboa moorings at the Panama Canal while enroute to Brownsville, TX. for scrapping, 10 April 2013	CAPT. Andrew Efthimiadis
	43k		CAPT. Andrew Efthimiadis

USS Vancouver (LPD-2) Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard pamphlet - 1971 Contributed by Robert M. Cieri	Welcome Aboard pamphlet - 1973 Contributed by Robert M. Cieri	*USS Vancouver* (LPD-2)** pin. Contributed by Robert M. Cieri

For more photos and information about USS Vancouver, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
National Register Eligibility Assessment

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Harbert Jr., Thomas Crockett, USN (USNA 1942)	11 May 1963 - 17 July 1964
02	CAPT. Stock, George C.	17 July 1964 - 15 July 1965
03	CAPT. Aubrey Jr., Norbert Eugene	15 July 1965 - 9 December 1965
04	CAPT. Cruse, Carl Mann	9 December 1965 - 21 December 1967
05	CAPT. LaCava Jr., John	21 December 1967 - 1 June 1969
06	CAPT. Brown, Edward James	1 June 1969 - 12 August 1970
07	CAPT. Gammon, James Montgomery, USN (USNA 1948-A)	12 August 1970 - 6 August 1971
08	CAPT. Hodder Jr., Arthur James, USN (USNA 1948-A)	6 August 1971 - 11 May 1973
09	CAPT. Moore, Charles Julian :RADM	11 May 1973 - 8 November 1974
10	CAPT. Suzan, Frank M.	8 November 1974 - 7 February 1976
11	CAPT. Ramsey, David George :RADM	7 February 1976 - 4 August 1977
12	CAPT. Hayes, James Clero	4 August 1977 - 9 August 1979
13	CAPT. Zaludek, George M. (Zeke)	9 August 1979 - 11 February 1980
14	CAPT. Gamboa, John Frank, USN	11 February 1980 - 10 October 1982
15	CAPT. Pellerin III, Alfred E.	10 October 1982 - 4 May 1984
16	CAPT. Penny, Lawrence Allen, USN	4 May 1984 - 12 June 1986
17	CAPT. Allen Jr., Lloyd Edward :RADM	12 June 1986 - 19 February 1988
18	CAPT. Snodgrass, Donald James	19 February 1988 - 4 May 1988
19	CAPT. Levien, Henry Allen	4 May 1988 - 4 May 1990
20	CAPT. Burck, Clarence William	4 May 1990 - 27 March 1992


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 8 April 2022