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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Ponce (LPD-15)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Sierra - Bravo - Juliet
NSBJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Service Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Third Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Armed Forces Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal
Trenton Class Amphibious Transport Dock:
  • Laid down, 31 October 1966, at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction, Seattle WA.
  • Launched, 20 May 1970
  • Commissioned USS Ponce (LPD-15, 10 July 1971, CAPT George W. Farris USN in command
  • Ponce is assigned to Amphibious Squadron Six, Amphibious Group Two, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic and is homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,894 t.(lt), 16,590 t.(fl)
    Length 570'
    Beam 100'
    Draft 23 ft.
    Speed 21 kts.
    Complement 28 Officers, 480 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 72 Officers, 851 Enlisted
    Flag Staff Accommodations 90
    Assault Craft (well deck capacity) one LCU or one LCAC, or two LCM-8 or four LCM-6
    Boats two LCPL, one motor whaleboat
    Armament
    (As Built)
    four twin 3"/50 gun mounts
    (Modernized)
    two 25mm MK38 chain guns
    two Phalanx CIWS
    eight 50 cal. machine guns
    Aircraft two CH-46/CH-53 or four UH-1/AH-1, or two AV-8B Harriers
    Propulsion two Foster-Wheeler boilers, two DeLaval steam turbines, two propellers, 24,000 shaft horsepower
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ponce 174k USS Ponce (LPD-15) exiting Chesapeake Bay. Note Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and Fort Monroe to starboard, circa. 1974. This photo shows Ponce in her original configuration with four gun mounts all twin 3"/50. The forward two mounts (Mounts 31 & 32) are enclosed. Jim Williams, crew member 1973-75
    Ponce 137k USS Ponce (LPD-15) off San Juan Puerto Rico, circa 1973. As built configuration with four 3"/50 twin gun mounts. Jim Williams, crew member 1973-75
    Ponce 111k USS Ponce (LPD-15) at Moorehead City, N.C., February 1977 © Richard Leonhardt
    Ponce 50k USS Ponce (LPD-15) underway, date and location unknown
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Ponce 32k USS Ponce (LPD-15) heading up the Elizabeth River for a four month maintenance availability at Metro Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA. with at least three tugs assisting; the one in the foreground is Nancy McAllister, 24 January 1989 Photo by H. Carl Nancken
    Ponce 59k USS Ponce (LPD-15) at Barcelona, Spain, 12 April 1990. In this photo Ponce's armament has been updated to include two Phalanx close-in-weapons-systems (CIWS). The Phalanx systems replaced the forward port and the after starboard 3"/50 gun mounts; the starboard CIWS mount has been relocated forward, nearer the bridge. Photo by Fabio Peņa
    Ponce 52k USS Ponce (LPD-15) at Barcelona, Spain, 12 April 1990. This photo again shows the updated armament configuration as noted above. Photo by Fabio Peņa
    Ponce 877k USS Ponce (LPD-15) underway, date and location unknown. Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
    Ponce 65k USS Ponce (LPD-15) in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta, July 2001. Robert Hurst
    Saipan 111k USS Saipan (LHA 2) left, and USS Ponce (LPD15) flank the underway replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO-201) during a simultaneous underway replenishment (UNREP), 21 September 2002.
    US Navy photo # 020921-N-6920A-001 by PHAN Latrice N. Ames    		 Bill Gonyo
    Spica 74k USS Ponce (LSD-15), USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) and USS Saipan (LHA-2) prepare to conduct a simultaneous Refueling at Sea (RAS), 31 January 2003. Ponce is part of Amphibious Task Force East (AFT-E), underway on an unscheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
    US Navy photo # 030131-N-2972R-056 by PH3 Angel Roman-Otero.    		 Bernard A. Cardali USS LST-308
    Ashland 2760k USS Ponce (LPD-15) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) receive stores during a connected replenishment with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) combat stores ship USNS Spica (T-AFS-9). Ponce, Ashland and Spica are deployed with the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group and are currently conducting Maritime Security Operations in the Persian Gulf.
    US Navy photo # 050505-N-2382W-010 Persian Gulf (May 5, 2005) by PHAN Finley Williams    		 Navy Newsstand
    Ponce 579k USS Ponce (LPD-15) pulls alongside Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) to begin an underway replenishment, 20 June 2007. Ponce is underway in preparation for an upcoming deployment.
    US Navy photo # 070620-N-4014G-037 ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 20, 2007) by MC3 Patrick Gearhiser.    		 Douglas Brown
    Ponce 4303k An MH-60S Seahawk, from Helicopter Combat Sea Squadron (HSC-22) "Sea Knights", approaches the flight deck of USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) during a troop transport with USS Ponce (LPD-15). Kearsarge is deployed in support of maritime security operations (MSO).
    US Navy photo # 071101-N-7955L-007 INDIAN OCEAN (Nov. 1, 2007) by MCSN Christopher Lange.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Ponce 1922k USS Ponce (LPD-15) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., 27 April 2008 Photo by Larry Backus
    Ponce 1308k USS Ponce (LPD-15) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., 27 April 2008 Photo by Larry Backus
    Ponce 432k USS Ponce (LPD-15) pulls away from the pier at Naval Station Norfolk, 14 September 2008. Ponce will be demonstrating operational readiness off the Virginia coast and available to provide disaster response if called upon.
    US Navy photo # 080914-N-1713L-047 NORFOLK, Va. (Sept. 14, 2008) by MC1 Lolita Lewis.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Ponce 1870k USS Ponce (LPD-15) departs from Naval Station Norfolk as part of the Bataan Ready Group on a regularly scheduled deployment to the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operation. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is comprised of the USS Bataan (LHD-5, Ponce and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43).
    US Navy photo # 090513-N-9985W-095 NORFOLK (May 13, 2009) by MC3 Tyler J. Wilson.    		 Lee Wahler
    Kanawha 1063k The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) conducts a replenishment at sea with USS Ponce (LPD-15) and the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
    US Navy photo # 091008-N-9740S-014 U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Oct. 8, 2009) by MCC Tony Sisti.    		 Lee Wahler
    View the USS Ponce (LPD-15)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Ship History/Command Operations Reports located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Ponce (LPD-15)
    Navy Fact File - Amphibious Transport Dock - LPD
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    Last Updated 18 December 2009