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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Carter Hall (LSD-3)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Alpha - Charlie
 NXAC
Voice Call Sign "Richard William"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (13 December 1966) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 4-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (14) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Originally authorized as (APM-3), a Mechanized Artillery Transport
  • Reclassified as Landing Ship Dock (LSD-3), 1 July1941
  • Laid down (date unknown), at Moore Dry Dock Co. Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 4 March 1943
  • Commissioned USS Carter Hall (LSD-3), 18 September 1943, LCDR. F. J. Harris, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Eastern New Guinea operation
    Finschhafen - Milne Bay, 25 November 1943 to 17 February 1944     		Western New Guinea operation
    Morotai landings, 11 September to 1 October 1944
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Arawe, New Britain, 15 December 1943 to 1 March 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, Red Beach Tacloban, San Pedro Bay, 20 to 24 October 1944
    Hollandia operation
    Aitape, Humboldt Bay, Tanahmerah Bay, 21 April to 2 May 1944     		Borneo operation
    Brunei Bay, 10 to 16 June 1945
    Balikpapan operation, 1 to 4 July 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 27 July 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 12 February 1947
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 26 January 1951
  • During the Vietnam War USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    4 to 11 and 20 to 25-July 1965
    13 to 17-August 1965
    25 August to 30-November 1965
    7 to 9 and 17 to 23 December 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 to 14 June 1967
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    26 to 29 January 1966     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    4 to 13 and 26 to 30 July 1968 3 to 7 and 19 to 31 August 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    2 to 14 December 1966
    19 to 25 March 1967
    4 to 8 and 13 to 17 April 1967
    1 to 5 and 28 to 31 May 1967     		.

  • Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 31 October 1969
  • Final Disposition, sold to N. W. Kennedy, Vancouver, B.C., 28 August 1970, for scrapping
  • USS Carter Hall received seven battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft 8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft); 15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 knots maximum (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Crew Complement 17 officers, 237 men; Landing Craft: 6 officers, 30 men
    Troop Complement 22 officers, 218 men
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
    3 LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
    2 LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
    14 LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
    47 DUKW or
    41 LVT or
    Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
    Armament
    1 - 5"/.38 caliber Dual Purpose single barrel mount in open tub (w/director)
    2 - 40MM quad barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
    2 - 40MM twin barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
    16- 20MM single barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (local control)
    Aircraft (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.
    Propulsion
    2 - Babcock and Wilcox Boilers, D Type, 2 Drum, Single Furnace, Single Uptake,
    Oil Fired
    2 - Skinner Uni-Flow reciprocating engines
    Twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Carter Hall 146k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway while part of the attack force for the Invasion of Guam in June or July 1944, as seen from USS Ringgold (DD-500). Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    Carter Hall 37k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) at anchor, circa 1946. S C Heal Esq.
    Oak Hill 81k USS Oak Hill (LSD-7), USS San Marcos (LSD-25), and USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) all recommissioned, 26 January 1951, at the Destroyer Repair Base (Naval Station) San Diego, CA. Photo by Bob Allport, RD2 USNUSS Carter Hall, 26 January 1951
    Oak Hill 67k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) recommissioning ceremony, 26 January 1951, Destroyer Repair Base (Naval Station) San Diego, CA. Thomas E. Gibson MMR2 USS Carter Hall
    Oak Hill 104k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) recommissioning ceremony, 26 January 1951, Destroyer Repair Base (Naval Station) San Diego, CA. Thomas E. Gibson MMR2 USS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 81k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway off San Diego, CA. during her first sea trials after recommissioning, circa late-January 1951. Note: At this time Carter Hall had not been completely fitted. Bob Allport, RD2 USNUSS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 78k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) moored at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, early June 1951, enroute Norfolk, VA. with cargo of over 40 LVT-As, from Oakland, CA. Bob Allport, RD2 USNUSS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 17k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway off San Diego, CA. during her shakedown cruise after recommissioning, circa late-January 1951. Leonard Nash CS3, V-6 USNR, USS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 20k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway off San Diego, CA. during her shakedown cruise after recommissioning, circa late-January 1951. Leonard Nash CS3, V-6 USNR, USS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 19k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway off San Diego, CA. during her shakedown cruise after recommissioning, circa late-January 1951. Leonard Nash CS3, V-6 USNR, USS Carter Hall
    LSM-175 70k USS LSM-175 about to enter the well of USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) in San Diego Bay, Spring-1951. Bob Allport RD2 USS Carter Hall 1950-54
    LSM-160 63k USS LSM-161 approaching the well of USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) in San Diego Bay, Spring-1951. Bob Allport RD2 USS Carter Hall 1950-54
    LSM-160 63k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) with USS LSM-161 partially in the well at San Diego, Spring-1951. Bob Allport RD2 USS Carter Hall 1950-54
    LCT-1462 76k LCT-1462 embarked in the well of USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) with US Marine Corps medium tanks, San Diego Bay, Spring-1951. Note: Carter Hall's stern gate is up. Bob Allport RD2 USS Carter Hall 1950-54
    Carter Hall 56k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) moored to the sea wall at Marseille, France 21 February 1953. Note: Super deck was loaded with Marines gear, and there were three LCT's in the well . Photo by Bob Allport, RD2 USN USS Carter Hall
    Carter Hall 118k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Buell in honor of his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN (Ret), Main Propulsion Assistant USS Oak Hill
    Carter Hall 86k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Buell in honor of his father CWO4 Benton E. Buell, USN (Ret), Main Propulsion Assistant USS Oak Hill
    Carter Hall 52k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3)at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, circa 1967. Capt. Don Bodron, USCG Ret.
    Carter Hall 44k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) at Pearl Harbor, January 1969. © Richard Leonhardt
    Carter Hall 51k USS Carter Hall (LSD-3) at anchor, date and place unknown. Bob Allport, RD2 USN USS Carter Hall 1950-54
    View the USS Carter Hall (LSD-3)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The LSDs of the US Navy
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 January 2009