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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

APM-4 / LSD-4 / MCS-7 Epping Forest

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Yankee - Golf
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8) - World War II Victory Medal
Second Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (5) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (6-Vietnam)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Originally authorized as (APM-4), a Mechanized Artillery Transport
  • Reclassified as Dock Landing Ship (LSD-4), 1 July 1941
  • Laid down 23 November 1942, at Moore Drydock Co. Oakland CA;
  • Launched, 2 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Epping Forest (LSD-4), 11 October 1943, LCDR. L. Martin, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Epping Forest was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January 1944     		Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 26 July 1944
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Emirau Island landings, 20 March 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 October 1944
    Hollandia operation
    Aitape landing, 22 April 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 10 January 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, Peleliu, 15 September 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 30 June 1945

  • Decommissioned, 25 March 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Placed in Reserve at Long Beach CA.
  • Recommissioned, 1 December 1950
  • During the Korean War Epping Forest participated in the following campaigns;
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    18 July to 25 September 1951
    9 November 1951     		Third Korean Winter
    1 to 6 and 12 to 19 December 1952
    21 February to 1 March 1953
    8 to 15 March 1953
    Second Korean Winter
    5 to 6 and 17 to 19 December 1951     		Korea, Summer-Fall 1953
    28 May to 7 June 1953
    12 June to 14 July 1953
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    29 October to 17 November 1952
    27 to 30 November 1952     		.

  • Redesignated Mine Countermeasures Support Ship (MCS-7) 30 November 1962
  • During the Vietnam War Epping Forest participated in the following campaigns;
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    4 to 19 July 1965
    25 September to 22 October 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    4 to 11 June 1967
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    2 to 14 March 1966
    9 to 10 and 23 to 25-May 1966
    7 to 9 June 1966     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase IV
    24 April to 24 May 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    12 September to 6 October 1966
    21 March to 14 April 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    4 to 20 August 1968

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1968
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 30 October 1969
  • Epping Forrest earned eight battle stars for World War II service, five battle stars for Korean War service and six campaign stars for Vietnam War 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
    Epping Forest 30k Epping Forest (LSD-4), date and place unknown. USS Gunston Hall web site
    Epping Forest 56k Epping Forest (LSD-4), leaving San Diego, 1956. Note Coronado Ferry entering photo at far left. Dale C Haskin
    Epping Forest 65k Epping Forest (MCS-7), circa 1962, western Pacific.
    US Navy photo.    		 Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships
    View the Epping Forest (LSD-4)/(MSC-7)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    View the "Epping Forest History Supporting Mine Sweeping Boats" by Ed Sinclair
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    The LSDs of the US Navy
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Mine Warfare Ship Type Index Back To The Mechanized Artillery Transport (APM) Photo Index Back To The Dock Landing Ship (LSD) Photo Index Back To The Mine Countermeasures Support Ship (MCS) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 9 November 2007