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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

LSD-37 Portland

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Bravo - Golf
Voice Tactical Radio Call Sign "Glitter X-ray" during the period 70-72

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5)
Third Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Lebanon) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Lebanon, 2-Persian Gulf, 1-Somalia)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Armed Forces Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Beirut Lebanon Evacuation, 1-Jamaica Relief)
Fifth Row - Coast Guard SOS Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Anchorage Class Dock Landing Ship:

Laid down, 21 September 1967, at General Dynamics Corp. Quincy, MA.

Launched, 5 May 1968;

Commissioned USS Portland (LSD-37), 3 October 1970, Captain Martin M. Zenni in command

Decommissioned, 4 August 2003, at NAB Little Creek, VA.

Laid up at NISMF, Portsmouth, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 March 2004

Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 25 April 2004, at location: 034° 55' 48.9" North, 070° 14' 56.3" West at a Depth of 2621 fathoms, Tonnage, 8600

Specifications:
Displacement 8,325 t.(lt), 14,095 t.(fl)
Length 553'
Beam 84'
Draft 19'
Speed 20+kts.
Complement 24 Officers, 300 Enlisted
Troop Capacity 320
Boats (Well Deck Capacity) 3 LCACs or 2 LCUs
Armament

four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts (removed 1980)

two Phalanx CIWS

two 25mm Bushmaster chain guns
Propulsion two 600psi boilers, two De Laval Steam Turbines; two shafts, 24,000 SHP

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
107k	Portland (LSD-37) launching, 5 May 1968, at General Dynamics Corp. Quincy, MA.. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
81k	Pre-commissioning photo of Portland (LSD-37) underway during builders trials, circa September 1970, off the coast of Massachusetts. General Dynamics photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
91k	Pre-commissioning photoPortland (LSD-37) underway during builders trials, circa September 1970, off the coast of Massachusetts. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1971.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
109k	Portland (LSD-37) underway during "operation Hiline" in which *Portland* supported two PG's across the Atlantic Ocean for their deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1971.	CAPT. Ray Harvey USN
105k	Portland (LSD-37) moored at Portland, Maine, date unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, September 1979.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
62k	Portland (LSD-37) pier side Little Creek Amphibious Base, summer 1992	Photo by Adam Robison
83k	Portland (LSD-37) date and place unknown.	© Richard Leonhardt
57k	Portland (LSD-37) date and place unknown. US Navy photo.	.
78k	Portland (LSD-37) underway, date and place unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1988.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
86k	Portland (LSD-37) departing *Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA.,* for deployment to the Middle East to take part in Operation Desert Shield, 15 August 1990. The large harbor tug Campti (YTB 816) is alongside to provide assistance as needed. DVIC photo # DNST9107738 by PH2 Edward E. Crawford USN.	Defense Visual Information Center
89k	Portland (LSD-37) being assisted by Campti (YTB 816) departs her homeport at *Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA.,* for the Persian Gulf in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, 17 August 1990. DVIC photo # DNST9011285 by PH2 Edward E. Crawford USN.	Defense Visual Information Center
71k	Portland (LSD-37) is assisted into her berth at *Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA., 20 April 1991, by the large harbor tug Santaquin* (YTB-824). *Portland* was returning to her homeport following a deployment to the Persian Gulf region for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DNST9110400 by PH2 Carl USN.	Defense Visual Information Center
60k	Portland (LSD-37) is being moved into her berth at *Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA., 20 April 1991, by the large harbor tug Santaquin* (YTB-824). *Portland* was returning to her homeport following a deployment to the Persian Gulf region for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DNST9110402 by PH2 Carl USN.	Defense Visual Information Center
80k	Line handlers stand by as the large harbor tug Santaquin (YTB-824) moves Portland (LSD-37) toward the pier, 20 April 1991. *Portland* was returning to *Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA., following a deployment to the Persian Gulf region for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. DVIC photo # DNST9110405* PH2 Carl USN.	Defense Visual Information Center
216k	Portland (LSD-37) gets underway in the Chesapeake Bay for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean. Note the Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) hovercraft flying by *Portland's port quarter. US Navy photo # 001128-N-2383B-506* by PH1 Johnny Bivera.	Bill Gonyo
58k	Portland (LSD-37) at Barcelona, Spain, 20 January 2001	Fabio Peña
77k	Portland (LSD-37) at Barcelona, Spain, 20 January 2001	Fabio Peña
61k	Portland (LSD-37) steams through the Atlantic Ocean as one of seven ships attached to Amphibious Task Force-East (ATF-E). All seven ships were deployed early in their schedules to support the ongoing efforts of Operation Enduring Freedom, 26 January 2003. US Navy photo [030126-N-5027S-006] by PH3 Robert M. Schalk.	Fabio Peña
56k	Portland (LSD-37) departing NAB Little Creek, VA. January 12, 2003. US Navy photo [1-030112-N-3537A-007] from the Navy Newsstand web site	Bernard A. Cardali
47k	Portland (LSD-37) moored pierside at NAB Little Creek, VA. while getting ready for decommissioning, circa July 2003.	CAPT. Ray Harvey USN