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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Tortuga (LSD-46)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Sierra - Alpha NTSA

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" (2)
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Somalia) - Armed Forces Service Medal

Whidbey Island Class Dock Landing Ship:

Laid down, 23 March 1987 at Avondale Shipbuilding, New Orleans, LA.

Launched, 15 September 1988

Commissioned USS Tortuga (LSD-46), 17 November 1990

Tortuga is forward deployed at Fleet Activities, Sasebo, Japan and homeported at NAB Little Creek, VA.

Specifications:
Displacement 11,471 t.(lt), 16,360 t.(fl)
Length 609' 7"
Beam 84'
Draft 19' 2"
Speed 20+kts,
Complement 24 Officers, 327 Enlisted
Troop Capacity 25 Officers, 475 Enlisted
Aircraft helicopters (Flight Deck, 2 spots)
Boats (Well Deck Capacity) up to five LCAC's
Armament two (mk15 mod1) Phalanx (CIWS) 20 mm Vulcan cannon gun mounts, two (mk16) 25 mm Bushmaster chain gun mounts, six .50 cal machine guns
Propulsion four Colt Industries PC2.5V 16 cylinder diesels, 2 shafts, combined 33,000SHP

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	26k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	.
	49k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM, USN Ret
	123k	A US Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter takes off from the deck of *USS Tortuga* (LSD-46) while she is moored pierside in New Orleans, 5 September 2005.. Tortuga** has been transporting Hurricane Katrina victims to the ship where they are given hot meals, showers and beds to sleep in. The Navy's involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations is being led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Department of Defense. US Navy photo # 050905-N-6436W-140 by PH2 Michael B. Watkins.	Chet Morris
	63k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** moored at Naval Support Activity New Orleans in support of Hurricane Katrina humanitarian assistance operations. The Navy's involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations is being led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Department of Defense. US Navy photo # 050910-N-5526M-004 by PH1 Robert McRill.	Jack Treutle and Chet Morris
	716k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** is assisted by Manistee (YTB-782) and other harbor tugs as she arrives at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 1 September 2007. *Tortuga* participated in a simulated evacuation of stranded citizens from Tokyo's Kasai Kaihin Park to the ship via landing craft air cushion LCACs as part of a Tokyo Metropolitan Government disaster relief drill. This is the second year that the U.S. Navy has participated in this type of drill. US Navy photo # 070901-N-9520G-003 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 1, 2007) by MC2 Nardelito Gervacio.	Chet Morris
	2256k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46) gets underway from Fleet Activities Sasebo departing on fall patrol. Tortuga** is a dock landing ship with Task Force 76, the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed amphibious force, headquartered at White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo. US Navy photo # 070924-N-4124C-025 SASEBO, Japan (Sept. 24, 2007) by MC2 Adam R. Cole.	Lee Wahler
	259k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** moored pierside at Puerto Princesa, Republic of the Philippines, 25 May 2008, at the opening of cooperation afloat readiness and training (CARAT) 2008. The Republic of the Philippines and the United States are working together on a variety of military exercises and medical and civil assistance projects as part of CARAT 08. US Navy photo # 080525-N-2296G-004 PUERTO PRINCESA, Republic of the Philippines (May 25, 2008) by MC1 Dave Gordon.	Robert M. Cieri
	1006k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46) with the guided-missile frigate USS Jarrett (FFG-33), the guided-missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) and the US Coast Guard cutter USCG Morgenthau (WHEC-722)** are moored at the commercial pier in Puerto Princesa, Republic of the Philippines, 2 June 2008, at the conclusion of the Philippine portion of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008 exercise. US Navy photo # 80602-N-4431B-426 PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (June 2, 2008) by CDR. Daryl Borgquist.	Robert M. Cieri
	274k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46) with the guided-missile frigate USS Jarrett (FFG-33), the guided-missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) and the US Coast Guard cutter USCG Morgenthau (WHEC-722)** are moored at the commercial pier in Puerto Princesa, Republic of the Philippines, 2 June 2008, at the conclusion of the Philippine portion of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008 exercise. US Navy photo # 80602-N-4431B-421 PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (June 2, 2008) by CDR. Daryl Borgquist.	Robert M. Cieri
	767k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** arrives in Thailand, 8 June 2008, from a recent Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in the Philippines. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asian nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. US Navy photo # 080608-N-3581D-002 SATTAHIP, Thailand (June 8, 2008) by MC1 Maurice Dayao.	Robert M. Cieri
	379k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46) approaches the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204), already alongside USS Essex (LHD-2)** for a refueling-at-sea, preparing for Cobra Gold 2009. Cobra Gold is an annual Kingdom of Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored military exercise designed to train U.S. and partner Asian-pacific forces. The exercise will include humanitarian projects with participants from Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. US Navy photo # 090206-N-5253W-020 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 6, 2009) by MC2 Gabriel S. Weber.	Robert M. Cieri
	289k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46), left, and USS Essex (LHD-2), right, steam alongside the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204), with the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG-63) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)** close behind, during an refueling at sea, preparing for Cobra Gold 2009. Cobra Gold is an annual Kingdom of Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored military exercise designed to train U.S. and partner Asian-pacific forces. The exercise will include humanitarian projects with participants from Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. US Navy photo # 090206-N-5253W-085 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 6, 2009) by MC2 Gabriel S. Weber.	Robert M. Cieri and Lee Wahler
090206-N-5253W-127	282k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46), left, and the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), right, receive fuel from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204)** during a refueling at sea preparing for Cobra Gold 2009. Cobra Gold is an annual Kingdom of Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored military exercise designed to train U.S. and partner Asian-pacific forces. The exercise will include humanitarian projects with participants from Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. US Navy photos; # 090206-N-5253W-127 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 6, 2009) and # 090206-N-5253W-176 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 6, 2009) by MC2 Gabriel S. Weber.	Robert M. Cieri
090206-N-5253W-176	415k		Robert M. Cieri
	787k	*USS Tortuga* (LSD-46)** steams through the Gulf of Thailand during exercise Cobra Gold 2009. Cobra Gold is an annual Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored joint coalition multinational military exercise designed to train a Thai, U.S. and Singaporean Coalition Task Force. US Navy photo # 090211-N-1251W-052 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 11, 2009) by MC2 Matthew R. White.	Lee Wahler