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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

LSD-46 Tortuga

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Sierra - Alpha
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 Acetifies, Sasebo, Japan and is 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
    Tortuga 26k Tortuga (LSD-46) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Tortuga 49k Tortuga (LSD-46) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM, USN Ret
    Tortuga 123k A U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter takes off from the deck of 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
    Tortuga 63k 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
    Manistee 716k 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. Torrtuga 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 Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio. Photo from the Navy Newsstand.    		 Chet Morris
    Tortuga 2256k 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 Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam R. Cole. Photo from Navy Newsstand    		 Lee Wahler
    There is no DANFS history available for Tortuga (LSD-46) at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Tortuga (LSD-46)
    Navy Fact File - Dock Landing Ship - LSD
    The LSDs of the US Navy
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Dock Landing Ship (LSD) 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 28 September 2007