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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Don Mc Grogan BMCS USN Ret.

USS Anchorage (LPD-23)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - November - Charlie
 NANC
San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport Dock:
  • Laid down, 24 September 2007, at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Avondale Shipyard, New Orleans, LA.
  • Christened, Anchorage (LPD-23), 14 May 2011 at Huntington Ingalls Industries - Avondale Shipyard in Avondale, La.
  • Commissioned USS Anchorage (LPD-23), 4 May 2013, at Anchorage AK., CDR. Joel Stewart USN in command
    Specifications:
    Displacement 25,000 t.(fl)
    Length 684'
    Beam 105'
    Draft 23 ft.
    Speed 22 kts.
    Complement
    33 Officers
    411 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    66 Officers
    625 Enlisted
    Mission Systems
    Vehicles/Cargo (Net): Three Vehicle Decks (2323 sq m)
    Two Cargo/Ammo Magazines (708 cu m)
    Cargo Fuel, JP-5 (1190 cu m) , MOGAS (38 cu m)
    Two LCACs
    Medical
    Two Operating Rooms
    24 Person Hospital Ward
    100 Casualty Overflow Capacity:
    Aviation Facilities
    Hangar - "O" Level, Maintenance Facilities for; One CH-53E, or Two CH-46s, or One MV-22, or Three UH/AH-1s
    Landing - Two CH-53s, or Four AH/UH-1s, or Four CH-46s, or Two MV-22s, or One AV-8B Harrier:
    Main Propulsion
    four Medium Speed Turbocharged Marine Diesels
    two propellers
    two Single Reversing Reduction Gears
    two Inboard Rotating (top) Fixed Pitch Propellers
    Electric Plant
    5 - 2500 KW Ship Service Marine Diesel Generators
    5 - Main Ship Service 60 Hz SWBS
    3 - Ship Service 400 Hz SWBS
    3 - 60 to 400 Hz solid State Frequency changers
    Zonal 60 Hz Power distribution system
    Advanced Degaussing System
    Auxiliaries
    seven 700 KW Non-CFC Air conditioning Plants
    five 12000 GPD Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants
    ten 1000 GPM Navy Standard Firepumps
    two HP Air Compressors
    three LP Air Compressors
    three Deballast Air Compressors
    Navigation
    Digital Flux Gate Magnetic Compass
    AN/WSN-7(V)1 Inertial Navigation System
    AN/WQN-2 Doppler Sonar Velocity Log System
    AN/UQN-4A Sonar Sounding Set, Dead Reckoning System
    Navigation Telex System
    AN/SSN-6 NAVSSI
    Armament
    one MK 41, 16 Cell VLS, (Space & Weight)
    two MK 31 Mod 0 RAM Launchers
    two MK 46 Mod 1 30mm Machine Guns
    two MK 26 Mod 17 .50 Cal Machine Guns
    Command & Control
    AN/SPQ-12(V) Radar Display Dist. Distribution System
    MK 2 SSDS
    AN/USQ-119C(V)27 JMCIS
    AN/KSQ-1 Amphibious Assault Direction System
    MK 91, 2 Channel MFCS
    AN/USG-2 CEC
    Radar Systems
    AN/SPS-48E
    AN/SPQ-9B
    AN/SPS-73
    EW & Decoy Systems
    AN/SLQ-25A NIXIE
    AN/SLQ-32Q(V)2
    MK 36 SRBOC
    MK 53 / NULKA
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Anchorage 319k Shipbuilders are moving a bow section of the Anchorage (LPD-23) into position for attachment to the hull. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems is building the LPD 17 San Antonio Class, the newest addition to the U.S. Navy's 21st Century amphibious assault force.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Anchorage 1118k Anchorage (LPD-23) on the builders ways at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Avondale Shipyard, New Orleans, LA.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Anchorage 1381k Anchorage (LPD-23) on the builders ways at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Operation, Avondale Shipyard, New Orleans, LA.
    Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Anchorage 1821k
    Anchorage 1012k Anchorage (LPD-23) at Ingalls Shipbuilding. Anchorage will be commissioned in Anchorage, Alaska in the fall of 2012.
    US Navy photo courtesy of Ingalls Shipbuilding.    		 Ron Reeves and Lee Wahler
    Somerset 742k Anchorage (LPD-23) moored pierside, background, as Somerset (LPD-25) is launched, foreground, at Huntington Ingalls Industries Avondale Shipyard. Somerset is the ninth San Antonio-class ship and is named in honor of the county where passengers aboard United Airlines flight 93 crashed the hijacked airliner during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
    US Navy photo #'s 120414-N-ZZ999-002 AVONDALE, La. (April 14, 2012) courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries.    		 Scott Koen
    Anchorage 291k Anchorage (LPD-23) conducting builders trials in the Gulf of Mexico.
    US Navy photo #'s 120515-N-ZZ999-101 GULF OF MEXICO (May 15, 2012) courtesy of after Huntington Ingalls Industries.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 640k Anchorage (LPD-23) arrives in her new homeport of San Diego.
    US Navy photo #'s 121121-N-ZP355-015 SAN DIEGO (Nov. 21, 2012) by MCCS Robert Winkler    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 143k Anchorage (LPD-23) moored pierside at Naval Station San Diego in December 2012. Anchorage, the second ship bearing the name, is scheduled to have her commissioning ceremony in her namesake city of Anchorage, Alaska in May 2013. Moored forward of Anchorage is the Guided Missile Frigate USS Thatch (FFG-43). Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Anchorage
    10092333    		 238k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Anchorage 189k An MV-22 Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-161)161 approaches the flight deck of USS Anchorage (LPD-23). Anchorage is off the coast of Southern California undergoing amphibious warfare certifications.
    US Navy photo # 140319-N-KL846-874 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 20, 2014) by MC2 Christopher Lindahl.     		Ron Reeves
    Anchorage 263k An MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-161) flies over USS Anchorage (LPD-23) during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
    US Navy photo # 140402-N-DT805-036 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (April 2, 2014) by MCC John M. Hageman.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Anchorage 243k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) transits Kaneohe Bay while conducting aircraft deck landing qualifications. Anchorage is performing training with the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division and the Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade off the coast of Kaneohe Bay
    US Navy photo # 140409-N-KL846-076 KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (April 9, 2014) by MC2 Christopher Lindahl.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage
    10092337    		 306k USS Anchorage (LPD-23), the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4), the joint high speed vessel USNS Millinocket (JHSV-3) and the Military Sealift Command mobile landing platform USNS Montford Point (T-MLP-1) transit off the coast of Southern California, on 11 July as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014.
    U.S. Navy photo 140711-N-FE250-324 by CMS Mark C. Schultz    		 Robert Hurst
    Anchorage 156k USS Anchorage (LPD-23)), the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships USS Scout (MCM-8) and USS Champion (MCM-4), and the Canadian Forces Kingston-Class coastal defense vessel HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702) transit in formation off the coast of Southern California, 17 July 2014, as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships, six submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
    US Navy photo # 140717-N-FE250-760 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 17, 2014 by MCC Mark C. Schultz.    		 Robert Hurst
    Anchorage 222k Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU-1) and divers from New Zealand, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Australia and Chile recover their boats into the well deck of USS Anchorage (LPD-23) after conducting night dives off the coast of San Diego during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
    US Navy photo # 140718-N-FN215-983 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 18, 2014) by MC2 Joshua Scott.    		 Ron Reeves
    Anchorage 180k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) Sailors and Navy divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU-1) Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 11-7, participate in the second underway recovery test for the NASA Orion Program. This is the second at-sea testing for the Orion crew module using a well deck recovery method.
    US Navy photo # 140803-N-FO359-213 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 3, 2014) by MC1 Corey Green.    		 Ron Reeves
    Anchorage 224k Navy divers assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU-1) Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 11-7, attach a towing bridle to the NASA Orion crew module. USS Anchorage (LPD-23), in background, is conducting the first exploration flight test (EFT) for the NASA Orion Program. EFT-1 is the fifth at-sea testing of the Orion crew module using a Navy well deck recovery method.
    US Navy photo # 141205-N-OM642-400 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2014 by MC1 Gary Keen.    		 Ron Reeves
    Anchorage 217k NASA Orion crew module in the well deck of USS Anchorage (LPD-23), 10 December 2014.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Anchorage 221k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) transits San Diego harbor in preparation for her maiden deployment.
    US Navy photo # 150123-N-DM308-037 SAN DIEGO (Jan. 23, 2015) by MC3 Paul Archer.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 161k The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) participates in a simulated straits transit. The Essex ARG consists of USS Essex (LHD-2), USS Anchorage (LPD-23), and the Whidbey Island-class amphibious landing dock ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47). The Essex ARG is underway conducting an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit integration training exercise with Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) in preparation for an upcoming deployment.
    US Navy photo # 150228-N-YK910-007 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 28, 2015) ) by MC2 Christopher B. Janik.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 830k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) conducts a strait transit with the Wasp-class amphibious assault ships USS Essex (LHD-2) and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47). Anchorage is under way participating in a composite training unit exercise with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
    US Navy photo # 150323-N-MD297-215 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 23, 2015) by MC3 Huey D. Younger Jr.    		 Lee Wahler
    Essex 910k The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) and USS Anchorage (LPD-23) steam off the coast of Hawaii. Essex is the flagship of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), is currently operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.
    US Navy photo # 151206-N-BD107-285 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 6, 2015) by MC2 Liam Kennedy.    		 Ron Reeves
    Anchorage 226k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) enters the Port of Los Angeles during the second annual Los Angeles Fleet Week (LAFW). LAFW is an opportunity for the public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience America's sea services. During fleet week, service members will participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community and enjoy the hospitality that Los Angeles and surrounding areas have to offer
    US Navy photo # 170829-N-GZ228-097 LOS ANGELES (Aug. 29, 2017) by MC2 Jesse Monford.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 236k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) departs Naval Base San Diego to conduct an Underway Recovery Test (URT) in conjunction with NASA off the coast of Southern California. URT-6 is part of a U.S. Government interagency effort to safely practice and evaluate recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in an open ocean environment that will be used to recover the Orion spacecraft upon its return to Earth.
    US Navy photo # 180117-N-GZ228-026SAN DIEGO (Jan. 17, 2018) by MC2 Jesse Monford.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 173k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) recover a mock-up capsule designed to roughly simulate the size, shape, mass and center of gravity of the Orion crew module that will splash down in the Pacific Ocean following Exploration Mission-1 planned for Dec. 2019. Anchorage is underway to support NASA's Underway Recovery Test 6 (URT-6).
    US Navy photo # 180121-N-PJ969-0802 PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2018) by MC1 Abe McNatt.    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 250k A landing craft, air cushion LCAC-82 attached to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 transits behind USS Anchorage (LPD-23) during a cooperative deployment with the Indian navy. Anchorage is deployed as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG/ 13th MEU is a capable and lethal Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the 7th fleet area of operations to support regional stability, reassure partners and allies and maintain a presence postured to respond to any crisis ranging from humanitarian assistance to contingency operations.
    US Navy Photo # 181226-N-PH222-1982 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 26, 2018) by MC3 Ryan M. Breeden    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage 271k Marines assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Sailors aboard USS Anchorage (LPD-23) approach an Indian Navy UH-3H helicopter to remove chains while Anchorage and embarked 13th MEU participate in a cooperative deployment with the Indian navy destroyer INS Rajput (D 51) to test their ability to communicate and improve on maritime capabilities between partners. Anchorage is deployed as part of the Essex ARG Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
    US Marine Corps Photo # 181226-M-YR007-1001 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 26, 2018) by Sgt. Austin Mealy/    		 Lee Wahler
    Anchorage
    10092334    		 52k USS Anchorage (LPD-23) Arming/Disarming at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, 20 September 2022. Photo by John Spivey
    USS Anchorage (LPD-23)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Stewart, Joel G., USN4 May 2013 - 15 August 2014
    02CAPT. McKenna, Michael Dennis, USN15 August 2014 - 3 September 2015
    03CAPT. Cummings, John Joseph (Yank), USN3 September 2015 - 16 December 2016
    04CAPT. Craig, Jeffrey Andrew, USN (USNA 1992)16 December 2016 - 16 May 2017
    05CAPT. Workman, Tom, USN (USNA 1990) (temporary)16 May 2017 - 10 July 2017
    06CAPT. Jacko, Dennis, USN (USMMA 1994)10 July 2017 - 15 August 2019
    07CAPT. Ilteris, Stephen J., USN (MMA 1996)15 August 2019 - 14 May 2021
    08CAPT. Riebe, Peter Justin, USN (USNA 1998)14 May 2021 - August 2022
    09CAPT. Keeler, Daniel Jacob, USN (USNA 1998)August 2022 - 6 December 2023
    10CAPT. Wenker, Joshua Frederick, USN (USNA 1999)
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Anchorage (LPD-23) Historical Chronology
    Federation of American Scientists, Military Analysis Network, US Navy Ships
    Images of USS Anchorage Commissioning Ceremony and more
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    Last Updated 19 January 2024