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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Inchon (MCS-12)
ex
 USS Inchon (LPH-12) (1970 - 1995)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - Uniform - Delta
NOUD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (3)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) - Vietnam Service Medal (1)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Service Medal - Sea Service Overseas Ribbon (3) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Iwo Jima Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) / Inchon Class Mine Countermeasures Command and Support Ship:
  • Laid down, 8 April 1968, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 24 May 1969
  • Commissioned USS Inchon (LPH-12), 20 June 1970, CAPT. Arthur H. Cummings Jr. in command
  • During the Vietnam War USS Inchon participated in the following campaign:

    Vietnam War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    18 to 19 November 1972
    20 December 1972 to 8 January 1973
    21 to 27 January 1973
    27 February to 28 March 1973

  • USS Inchon was designated Mine Countermeasures Command and Support Ship (MCS-12), 6 March 1995
  • Converted at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. between March 1995 and 28 May 1996
  • Assigned to the Active Naval Reserve Force, 30 September 1996
  • Decommissioned, 20 June 2002, at Naval Station, Ingleside, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS Inchon earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sunk, 5 December 2004 at 36:42.30N° 71:40.00W°, in 2150 fathoms of water, 207 NM East of Virginia Beach, VA.
    LPH Specifications:
    Displacement 11,000 t.(lt), 18,474 t.(fl)
    Length 592'
    Beam 84'
    Flight Deck Beam 105'
    Draft 27'
    Speed 22 kts.
    Complement 667
    Troop Accommodations 2,157
    Aircraft 25 helicopters
    Armament
    (as built) 4 3"/50 AA guns, eight .50 cal Machine Guns
    (modifications) two 3"/50s removed and replaced with 8 cell Sea Sparrow BPDMS launchers, and two Phalanx CIWS
    Propulsion two 600 psi boilers, one geared steam turbine, one shaft, 22,000 shaft horsepower
    MCS Modifications:
    Facilities added for Mine Countermeasures Group Commander;
    Aircraft configuration changed to accommodate 11 Mine Sweeper and Utility Helicopters
    Troop spaces converted to standard berthing spaces to accommodate complement of 46 Officers and 634 Enlisted and additional 652 Officers/Enlisted attached to assigned detachments
    Armament reconfigured by removing Sea Sparrow missile launchers and remaining 3"/50 guns and adding four 25mm Bushmaster cannons
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Inchon (LPH-12)
    Inchon
    1018156201    		 73k
    Namesake
    Inchon - Inchon Korean War, 1950. The United States Eighth Army and the South Korean forces, all under Gen. Walton Walker, finally checked the Communist conquest of the Korean peninsula at the Pusan Perimeter, in the southeast, in August 1950. Meanwhile, the United Nations supreme commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, prepared to strike at the right rear of the invading North Korean army. On September 15 the newly organized X Corps (1st Marine and 7th Infantry divisions) under Gen. Edward Almond made an amphibious landing at Inchon, near the port of the South Korean capital of Seoul on the west coast. Preceded by two days of naval bombardment, the 1st Alanne Division of Gen. Oliver Smith seized the tiny offshore island of Moontip (Wolmi-do) in the morning and then stormed the beaches later that day. Forcing their way inland against surprisingly weak North Korean resistance, the marines captured Kimpo Airfield to the north on September 17, the same day the 7th Infantry began coming ashore. Seoul came under attack as the American X Corps deepened and widened its beachhead. At the same time (September) the Eighth Army, now 40,000 strong, broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and headed northwest toward Seoul. The thinly stretched North Korean lines began to crumble. On September 26 the two American forces linked up near Osan, cutting off elements 42 of eight Communist divisions in the southwest. On the same day the battered city of Seoul was liberated, except for isolated pockets of street fighting. Moving rapidly northward, American and South Korean forces reached the vicinity of the 38th parallel on October t. The first ROK (Republic of Korea) unit crossed the troublesome boundary that day. Walker's troops, under the authorization of the United Nations, did so eight days later. See Pusan Perimeter; North Korea; Korean War.
    Photo - Troops of the 31st Inf. Regt. land at Inchon Harbor, Korea, aboard LST's. September 18, 1950. Hunkins. US Army Signal Corps photo # 111-SC-363215 NARA War and Conflict Book # 1383
    Map -The landing at Inchon - US Marine Operations in Korea, Vol II2 (Wikipedia)     		Tommy Trampp
    Inchon
    1018156202    		 77k
    Inchon
    10111284    		 37k Inchon (LPH-12) just prior to her launching date of 8 April 1968, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. Dale Hargrave
    Inchon
    10111285    		 79k Inchon (LPH-12)'s sponsor, Mrs. Charlotte Brooks, wife of Congressman Jack Brooks of Texas, breaks the traditional bottle of Champagne across the bow of the ship during the launching Christening ceremony. 8 April 1968, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. Dale Hargrave
    Inchon
    10111286    		 52k Inchon (LPH-12) sliding down the builders ways at her launching ceremony, 8 April 1968, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. Dale Hargrave
    Inchon 227k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway early in her career off San Diego, CA. and prior to the Sparrow missile launchers being installed (pre-Vietnam). Larry B. Lynn
    Inchon
    10111287    		 229k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway early in her career off San Diego, CA. and prior to the Sparrow missile launchers being installed (pre-Vietnam).
    © Nobe Smith    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Inchon 376k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way, 11 May 1970, location unknown. At this time she did not yet have any carrier-controlled landing radars. She had not yet been fitted with defensive missiles, but she did have the lattice support for the ULQ-6 defensive jammer.
    Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation photo from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History" by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Inchon 64k Overhead view of USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway during Exercise Exotic Dancer in Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Time Life Pictures./Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images, May 01, 1971. Robert Hurst
    Inchon
    10111297    		 227k A U.S. Navy Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter of Task Force 78 (Mine Countermeasures Force, United States Seventh Fleet) from USS Inchon (LPH-12) lifts a Magnetic Orange Pipe (MOP) air mine countermeasure device at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines, during preparation for "Operation End Sweep", circa January 1973.
    U.S. Navy photo USN 1155763 Scanned from "Damn the Torpedoes": A Short History of U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures, 1777-1991, by Melia, Tamara Moser, Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1991, ISBN 0-945274-07-6, p. 106./font>    		 Robert Hurst
    Inchon
    10111296    		 230k USS Inchon (LPH-12) anchored in Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam, 20 June 1973, while participating in "Operation End Sweep". A Boeing-Vertol CH-46D Sea Knight helicopter is flying off the ship's port side. Five other CH-46s, seven Sikorsky RH-53A Sea Stallions and one Bell UH-1 Huey are visible on her flight deck.
    U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command photo # NH 107678 by PHCS Virgil O. McColley, U.S. Navy.    		 Robert Hurst
    Inchon 78k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway in June 1973 with RH-53A Sea Stallions on board equipped for mine clearing operations of North Vietnamese ports and waterways. Robert Hurst
    Inchon
    10111292    		 102k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    Ebay    		 Tommy Trampp
    Inchon
    10111293    		 111k
    Inchon
    10111294    		 183k
    Inchon 1898k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way circa 1970s, location unknown. Wolfgang Hechler
    Inchon 1132k
    Inchon 1068k USS Inchon (LPH-12) being assisted into her berth in the Hampton Roads area, date unknown. The two tugs appear to be Palatka (YTB-801) at the bow and Wapakoneta (YTB-766) at her stern. David Buell
    Inchon 53k USS Inchon (LPH-12) starboard side view while at Naples, Italy in June 1974. Photo by Larry B. Lynn USS Inchon
    Inchon 152k USS Inchon (LPH-12) during Harrier flight operations in February of 1975. Inchon was the first American ship to deploy the US Marine Corps AV-8A Harrier aircraft. Inchon left Norfolk en-route to the New Orleans Mardi Gras with a squadron of Harriers on board. Note the newly refinished flight deck. Photo by Larry B. Lynn USS Inchon
    Inchon 77k USS Inchon (LPH-12) during AV-8A Harrier flight operations in February of 1975. Inchon was the first American ship to deploy the Harrier aircraft. Inchon left Norfolk en-route to the New Orleans Mardi Gras with a squadron of Harriers on board. Photo by Larry B. Lynn USS Inchon
    Inchon 84k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored at NOB Norfolk, VA. in July 1975 with HM-12 Det 2 Helicopter Mine Counter-measures RH53D Sea Stallions embarked prior to sailing to Egypt for Operation Nimbus Stallion. © Richard Leonhardt
    Inchon 72k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the Mediterranean Sea, 7 November 1975.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Inchon 32k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the Mediterranean Sea, 1979. The helicopter squadron is supposed to be MAG-32 composed of HMH-362 and HML(A)-167. Markings on the two AH-1Js show this photo was taken during the transition from high-viz Vietnam-era markings to the later dark USMC green and black subdued schemes. Pete Harlem
    Inchon 111k USS Inchon (LPH-12) launching a Sea Sparrow missile, circa 1970s. Tim Collins FTM2, USS Inchon, 1980-84
    Inchon 36k Stern view of USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside at Naval Station Norfolk, VA., 2 September 1979. Ed Zajkowski
    Inchon 71k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside at Palermo, Sicily, 1980. Photo by Alan Voils USS Inchon 1979-84
    Inchon 1188k USS Inchon (LPH-12) arriving at Genoa, Italy, 28 April 1980, for a routine port visit. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Inchon 964k USS Inchon (LPH-12) at anchor in the harbor at Genoa, Italy, 4 May 1980, during a port visit. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Inchon 62k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the Mediterranean Sea, 1982. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Mario Mederos, USMC
    Inchon 25k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the Mediterranean Sea, with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-263) embarked, 1982. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Mario Mederos, USMC
    Inchon 64k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way probably in the Persian Gulf, 1982. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Mario Mederos, USMC
    Inchon 28k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside at Naval Station Rota, Spain, 1982. Pete Harlem, Courtesy Mario Mederos, USMC
    Inchon 71k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the North Atlantic, view of ships island structure, 1983 Photo by Alan Voils USS Inchon 1979-84
    Inchon 61k USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way in the North Atlantic, view of BDMS, 1983 Photo by Alan Voils USS Inchon 1979-84
    Inchon 45k USS Inchon (LPH-12) flight deck while underway in the North Atlantic for minesweeping exercises, The ship's helicopter is on the right, 1983. Photo by Alan Voils USS Inchon 1979-84
    Inchon
    10111295    		 148k A U.S. Navy Bell UH-IN Iroquois (BUNO 160829, callsign Angel 29) on the flight deck of USS Inchon (LPH-12), during a port visit to Rotterdam, Netherlands, March 1984. During this visit her air complement comprised seven AV-8As Harriers and one UH-1N Huey.
    Photo courtesy of Rob Schleiffert from Holland. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. This image was originally posted to Flickr by Rob Schleiffert at https://flickr.com/photos/109661044@N07/17585602646    		 Robert Hurst
    Inchon 94k USS Inchon (LPH-12) launching a Sea Sparrow missile, circa 1980-84. Tim Collins FTM2, USS Inchon, 1980-84
    Inchon 206k USS Inchon (LPH-12) in drydock at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, circa 1981. Tim Collins FTM2, USS Inchon, 1980-84
    Inchon 60k USS Inchon (LPH-12) pierside at Rota, Spain, 1987. Good views of the island, CIWS, Sea Sparrow launchers, and 3"/50 gun mounts. Tom LaLumiere, former Sgt, USMC
    Inchon 108k USS Inchon (LPH-12) maneuvering in a harbor, date and location unknown. Carlos Manuel Estrela
    Inchon 543k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway at sea in 1988, location unknown, showing starboard side upper island and mainmast.
    Courtesy Ray D. Beans Collection    		 Yu Chu
    Inchon 517k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway at sea in 1990, location unknown.
    Courtesy Ray D. Beans Collection    		 Yu Chu
    Inchon 596k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway at sea in 1990, location unknown, showing starboard side island and mainmast.
    Courtesy Ray D. Beans Collection    		 Yu Chu
    Inchon
    10111283    		 244k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside at Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 23 December 1991, during a routine port visit. Embarked Marines are from the 24th MEU(SOC) with HMM-266(C) "Fighting Griffins" Squadron. Even though the Squadron was equipped with CH-46E Sea Knights, the helos in the photo are CH-53E Super Stallions from an HMH Detachment. Photo by José Antonio Rodríguez Carreño
    Inchon
    10111256    		 62k USS Inchon (LPH-12) moored pierside at Palma de Mallorca, Christmas 1991. Note USS Shreveport(LPD-12), left background. Pedro Vidal Terresa
    Inchon 114kk USS Inchon (LPH-12) under way, circa September 1991 to February 1993, signed by CAPT. Robert C. Chaplin. Tommy Trampp
    Inchon
    10111288    		 327k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway off San Diego, CA. date unknown.
    © Nobe Smith    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Inchon
    10111289    		 184k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Inchon
    10111290    		 475k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Inchon
    10111291    		 487k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway off San Diego, CA. date unknown.
    © Nobe Smith    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    USS Inchon (MCS-12)
    Inchon 344k USS Inchon (MCS-12) underway at sea circa 1997, location unknown.
    Courtesy Ray D. Beans Collection    		 Yu Chu
    Inchon 69k USS Inchon (MCS-12) under way, September 1997.
    US Navy photo # 970900-N-0000X-001    		  
    Inchon 380k USS Inchon (MCS-12) under way for a scheduled five-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.
    US Navy photo # 990301-N-0000J-001 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (1 March 1999) by PH1 Sean P. Jordon.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Inchon 142k USS Inchon (MCS-12) under way in the Gulf of Mexico, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Inchon 388k USS Inchon (LPH-12) underway at sea, 2001, location unknown, showing starboard side upper island, mainmast and sensors.
    Courtesy Ray D. Beans Collection    		 Yu Chu
    Inchon 104k USS Inchon (MCS-12), decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Ingleside, TX. 20 June 2002.
    US Navy photo # 020620-N-5745B-001 by Lt. Marc Boyd.     		Submitted by Fabio Peña, a US Navy Public Affairs photo
    Inchon 54k USS Inchon (MCS-12) in reserve at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility (formerly Philadelphia Naval Shipyard), 31 August 2002 Photo by Roy J. Brooks IS1 (SW) USNR
    Inchon 55k USS Inchon (MCS-12) in reserve at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, 31 August 2002. The fantail on the left side of the photo is that of USS Mahan (DDG-42), and the bow of a ship on the right side of the photo is that of USS Des Moines (CA-134). Also note that the top portion of Inchon's mainmast has been removed to allow the ship to pass under the draw bridge (entrance to the basin) and is sitting on the flight deck forward of the bridge. Photo by Roy J. Brooks IS1 (SW) USNR
    Inchon 57k USS Inchon (MCS-12) moored pierside in the reserve basin at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, starboard side view, 15 July 2004. Photo by Brian S. Bell AO3, USNR
    Inchon 54k USS Inchon (MCS-12) moored pierside in the reserve basin at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, starboard side view, 15 July 2004. Photo by Brian S. Bell AO3, USNR
    USS Inchon (LPH-12) Memorabilia
    Inchon
    Chromatic postcard (Front)
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri
         		Inchon
    Chromatic postcard commemorative postmarks (Reverse)
    Contributed by Robert M. Cieri    		 Inchon
    Commissioning Program Cover
    Contributed by
    Robert M. Cieri

    For more photos and information about USS Inchon, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Inchon Photo Collections
  • Association of Minemen
  • Minewarfare Association
    • LPH-12 Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Cummings Jr., Arthur Howard, USN (USNA 1946)20 June 1970 - 22 October 1971
    02CAPT. Brown, Francis Taylor, USN :RADM22 October 1971 - 9 November 1972
    03CAPT. Thomas, John Keith (Jake), USN (USNA 1951)9 November 1972 - 13 December 1974
    04CAPT. McNally Jr., John Joseph13 December 1974 - 11 June 1976
    05CAPT. Kennedy, Ronald Walter11 June 1976 - 13 January 1978
    06CAPT. Greiwe, William H.13 January 1978 - 7 September 1979
    07CAPT. Higginson, John J. :RADM7 September 1979 - 5 April 1981
    08CAPT. Westerman, William R. (Westy)25 April 1981 - 14 September 1982
    09CAPT. Ruppert, Noel L.14 September 1982 - 3 March 1984
    10CAPT. Lovell, Jack Wendell3 March 1984 - 3 October 1985
    11CAPT. Granuzzo, Andrew A.3 October 1985 - 2 August 1987
    12CAPT. Oden, Leonard Nelson2 August 1987 - 22 November 1988
    13CAPT. Cross II, William V., USN (USNA 1967) :RADM22 November 1988 - 31 May 1990
    14CAPT. Tickle, Harold J.31 May 1990 - 13 September 1991
    15CAPT. Chaplin, Robert Charles, USN (USNA 1970) :RADM13 September 1991 - 25 February 1993
    16CAPT. Young, William D.25 February 1993 - November 1994
    17CAPT. Crocker, David Mark :RADMNovember 1994 - 6 March 1995
    MCS-12 Commanding Officers
    18CAPT. Crocker, David Mark :RADM6 March 1995 - 23 July 1996
    19CAPT. Tuohy, Matthew W.23 July 1996 - 17 January 1998
    20CAPT. Gallagher, Richard Keith :VADM17 January 1998 - 12 June 1999
    21CAPT. Hartwell, Daniel Newman,12 June 1999 - 5 January 2001
    22CAPT. Smith, Charles Edward (Grunt) USN :RADM5 January 2001 - 20 June 2002
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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