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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Ashland (LSD-1)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Zulu - Foxtrot
 NUZF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Ashland Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Authorized as Mechanized Artillery Transport APM-1
  • Reclassified Landing Ship Dock (LSD-1), 1 July1941
  • Laid down, 22 June 1942, at Moore Drydock Co. Oakland CA.
  • Launched, 21 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS Ashland (LSD-1), 5 June 1943, LCDR. Francis J. Harris in command
  • During World War II USS Ashland (LSD-1) was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operation
    Assault and capture of Tarawa, 20 November to 7 December 1943     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 October, 31 October to 9 November, 13 to 21 November 1944
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 to 25 February 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 June to 28 July 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 16 March 1945
    Tinian operation
    Capture and occupation of Tinian, 24 to 28 July 1944     		 

  • Following World War II USS Ashland was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East and Europe for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    Asia - 2 September to 3 October 1945
    Asia - 31 December 1945 to 5 January 1946
    Europe - 21 September 1954 to 18 January 1955

  • Decommissioning in March, 1946 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 27 December 1950
  • USS Ashland was assigned to Occupation service in Europe from 21 September 1954 to 16 January 1955
  • Decommissioned, 1 September 1957, at San Diego CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 29 November 1961
  • Decommissioned, 22 November 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 November 1969
  • USS Ashland earned seven battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 15 May 1970, to N. W. Kennedy Ltd, Vancouver, B.C.
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft
    8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft)
    15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 kts (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Complement
    Officers 17
    Enlisted 237
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 218
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
    three LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
    two LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
    fourteen LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
    forty-seven DUKW or
    forty-one LVT or
    Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
    Aircraft (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount in open tub (w/director)
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts (local control)
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 11,720 Bbls
    Diesel 160 Bbls
    Gasoline 5,085 Gals
    Propulsion
    two Skinner Uniflow 5-cylinder reciprocating steam engines
    two Babcock and Wilcox oil fired D-type boilers, two drum, single furnace, single uptake, 250psi
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 150Kw 120V D.C.
     one Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    twin propellers, 7,400shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ashland
    10120134    		 342k
    Namesake
    Ashland the home of Henry Clay Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852), Speaker of the House of Representatives, "The Great Compromiser," three time presidential candidate. Lexington, KY.     		Photo by Dale Hargrave
    Ashland 23k USS Ashland (LSD-1) under way, date and location unknown. USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 105k USS Ashland (LSD-1) (plan view - forward) moored pierside at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 21 July 1943. Ashland was under repair at the shipyard from 23 June to 21 July 1943. She was dry docked in dock 2 from 10 July to 12 July 1943. The cruisers on the ajoining piers are USS Minneapolis (CA-36) and USS Nashville (CL-43).
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5291-43, dated 21 July 1943.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 147k USS Ashland (LSD-1) moored pierside at Mare Island Navy Yard. Overhead view of Ashland's well deck, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5292-43, 7/21/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 178k USS Ashland (LSD-1) moored pierside at Mare Island Navy Yard. Overhead view of Ashland's well deck, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy photo San Francisco NARA, Mare Island Navy Yard Ship Files    		 Tracy White
    Ashland 96k USS Ashland (LSD-1) (stern view) departing Mare Island, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5294-43, 7/21/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 93k USSAshland (LSD-1) off Mare Island, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5295-43, 7/21/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 97k USS Ashland (LSD-1) off Mare Island, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5296-43, 7/21/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 107k USS Ashland (LSD-1) off Mare Island, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5297-43, 7/21/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ashland 96k Bow on view of USS Ashland (LSD-1) underway off Mare Island Navy Yard, 21 July 1943.
    US Navy photo San Francisco NARA, Mare Island Navy Yard Ship Files    		 Tracy White
    Ashland 854k USS Ashland (LSD-1) underway off the coast of northern California,
    US Navy photo taken from an airship from Lighter-than-Air Airship Squadron (Z P 31), NAS Santa Ana, CA.    		 David Mueller
    Ashland
    10120135    		 200k USS Ashland (LSD-1) underway off the coast of California conducting anti-aircraft target practice while enroute to Baker Island, 25 August 1943.
    U.S. National Archives Identifier 193853985, US Army Air Corps photo # 63053A.C., now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.    		 David Upton
    Ashland
    10120137
    NA USAF A-44268     		310k USS Ashland (LSD-1) during the Baker Island Operation. On August 11, 1943, a US Army defense force arrived on Baker Island as part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. In September 1943 a 5,463-foot (1,665 m) airfield was opened and was subsequently used as a staging base by Seventh Air Force B-24 Liberator bombers for attacks on Mili Atoll. The 45th Fighter Squadron operated P-40 fighters from the airfield from September 1 – November 27, 1943. By January 1, 1944, the airfield was abandoned. (Wikipedia)
    10120137 - U.S. National Archives photo # USAF A-44268 - 30 August 1943 - USS Ashland (LSD-1) at anchor off Baker Island
    10120138 - U.S. National Archives photo # USAF A-44324 - 25 August - 1 September 1943 - USS Ashland (LSD-1) well deck cargo to be offloaded at Baker Island
    10120139 - U.S. National Archives photo # USAF A-44325 - 25 August - 1 September 1943 - USS Ashland (LSD-1) well deck cargo to be offloaded at Baker Island
    10120140 - U.S. National Archives photo # USAF A-44333 - 30 August 1943 - USS Ashland (LSD-1) refueling USS Bradford (DD-545) while underway
    10120141 - U.S. National Archives photo # USAF A-44334 - 30 August 1943 - USS Ashland (LSD-1) refueling USS Bradford (DD-545) while underway    		 John Chiquoine
    Ashland
    10120138
    NA USAF A-44324     		353k
    Ashland
    10120139
    NA USAF A-44325     		341k
    Ashland
    10120140
    NA USAF A-44333     		321k
    Ashland
    10120141
    NA USAF A-44334     		315k
    Ashland 10k USS Ashland (LSD-1), steaming in the Pacific during World War II. The dark lines on the aft portion of the hull were made by dirty water when the ship was ballasted down to load or unload cargo. USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 105k USS Ashland (LSD-1) under way, date and location unknown. Tommy Tramp p
    Ashland 320k Two landing ship docks and other amphibious shipping off Iwo Jima, circa late February 1945. USS Ashland (LSD-1) is at left, with Mount Suribachi beyond. USS Belle Grove (LSD-2) is in the right center foreground.
    US Navy photo # NH 104370-KN by LT. Howard W. Whalen, USNR, Boat Group Commander, USS Sanborn (APA-193)    		 Robert Hurst
    Ashland 69k USS Ashland (LSD-1) under way, mid 1950s USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 210k USS Ashland (LSD-1)under way, date and location unknown. USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 51k USS Ashland (LSD-1) under way off Cape Henry, Virginia, 20 May 1953. She has been virtually unmodified since her commissioning 10 years before.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-628067    		 USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 89k USS Ashland (LSD-1) under way in the harbor at Baltimore MD., date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Ashland 101k USS Ashland (LSD-1), aerial view, circa 1965-66. Steve Jetted PN3, 1966-69
    USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 40k USS Ashland (LSD-1) with LCMs loaded in her well deck USS Ashland Association. Inc.
    Ashland 41k USS Ashland (LSD-1) underway, date and location unknown. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Ashland 132k
    Ashland 78k This series of photos shows USS Ashland docking a P5M Marlin seaplane in her well-deck as well as alongside. The photos were provided by Paul Regarding, whose father, as a P5M pilot, took part in the Navy's experiment to determine if LSD s could be adapted as seaplane tenders in the late 1950s. These photo were taken 18 February 1957 near Baltimore.

    Ashland submerged her stern 14 ½ ft. to accommodate the P5M. Once the plane was aboard Ashland closed her well gate and pumped the well deck dry. This demonstration was conducted by the Navy in conjunction with the Martin Co. of Baltimore. The experiment was conducted to help develop a suitable technique and equipment to handle P6M Sea master, 600 mph jet seaplane bomber being built by the Martin Co. (Photo #6 is an AP Wirephoto)

    		Paul Regarding, Ron Reeves
    and William Stevens
    Ashland 90k
    Ashland 74k
    Ashland 118k
    Ashland 90k
    Ashland 72k
    Ashland 163k
    Ashland 112k
    Ashland
    10120136    		 287k USS Ashland (LSD-1) underway at sea, circa 1968.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 68952    		 Robert Hurst
    Ashland 188k USS Ashland (LSD-1) bell and memorial plaque at "The Ashland", Senator Henry Clay's Estate, in Lexington, Facetted, Kentucky. Photos by Hugh Hudson
    Ashland 868k
    USS Ashland (LSD-1)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Harris, Francis James, USNR5 June 1943 - 13 June 1943
    02CDR. Atkeson Jr., Clarence Lee Conner, USN (USNA 1922) :RADM13 June 1943 - 30 June 1944
    03LCDR. Caughey, William A., USNR30 June 1944 - 21 May 1945
    04LCDR. Hatch, Thomas Ennis, USNR21 May 1945 - 30 August.1946
     Decommissioned30 August 1946 - 27 December 1950
    05CDR. Scott, Edward Francis, USN (USNA 1935) 27 December 1950 - 20 November 1952
    06CDR. Phaler, Walter Louis USN (USNA 1937)20 November 1952 - 10 December 1953
    07CDR. Barrows, Frank Lloyd, USN (USNA 1935)10 December 1953 - 3 February 1955
    08CDR. Brice, Forbes Orville, USN3 February 1955 - 7 April 1956
    09CDR. Lasell, Harvey Lee, USN (USNA 1939)7 April 1956 - 15 November 1956
    10CAPT. Brown, Frederick William, Jr., USN15 November 1956 - 25 January 1958
     Decommissioned25 January - 1958 - 29 November 1961
    11CDR. Price, Arthur Whyte, Jr., USN :RADM29 November 1961 - 26 June 1963
    12CDR. King Jr., Ernest Joseph, USN (USNA 1945)26 June - 1963 - 15 January 1965
    13CDR. Morrison, Joseph Benson, USN15 January 1965 - 8 July 1966
    14CDR. Rueff, Eugene Carl, USN (USNA 1951)8 July 1966 - 6 April 1968
    15LCDR. Ridge, James Joseph, USN6 April 1968 - 22 November 1969
    16CDR. Robinson, William Arthur, USN (USNA 1953)22 November 1969 - 25 November 1969
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 30 June 2023