USS Germantown (LSD-42)

USS Germantown (LSD-42)
USS Germantown passing the Coronado Bridge in San Diego Bay in August 2003.
History
United States
NameGermantown
NamesakeBattle of Germantown
Ordered26 March 1982
BuilderLockheed Shipbuilding
Laid down5 August 1982
Launched29 June 1984
Commissioned8 February 1986
HomeportSan Diego, California
MottoFolgen Sie unseren Fusspuren! (Follow in Our Footsteps)
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeWhidbey Island-class dock landing ship
Displacement
  • 11,496 tons (light)
  • 16,396 tons (full)
Length610 ft (190 m)
Beam84 ft (26 m)
Draft21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW)
Speedover 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
5 LCACs
TroopsMarine detachment: 402 + 102 surge
Complement22 officers, 391 enlisted
Armament

USS Germantown (LSD-42) is the second Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in the United States Navy. She is the second navy ship named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown.

Germantown was the first ship in the class to serve in the Pacific. The amphibious ship's mission is to project power ashore by transporting and launching amphibious craft and vehicles loaded with embarked Marines in support of an amphibious assault. The ship was designed specifically to operate with Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vessels. She has the largest capacity for these landing craft (four to five) of any US Navy amphibious platform.