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USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
Encyclopedia
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) is the lead ship
of her class
of landing ship dock of the United States Navy
. This warship
was named for the town of Harpers Ferry
, West Virginia
, which, because of the Federal arsenal
there, was an important location during the Civil War
. , Harpers Ferry is commanded by Commander
Brian E. Delaney and she is assigned to the Navy's "Amphibious Group 1". The homeport of the Harpers Ferry is at the American Naval Base in Sasebo, Japan. This base is available to the U.S. Navy because of the Mutual Defense Treaty
between Japan
and the United States
.
Harpers Ferry was laid down on 15 April 1991, at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, and she was launched on 16 January 1993. She was commissioned on 7 January 1995.
On 1 September 2002, Harpers Ferry relieved USS Germantown
(LSD-42) as a forward-deployed warship based in Japan
.
Following the Cyclone Nargis
disaster in Burma in 2008, and during the following "Operation Caring Response" humanitarian aid mission to Burma, Harpers Ferry steamed in Burmese waters from 13 May to 5 June, waiting for the Burmese junta government
to allow American aid to be taken to its citizens. During this operation, she was a part of 's expeditionary strike group
, which also included and the guided-missile destroyer ),
However, in early June, with permission to enter Burmese airspace and land areas still not forthcoming from the Burmese government, it was decided to withdraw this aid mission and to return this Naval Task Group back to its previously-scheduled operations.
In October 2009, Harpers Ferry participated in humanitarian rescue operations in the Pangasinan province, of the Philippines
, following the impact of a typhoon that caused serious flooding.
In early April 2010, the ship participated in the recovery efforts of the sunken R.O.K. Navy
ship ROKS Cheonan
(PCC-772).
This ship was one of several participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
.
The USS HARPERS FERRY was relieved as a forward deployed ship in May 2011 by the USS GERMANTOWN. She then proceeded back to the US Homeport of San Diego.
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
Harpers Ferry class dock landing ship
The Harpers Ferry class of the United States Navy is a class of dock landing ships completed in the early 1990s. Modified from the Whidbey Island class, it loses landing craft capacity for more cargo space, making it closer to an amphibious transport dock type, but was not designated as such. ...
of landing ship dock of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. This warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
was named for the town of Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, which, because of the Federal arsenal
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
there, was an important location during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. , Harpers Ferry is commanded by Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Brian E. Delaney and she is assigned to the Navy's "Amphibious Group 1". The homeport of the Harpers Ferry is at the American Naval Base in Sasebo, Japan. This base is available to the U.S. Navy because of the Mutual Defense Treaty
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
The was signed between the United States and Japan in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1960. It strengthened Japan's ties to the West during the Cold War era...
between Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Harpers Ferry was laid down on 15 April 1991, at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, and she was launched on 16 January 1993. She was commissioned on 7 January 1995.
On 1 September 2002, Harpers Ferry relieved USS Germantown
USS Germantown (LSD-42)
USS Germantown 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....
(LSD-42) as a forward-deployed warship based in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Following the Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis , was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma. The cyclone made landfall in Burma on Friday, May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities...
disaster in Burma in 2008, and during the following "Operation Caring Response" humanitarian aid mission to Burma, Harpers Ferry steamed in Burmese waters from 13 May to 5 June, waiting for the Burmese junta government
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
to allow American aid to be taken to its citizens. During this operation, she was a part of 's expeditionary strike group
Expeditionary Strike Group
The Expeditionary Strike Group, or ESG, is a concept introduced in the U.S. military in the early 1990s, based on the Naval Expeditionary Task Force. The U.S. Navy fields 12 Expeditionary Strike Groups and 11 Carrier Strike Groups, in addition to surface action groups...
, which also included and the guided-missile destroyer ),
However, in early June, with permission to enter Burmese airspace and land areas still not forthcoming from the Burmese government, it was decided to withdraw this aid mission and to return this Naval Task Group back to its previously-scheduled operations.
In October 2009, Harpers Ferry participated in humanitarian rescue operations in the Pangasinan province, of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, following the impact of a typhoon that caused serious flooding.
In early April 2010, the ship participated in the recovery efforts of the sunken R.O.K. Navy
Republic of Korea Navy
The Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
ship ROKS Cheonan
ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)
ROKS Cheonan was a South Korean Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy , commissioned in 1989. On 26 March 2010, it broke in two and sank near the sea border with North Korea...
(PCC-772).
This ship was one of several participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.
The USS HARPERS FERRY was relieved as a forward deployed ship in May 2011 by the USS GERMANTOWN. She then proceeded back to the US Homeport of San Diego.
External links
- USS Harpers Ferry official website
- navsource.org: USS Harpers Ferry
- navysite.de: USS Harpers Ferry
- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) command histories – Naval History & Heritage Command