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Ships History
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LSD-29 Deployments - Major Events
| Add a LSD-29 Shellback Initiation | Add a LSD-29 Deployment - Major Event | ||||
| Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAY | 1953 | Keel
Date: 4 MAY 1953 at Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula MS |
|||
| MAY | 1954 | Launch Date: 7 MAY 1954 | |||
| NOV | 1954 | Commissioned: 29 NOV 1954 | |||
| MAR | 1956 | - | OCT | 1956 | Mediterranean |
| MAR | 1956 | - | OCT | 1956 | North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean |
| APR | 1956 | - | OCT | 1956 | amphibious exercises med. |
| JUL | 1957 | - | SEP | 1957 | Blue Nose - Artic Circle |
| JAN | 1958 | - | MAR | 1958 | Mediterranean-Lebanon |
| JAN | 1958 | - | JAN | 1958 | Beirut landing operations 1958 |
| FEB | 1960 | - | Shellback Initiation - 11 FEB 1960 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
| JUN | 1960 | - | DEC | 1960 | Mediterranean |
| OCT | 1962 | - | OCT | 1962 | Cuban Missle Blockade |
| MAY | 1963 | - | OCT | 1963 | Mediterranean |
| OCT | 1965 | - | DEC | 1965 | Guantanamo Bay |
| JAN | 1966 | - | MAR | 1966 | North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean |
| JAN | 1966 | - | MAR | 1966 | North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean |
| JAN | 1966 | - | MAR | 1966 | H-Bomb recovery operations off Palomares Spain |
| JUL | 1970 | - | AUG | 1970 | North Atlantic |
| FEB | 1972 | - | AUG | 1972 | Mediterranean |
| OCT | 1972 | - | MAR | 1973 | Caribbean |
| JUL | 1978 | - | FEB | 1979 | North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean |
| AUG | 1978 | - | JAN | 1979 | North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean |
| JUL | 1979 | - | AUG | 1979 | Caribbean |
| JAN | 1981 | - | DEC | 1983 | UNITAS |
| JUN | 1981 | - | DEC | 1981 | UNITAS |
| JUL | 1981 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 JUL 1981 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
| SEP | 1982 | - | NOV | 1982 | North Atlantic |
| SEP | 1983 | Decommissioned: 30 SEP 1983 | |||
From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. V
(1979), pp. 332
Site of the landing of the first permanent settlers in New England in 1620.
(LSD-29: dp. 6,880; l. 510'; b. 84'; dr. 19'; s. 21 k.; cpl. 766; a. 16 3"; cl.
Thomaston)
Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) was laid down by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss. 4
May 1953, launched 7 May 1954; Sponsored by Mrs. Francis C. Denebrink; and commissioned 29
November 1954, Comdr. D. Bontecou in command.
After sailing in January 1955 to Norfolk, her homeport, Plymouth Rock conducted shakedown
off the East Coast and in the Caribbean. In the summer of 1955 she transported men and
equipment to early warning sites in the far north. In March 1956 she deployed to the
Mediterranean for amphibious operations, returning in October. During 1957 she made
numerous trips to the Caribbean, and again resupplied the Arctic Distant Early Warning
Line.
>From May to October 1958 Plymouth Rock operated as a unit of the 6th Fleet in the
Mediterranean participating in the landing of U.S. Marines in Lebanon in July. After
developing the concept of "vertical envelopment" by helicopter assault in early
1959, she made a Caribbean cruise to Puerto Rico and Cuba. In February 1960 she
participated in operation "Amigo," carrying support helicopters and other
equipment for President Eisenhower's visit to South America. From March to December, she
again deployed to the Mediterranean.
During 1961 Plymouth Rock made several cruises to the Caribbean and one to the
Mediterranean, including work on project "Mercury" and project ASROC. During
1962 she made several deployments to the Caribbean, and was a member of the blockade force
during the Cuban Missile Crisis. On 7 May 1963 she again deployed to the Mediterranean,
returning in October.
In 1964 Plymouth Rock made two Caribbean cruises and then took part in operation
"Steel Pike I" off the coast of Spain, the largest amphibious operation since
World War II. Early 1965 found Plymouth Rock on another Caribbean cruise. From 28 January
1966 to 7 March she was involved in H-Bomb recovery operations off Palomares, Spain. Late
1966 found her once again in the Caribbean, providing for the victims of hurricane
"Inez" in Haiti. After three Caribbean cruises in early 1967, Plymouth Rock
deployed to northern Europe. She made two more Caribbean deployments in 1968. From June to
July 1969 she again deployed to northern Europe. She remains with the Atlantic Fleet into
1970.
-[NOTE: Plymouth Rock was decommissioned 30 September 1983 and transferred to the Maritime
Administration 8 Nov. 1989. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 24 February 1992 and
she was sold 25 August 1995.]
From Navy Times 1/87
Navy Times - Ship In The Spotlight by Mario Demar
United States Ship Plymouth Rock LSD29
Named for the famous site in Massachusetts, this ship, is the first to bear the name PLYMOUTH ROCK. She was commissioned Nov. 29, 1954. Her home port is Little Creek, Va.
Plymouth Rock's mission is to provide underway launch of landing craft during an amphibious assault. Her floodable well deck 400 by 50 feet, can hold up to three utility landing craft.
Her missions since July 1979 have included laying underwater acoustic cable, landing marines in a training mission at Guantanamo Bay, transporting construction equipment from Jamaica, refueling minesweepers under way, supporting submarine missile test shots and in February 1980, becoming the first 'GATOR' to receive fuel from an oiler the the astern refueling method.
The ship has won the Battle Efficiency E, Communications C, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal, Expeditionary Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon and several Amphibious Assault Awards.
She is 510 feet long, has a beam of 84 feet and displaces 12,250 tons. She has a crew of 322 enlisted and 24 officers
Picture appearing in LIFE Magazine, November 9, 1962, USS Plymouth Rock off Cuba. This stanby operation lasted for six weeks. Photo donated by Rocco Musella
