Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Alamo (LSD-33)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - Quebec - India NOQI

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (26 March - 7 April 1966) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Quemoy-Matsu, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (11) - Humanitarian Service Medal (Eniwetok Cleanup)
Fourth Row - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (9) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

USS Alamo (LSD-33) was transferred to Brazil and renamed NDD Rio de Janeiro (G-31)

Thomaston Class Dock Landing Ship:

Launched, 20 January 1956, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.

Commissioned USS Alamo (LSD-33), 24 August 1956, CAPT. James L. Semmes in command

During the Vietnam War USS Alamo participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 5 August to 29 September 1964 8 to 14 October 1964 28 October to 9 November 1964 19 to 20 November 1964	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 April to 19 May 1968
Vietnam Defense 4 to 7 July 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 21 to 22 February 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 23 March to 8 April 1966 20 April to 9 May 1966 9 to 30 June 1966	Tet/69 Counteroffensive 23 February 1969 3 March to 19 April 1969 2 May to 8 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 1 to 3 July 1966 14 July to 2 August 1966	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 13 June 1969 15 July to 13 August 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 30 October to 1 November 1967 18 November to 3 December 1967 18 December 1967 to 29 January 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 22 to 25 August 1970 10 to 14 October 1970 19 to 26 November 1970 28 December 1970
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 19 February 1968 3 to 15 March 1968 26 March to 1 April 1968	Vietnam Ceasefire 23 to 28 April 1972 1 to 3 May 1972 22 May to 18 June 1972 30 June to 14 July 1972 23 July 1972 23 August to 8 October 1972

Decommissioned, 12 November 1990

USS Alamo earned the Armed Forces Service Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal (with 11 campaign stars) for Vietnam War Service

Loaned to Brazil 12 November 1990, renamed NDD Rio de Janeiro (G-31)

Struck from the Naval Register and sold to Brazil, 24 January 2001

Specifications:
Displacement 8,899 t.(lt), 11,525 t(fl)
Length 510'
Beam 84'
Draft 19'
Speed 20 kts.

Complement

Officers 18

Enlisted 330

Troop Accommodations 325

Armament (as built)

four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm gun mounts

six twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Boat Capacity (Well Deck)

three LCUs or nine LCM-8's or fifty AAV's/LVTP-7's amphibious tractors

Aircraft Capacity helicopter landing area

Propulsion

two D-type boilers, 600psi.

two steam turbines

two propellers, 24,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Alamo (LSD-33)
10123327	219k	*Namesake* Alamo - The Battle of the Alamo (23 February – 6 March 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas), killing most of the Texians and Tejanos inside. Photo - Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (1852–1917) painting circa 1903) "The Fall of the Alamo“ or Crockett's Last Stand", from the Texas Governor's Mansion collection in Austin, TX. ([[File:FalloftheAlamo.jpg\|FalloftheAlamo]]) Wikipedia Commons Map - Siege of the Alamo Map by Col. Andrew Jackson Houston, (Copano Bay Press).	Tommy Trampp
10123320	254k	Alamo (LSD-33) launching, 20 January 1956, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.	Dale Hargrave
10123323	172k	Alamo (LSD-33) moored pierside at Galveston TX., circa August-September 1956.	Nicholas Tiberio
10123324	181k	Alamo (LSD-33) outbound to sea from San Diego, passing Point Loma, date unknown. © George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
10123328	39k	"LANDING CRAFT CAPTURES SEA DERELICT" Crew of Navy landing craft finds roping sea derelict is something like catching a bucking bronco. The abandoned Japanese fishing boat was finally hoisted aboard *USS Alamo* (LPD-33) from which this photo was taken. Alamo** took the rescued boat back to Japan. "The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., Tuesday March 30 1959" AP Wirephoto	Michael Mohl
	127k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** moored at Naval Base Subic Bay, circa 1964-66.	Photo by LTjg. Larry Irwin, USS Floyd County (LST-762)
	127k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** under way, date and Location unknown.	Jerry Hays
	105k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** under way, date and location unknown.	Jerry Hays
	25k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** during amphibious operations, date and location unknown.	USS Cabildo(LSD-16) Association
	20k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** during amphibious operations, date and location unknown.	USS Cabildo(LSD-16) Association
	59k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	111k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** under way, date and location unknown.	Bob Behm
	30k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** underway, date and location unknown.	Bob Behm
	85k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	85k	*USS Alamo* (LSD-33)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
10123325	197k	Alamo (LSD-33) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. © George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
10123326	291k	Alamo (LSD-33) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. © George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
NDD Rio de Janeiro (G-31)
	69k	Ex-*USS Alamo* (LSD-33) under way while in Brazilian service as NDD Rio de Janeiro (G-31)**, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	47k	*NDD Rio de Janeiro* (G-31)** underway, date location unknown. Brazilian Navy Photos.	Robert Hurst
	7k		Robert Hurst
1012123329	69k	Brazilian sailor Luiz Cardova standing in front of *NDD Rio de Janeiro* (G-31)** while moored pierside in 2009. At this time the ship was participating in the Haiti rescue mission, location unknown. Photo by Raphael Andre	Luiz Cordova
1012123330	69k		Luiz Cordova
1012123331	70k	Brazilian navy sailor Raphael André Carmo dos Santos Petty officer second class (3° Sargento), at the time, now a Command master chief petty officer.standing on the helicopter deck of *NDD Rio de Janeiro* (G-31)** while moored pierside in 2009. At this time the ship was participating in the Haiti rescue mission, location unknown. Photo by Raphael Andre	Luiz Cordova
1012123332	63k	Ex-Rio de Janeiro (G-31) tied up in the breakers yard at Alang, India, date unknown. Photo by Raphael Andre	Luiz Cordova

USS Alamo (LSD-33)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Semmes, James Lardner	24 August 1956 - 17 August 1957
02	CAPT. Yates, Edgar L.	17 August 1957 - 24 September 1958
03	CAPT. Fox, Cyril	24 September 1958 - 7 October 1959
04	CAPT. Loustaunau, Paul Emil	7 October 1959 - 7 October 1960
05	CAPT. McKee, James Raymond, USN	7 October 1960 - 17 March 1962
06	CAPT. Turner, Thomas Andrew, USN (USNA 1941)	17 March 1962 - 14 June 1963
07	CAPT. Burley, Albert Charles	14 June 1963 - 1 June 1964
08	CAPT. Lee, Kent Liston :VADM	1 June 1964 - 7 May 1965
09	CAPT. Taylor, James Thomas	7 May 1965 - 2 April 1966
10	CAPT. Johnson, Silas Robert, USN	2 April 1966 - 24 July 1967
11	CAPT. Adams, Robert Edgar	24 July 1967 - 12 November 1968
12	CAPT. Harris Jr., William Lawrence :RADM	12 November 1968 - 6 May 1970
13	CAPT. Black, Charles Hamlin	6 May 1970 - 30 June 1971
14	CDR. Schoeckert, Robert D.	30 June 1971 - 21 November 1972
15	CDR. Schnitzer, Lawrence Edward	21 November 1972 - 10 July 1974
16	CAPT. Kucera, Ronald Cornell, USN (USNA 1955)	10 July 1974 - 30 June 1976
17	CDR. Lyons, Fredrick Morris, USN	30 June 1976 - 30 June 1978
18	CDR. Cagle, Lonnie F.	30 June 1978 - 10 June 1980
19	CDR. Picotte, Leonard Francis (Len) :RADM	10 June 1980 - 28 May 1982
20	CDR. Wall, James H.	28 May 1982 - 16 August 1984
21	CDR. Berg, Ronald Vincent	16 August 1984 - 27 February 1987
22	CAPT. Jurcheck, John C.	27 February 1987 - 21 July 1989
23	CDR. Rauch, Dale A.	21 July 1989 - 28 September 1990


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Dock Landing Ship Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 January 2024