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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Duluth (LPD-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Juliet - Uniform NVJU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (24MAY72) - Navy Unit Commendation (5)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (5) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (11) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Op. Frequent Wind, 1-Lebanon, 1-Op. Sharpe Edge Liberia, 2-Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) - *Vietnam Service Medal (8 or 9) Southwest Asia Service Medal
Fourth Row - Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (3) - Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Fifth Row - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock:

Laid down, 18 December 1963, at the New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Launched, 14 August 1965

Commissioned (Special) USS Duluth (LPD-6), 18 December 1965, CAPT. Mark G. Tremaine USN in command

Upon completion of fitting out at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Commissioned in full,CAPT. Mark G. Tremaine in command

During the Vietnam War USS Duluth (LPD-6) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 27 to 31 May 1967	Consolidation I 25 to 26 October 1971 14 to 17 November 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 1 to 12 June 1967 27 June 1967 3 to 19 July 1967 21 to 31 July 1967 7 to 15 August 1967 1 to 10 September 1967 16 to 29 September 1967 10 to 31 October 1967 13 to 15 November 1967	Consolidation II 12 to 16 December 1971 23 February 1972 28 February to 1 March 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 8 December 1968 to 27 January 1969 13 to 22 February 1969	Vietnam Ceasefire 1 April to 6 May 1972 22 May to 11 June 1972 28 June to 15 July 1972
Tet/69 Counteroffensive 23 February to 29 March 1969 14 April to 27 May 1969	*Vietnam Evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) 29 to 30 April 1975
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 3 to 5 October 1970 5 to 6 November 1970 22 to 25 March 1971 30 March to 1 April 1971

Duluth was assigned to the Amphibious Force, COMNAVSURFPAC

Decommissioned, 28 September 2005, at Naval Station San Diego, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 28 September 2005

USS Duluth earned eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Op. Frequent Wind or nine campaign stars for the Vietnam Service Medal if the Armed Forces Medal is exchanged for the 18th Vietnam campaign Operation Frequent Wind

Title transferred to the Maritime Commission, 27 December 2013

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping

Specifications:
Displacement 9,201 t.(lt) 16,914 t.(fl)
Length 589'
Beam 105'
Draft 23 ft.
Speed 21 kts.

Complement

24 Officers

396 Enlisted

Troop Accommodations 900

Armament

two 25 mm MK38 guns

two Phalanx CIWS

eight 50 cal. mgs.

Well Deck Capacity one LCU or four LCM-8 or nine LCM-6 or 24 amphibious assault vehicles (AAV)

Aircraft none, but telescopic hangar installed aboard. The hangar is not used to accommodate helicopters but on the flight deck there is space for up to six CH-46

Propulsion

two Babcock & Wilcox 600 psi boilers

two Steam Turbines

two Shafts, 24,000 Shaft Horsepower

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
10090626	444k	*Namesake* Duluth - Named for the city of Duluth, Minnesota, which itself bore the name of Sir Daniel Greysolon De Lhut [Duluth] (1636-1710), the explorer who raised the French flag at the westernmost point of Lake Superior in 1679. LPD ships were named for cities that were named for “explorers and developers of America. Photo - Aerial image of the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, Canal Park and downtown Duluth. Taken over Lake Superior, June 2021. Photo by Chrisographer CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Map - Map of the Duluth Minnesota vicinity on Lake Superior	Tommy Trampp
	130k	Mrs. C. Brice Solomonson, daughter of Vice President Hubert Humphrey Christening Duluth (LPD-6), 14 August 1965, at New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.	Dale Hargrave
10090633	146k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** moored at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.1966. U.S. Navy "All Hands" magazine August 1966, p. 23.	Robert Hurst
	67k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** stands off Wunder Beach, Vietnam during amphibious operations, circa 1972. US Navy photo.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
10090627	80k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) underway in the background as a U.S. Navy Boeing Vertol CH-46D Sea Knight (BuNo 154001) assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH-10) takes off from the attack transport USS Mobile (LKA-115), circa 1972. Duluth** was assigned to Amphibious Squadron 5 (PHIBRON 5) which was deployed to the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and Vietnam from 1 October 1971 to 8 August 1972. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Mobile (LKA-115) 1971-1972 cruise book	Robert Hurst
100119150	68k	U.S. Navy Amphibious Squadron 5 (PHIBRON 5) underway in the Gulf of Tonkin, in 1972. The Squadron consisted of; the Amphibious Assault Ship *USS Tripoli* (LPH-10), left; the Amphibious Transport Dock USS Duluth (LPD-6), Dock Landing Ship USS Anchorage (LSD-36); and Attack Transport USS Mobile (LKA-115), right; and the Tank Landing Ship USS Schenectady (LST-1185), not visible. Also visible is the Amphibious Command Ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) on her first deployment. Blue Ridge and Anchorage are replenished by a Mars-class Combat Stores Ship. PHIBRON 5** was deployed to the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and Vietnam from 1 October 1971 to 8 August 1972. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Mobile (LKA-115)* 1971-1972 cruise book*	Robert Hurst
	134k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** under way, overhead view, date and location unknown.	Jerry Hays
	158k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** under way, overhead view, date and location unknown.	Jerry Hays
	77k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** passes Point Loma as she leaves San Diego heading out to sea, date unknown.	.
	63k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** under way, date and location unknown.
	115k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** under way in San Diego Bay, date unknown.	Jack Treutle
	141k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** outbound to sea from San Diego, date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
10090622	246k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** underway off San Diego Bay, date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
10090624	206k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** outbound to sea passing Point loma while exiting San Diego Bay, date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
10090623	201k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** at anchor off Coronado Beach, date unknown ©George Barber	Nicholas Triberio
1018166510	180k	*LCU-1665* departs the well-deck of the amphibious transport dock *USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** during exercise, circa April 1982. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	84k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** conducts operations off the coast of Aden, Yemen, 29 January 2000. US Navy photo # 001029-M-0557M-004 by PH1 David Miller.	Bill Gonyo
	70k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) leaves her berth at Naval Station San Diego, steaming through San Diego Bay enroute to join elements of the USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) at the start of a scheduled six-month deployment. Duluth has elements of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Unit** on board. . US Navy photo # 030106-N-5067K-003 by PH2 Michael D. Kennedy.	Bill Gonyo
	75k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** under way off the coast of San Diego, CA., 11 February 2004. US Navy photo # 040211-N-8629M-094 by PHAN Rebecca J. Moat.	Bill Gonyo
10090628	78k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** 3"/50 gun crew firing the guns in 1989. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Duluth (LPD-6) 1989 cruise book.	Robert Hurst
10090629	152k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** steams out of San Diego Bay, 6 January 2003, with her Sailors and Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) manning the rails. *Duluth* departed San Diego this date on a scheduled six-month deployment part of the *USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). U.S. Navy photo # 030106-N-0226M-002 by PHCS Mahlon K. Miller*	Robert Hurst
10090630	143k	Sailors and Marines man the rails as *USS Duluth* (LPD-6) pulls into her berth at Naval Station San Diego, 13 July 2003. Duluth** and her embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) supported U.S. and coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo # 030713-N-8590B-028 by PHAN Andrew J. Betting	Robert Hurst
10090631	78k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) off the coast of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, 7 January 2005. Duluth** was assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group Five (ESG-5), supporting Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian operation effort in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. U.S. Navy photo # 050107-N-1229B-064 by PHAN Patrick M. Bonafede.	Robert Hurst
09590289	185k	Crew members assigned to the guided missile frigate *USS Thach* (FFG-43), stand ready for their line handling duties as the ship makes her approach to USS Camden (AOE-2) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD-6)*, 24 March 2005. U.S. Navy photo # 050324-N-6932B-022* by PH1 Richard J. Brunson.	Robert Hurst
09590290	123k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) pulled alongside amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD-6)** for a night time replenishment at sea (RAS), 17 April 2005. Extreme safety measures are taken at all times for the ships and their crew members during operations where fuel and stores are taken onboard. U.S. Navy photo # 050417-N-4309A-049 by PH1 Aaron Ansarov.	Robert Hurst
10090632	201k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) arriving at Pearl Harbor, 26 May 2005, for a brief port visit on her return leg of a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Duluth was part of Expeditionary Strike Group Five, which was led by its flagship, the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)**. U.S. Navy photo # 050526-N-3019M-011 by JO3 Ryan C. McGinley.	Robert Hurst
	108k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) returns to Naval Base San Diego after a 15-day underway period to Esquimalt, British Columbia and Seal Beach, Calif. This was Duluth*’s final underway period after 39 years of service. During her last deployment she supported operations in the Persian Gulf and humanitarian efforts in Southeast Asia. U.S. Navy photo by JOSN Joseph Caballero . US Navy photo # 050722-N-3532C-001* by JOSN Joseph Caballero.	Lee Wahler
09034211	72k	Ships laid up at NISMF Pearl Harbor from top to bottom, ex-*USS Duluth* (LPD-6), ex-USS Acadia (AD-42), ex-USS Durham LKA-114) and ex-USS St. Louis (LKA-116)**, 26 July 2006.	Photo by Yu Chu
	67k	Ex-*USS Duluth* (LPD-6) and ex-USS Ogden (LPD-5)** laid up in reserve in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Pearl Harbor, HI., 2008.	Yu Chu
	196k	Ex-*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** being towed out of Pearl Harbor, HI., 23 October 2013, enroute Brownsville, TX. for scrapping.	CAPT. Wade Armstrong, Pearl Harbor Pilots
	174k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** memorial, Duluth Minnesota. Photo by Dave Schauer, 6 November 2016.	Yu Chu
10090620	54k	*USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** ship's bell on display at the Duluth Depot St Louis County Heritage & Arts Center.	Chin Yu Chu
10090625	595k		Chin Yu Chu
	272k	State of Minnesota Proclamation - *USS Duluth* (LPD-6)** Reunion Week, September 6-10, 2017.	Yu Chu

For more photos and information about USS Duluth, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
USS Duluth (LPD-6) Crewmembers Association
2002 Welcome Aboard pamphlet

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Tremaine, Mark George, USN (USNA 1945)	18 December 1965 - 27 August 1966
02	CAPT. Price Jr., Arthur Whyte, USN :RADM	27 August 1966 - 23 January 1968
03	CAPT. Pitz, Marcellus Thompson, USN (USNA 1946)	23 January 1968 - 9 June 1969
04	CAPT. Moore, Robert Edward, USN	9 June 1969 - 4 October 1970
05	CAPT. Mitchell, John Edward, USN	4 October 1970 - 6 September 1972
06	CAPT. Hill, Allen Edward (Boot), USN :RADM	6 September 1972 - 14 May 1973
07	CAPT. Whaley, William Semmes (Fish), USN (USNA 1950)	14 May 1973 - 26 April 1975
08	CAPT. Carroll, Peter August, USN	26 April 1975 - 13 November 1976
09	CAPT. Grimes Jr., Laurence Hill, USN (USNA 1955)	13 November 1976 - 21 May 1978
10	CAPT. Matthews Jr., Paul Calvin, USN	21 May 1978 - 1 July 1980
11	CAPT. Strole, Dennis Silver, USN	1 July 1980 - 21 December 1981
12	CAPT. Hedley, Peter Fraser, USN	21 December 1981 - 2 March 1984
13	CAPT. Barry, Kenneth Randolph, USN	2 March 1984 - 17 February 1986
14	CAPT. Picotte, Leonard Francis (Len), USN :RADM	17 February 1986 - 20 February 1988
15	CAPT. Dow, John Irvan, USN	20 February 1988 - 15 August 1989
16	CAPT. McKinley, John Charles, USN	15 August 1989 - 6 September 1991
17	CAPT. Magee, Terry Edward, USN	6 September 1991 - 27 March 1993
18	CAPT. Ormsbee, Richard Berryman, USN	27 March 1993 - 2 September 1994
19	CAPT. Stevens, Paul Harold, USN	2 September 1994 - 21 May 1996
20	CDR. Inbody, Donald Stephen, USN	21 May 1996 - 12 December 1997
21	CDR. Cruz, Paul Anthony Gogue, USN	12 December 1997 - 8 June 1999
22	CDR. Brunner, Glenn Martin, USN	8 June 1999 - 28 February 2000
23	CDR. Gillilland, Shaun, USN	28 February 2000 - 12 September 2002
24	CDR. Emmert, Charles Gene, USN	12 September 2002 - 13 March 2004
25	CDR. Grippin, Larry Dean, USNR	13 March 2004 - 28 September 2005


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 1 March 2024