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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Comstock (LSD-19)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Alpha - Lima
NJAL

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth - Korean Service Medal (10) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Quemoy-Matsu, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5)
Fifth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (5) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

USS Comstock (LSD-19) was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and renamed ROCS Chung Cheng (LSD-191)

Casa Grande Class Dock Landing Ship:

Launched, 28 April 1945, at Newport New Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA.

Commissioned USS Comstock (LSD-19), 2 July 1945, LCDR. John C. Rochester, USNR, in command

Following World War II USS Comstock was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
19 October 1945 to 21 April 1946	19 October 1945 - 21 April 1946
20 October to 8 November 1945	4 to 13 September 1948
19 to 23 November 1945	24 December 1948 - 5 May 1949
3 to 6 December 1945
28 December 1945 to 3 January 1946
13 February to 1 March 1946
24 to 26 March 1946
18 to 20 April 1946
17 to 22 January 1948
22 to 29 November 1949

During the Korean War USS Comstock participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 10 to 12 September 1950 18 September to 27 October 1950	UN Summer-Fall Offensive 22 to 23 October 1951 1 to 27 November 1951
Communist China Aggression 3 December 1950 to 24 January 1951	Second Korean Winter 28 November 1951 11 to 28 December 1951
Inchon Landing 13 to 17 September 1950	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 17 July 1952 25 July to 13 August 1952 25 August to 8 September 1952 20 September to 17 October 1952
First UN Counter Offensive 25 January to 10 April 1951 21 April 1951	Third Korean Winter 12 to 18 April 1953
Communist China Spring Offensive 22 April to 12 May 1951 15 to 20 May 1951	Korean Summer-Fall 1953 3 to10 and 15 to 20 May 1953 18 to 20 July 1953

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

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 9 to 12 September 1963 4 January 1965 17 January to 20 February 1965 7 to 9, 16 to 18 and 21 to 25 March 1965 6 to 21 April 1965 3 to 8 and 23 to 30 May 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 26 November 1967 to 3 January 1968
Vietnam Defense 30 August to 1 September 1965 6 to 7 September 1965	Tet Counteroffensive 1 February to 10 March 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 27 August 1966 8 September to 14 November 1966 4 and 10 to 17 December 1966 8 to 16 January 1967	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 18 to 29 June 1969 7 July to 13 August 1969 11 to 13 and 18 to 20-September 1969 29 September to 5 October 1969

Decommissioned, 7 April 1970 at Bremerton, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1976

USS Comstock earned ten battle stars for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Title transfer to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Sold for scrapping, 17 October 1984 by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), towed to Taiwan for scrapping

Instead of being scrapped the Republic of China navy replaced ex-USS White Marsh (LSD-8) with ex-USS Comstock (LSD-19) and renamed ex-Comstock as ROCS Cheng Chung (LSD-191) the same name and hull number the ex-White Marsh carried

Decommissioned by the Republic of China navy, retired, 1 July 2012

Final Disposition, sunk as artificial reef, 30 June 2015 ,off the coast of Pingtung County, Taiwan

Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
Length 457' 9" o.a.
Beam 72'2"

Draft

8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft)

15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)

Speed 17 kts (design speed)

Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots

Complement

Officers 17

Enlisted 237

Troop Accommodations

Officers 22

Enlisted 218

Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)

three LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or

two LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or

fourteen LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or

forty-seven DUKW or

forty-one LVT or

Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity

Aircraft (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount in open tub (w/director)

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts (local control)

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 11,720 Bbls

Diesel 160 Bbls

Gasoline 5,085 Gals

Propulsion

two Newport News Shipbuilding steam turbines

two Babcock and Wilcox oil fired D-type boilers, two drum, single furnace, single uptake, 250psi

single Newport New Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship' Service Generators

twin propellers, 7,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Comstock (LSD-19)
	183k	RADM. O. L. Cox and his daughter, Mrs. Henry O. Redue, Jr., sponsor of Comstock (LSD 19) prepare to Christen the ship, 28 April 1945, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA. Photo from the shipyard in house publication "Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Bulletin".	S. Dale Hargrave
	355k	Comstock (LSD-19) launching ceremony, 28 April 1945, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA. Photo from the shipyard in house publication "Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Bulletin".	S. Dale Hargrave
	692k	Comstock (LSD-19) slides down the ways, 28 April 1945, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA. Photo from the shipyard in house publication "Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Bulletin".	S. Dale Hargrave
	521k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** under way near Vancouver, B.C., 1 July 1947. City of Vancouver Archives, Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-4069, by Walter E. Frost.	Mike Green
10121916	121k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** underway while overseeing minesweeping operations that preceded a Royal Marine assault in the Chinampo, Korea, area on 20 May 1951. U.S Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 107630	Robert Hurst and David Buell
	130k	*USS Mockingbird* (AMC-27) cleans water off Chinnampo, Korea inshore of USS Comstock (LSD 19)*, shortly before a raid by British Royal Marines. U.S. Navy photo from the August 1953 issue of All Hands magazine*	Robert Hurst and Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory)
	95k	British Royal Marines boarding *USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** landing craft to carry them to the landing beach at Chinnampo, Korea, 20 May 1951. Photo taken by unknown American official photographer. Photo No. GOV 5836 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums, part of the Central Office of Information Post 1945 Official Public Relations Collection.	Robert Hurst
	64k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** at San Diego, 1956	Dale C Haskin
	109k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** in bound San Francisco Bay, June 1957, enroute to a shipyard at Alameda for an extended overhaul. Photo by Allied Photographers.	Robert M. Cieri
	114k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** under way in San Francisco, circa 1958, after completion of overhaul at shipyard in Alameda. Note her 5" gun mount and 20mm gun mounts have been removed.	John A. Gocke USS Comstock
10121925	279k	Personnel transfer via hi-line between *USS Comstock* (LSD-19) and USS Vesuvius (AE-15)**, March 1961, Pacific Ocean.	Hank Zaletel USS Vesuvius
10121926	389k		Hank Zaletel USS Vesuvius
	40k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19) under way, circa November 1961, enroute WESTPAC, between Hawaii and Okinawa. Comstock's WESTPAC tour ran from October 1961 to April 1962. Other ships in the formation would have included; USS Lenawee (APA-195), USS Thomaston (LSD-28)** an LPH and possibly an AKA.	Photo - USS Gunston Hall web site Caption - Les Bates USS Gunston Hall
	113k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19) at anchor off Chu Lai, South Vietnam, June 1965, with her stern gate down. She has not yet flooded her ballast tanks to bring the well deck under water. Alongside is LCU-1481. Note the superdeck fitted over the well deck for the carriage of additional vehicles. In the background is USS Thomaston (LSD-28)**, with her stern gate still raised. Photo and text from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History" by Norman Friedman.	Robert Hurst
10121927	403k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19) delivering Swift-boat PCF-87** at Vietnam in 1966. U.S. Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine December 1966, p. 39.	Robert Hurst
	86k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19), with USS Fort Marion (LSD-22) and USS Cree (ATF-84)** moored at Naval Station San Diego, circa 6 June to 7 December 1969.	© Richard Leonhardt
	1077k	*USS Comstock* (LSD-19)** under way, date and location unknown.	Charles Lamm
ROCS Chung Cheng (LSD-191)
	76k	Ex- Comstock (LSD-19) in the Republic of China service as ROCSChung Cheng (LSD-191), port side 29 July 2004 at Kaohsiung Naval Base.	Yu-Lun Miao
	117k	Starboard broadside view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	137k	Starboard bow view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	138k	Port bow view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	118k	Bow on view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	133k	Starboard bow view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	156k	Starboard side midships forward view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	96k	Starboard side midships view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	95k	Starboard side midships aft view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	138k	Starboard side stern view of *ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191)** at anchor in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 2006.	Perry Huang
	388k	Ex-*ROCS Chung Cheng* (LSD-191) moored pierside at Tsoying, Taiwan, 18 September 2012, two months after being decommissioned by the Taiwan Navy in July 2012. Chung Cheng was 68 years old. She served in the US Navy for 35 years, being decommissioned in 1970 and laid up in reserve for 14 years thereafter. On 17 Oct. 1984 the ship was sold to Taiwan for scrap. However, after being towed to Taiwan the decision was made to commission the vessel as ROCS Chung Cheng (LSD-191)**. She operated out of Southern Taiwan for another 28 years. The simple propulsion plants allowed this to happen without access to any drawings or technical manuals. The two machinery spaces were each equipped with a Babcock and Wilcox 250 psi saturated steam boiler. Each HP/LP impulse - reaction turbine engine delivered a modest 3500 SHP. The final demise was due to hull leakage flooding. Settling at the aft end caused a permanent hull deflection at the stern. This resulted in severe shaft misalignment and the end of a remarkable career for the ship.	Photo by Frank R. Liese

USS Comstock (LSD-19)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Rochester, John C., USNR	2 July 1945 - 1 June 1946
02	CDR. Benz, Alfred Jacob, USN (USNA 1925)	1 June 1946 - 9 August 1946
03	CDR. Ford, Thomas W., CDR USNR	9 August 1946 - 4 September 1946
04	CDR. Baker, Harry Borden, USNR	4 September 1946 - 9 May 1947
05	LCDR. Lamka, Raymond Walter, USN	9 May 1947 - 23 May 1947
06	CDR. Huff, George Perry, USN (USNA 1932)	23 May 1947 - 24 June 1948
07	CDR. Miller, Theodore Taft, USN (USNA 1930)	24 June 1948 - 2 June 1949
08	CAPT. Archer, Robert John USN (USNA 1928)	2 June 1949 - 9 May 1950
09	CAPT. Goyette, Emmanuel Thomas USN (USNA 1927)	9 May 1950 - 2 July 1951
10	CAPT. Winter Jr. William, USN (USNA 1932)	2 July 1951 - 14 April 1952
11	CDR. Matthews, Frederick Richard, USN (USNA 1935)	14 April 1952 - 18 October 1952
12	CDR. Waliszewski, Henry Ludwig, USN	18 October 1952 - 22 October 1954
13	CDR. Lank, Harold Clase, USN (USNA 1939)	22 October 1954 - 6 November 1954
14	LCDR. Fodor, Sam, USN	6 November 1954 - 18 December 1954
15	CDR. Zwicker, Francklyn William Clair, USN	18 December 1954 - 5 January 1956
16	CDR. Murray, Phillip Arin, USN	5 January 1956 - 15 December 1956
17	CDR. Clark Jr., Alexander Hugh, USN (USNA 1941)	15 December 1956 - 15 April 1958
18	CDR. Kable, Donald Mark, USN (USNA 1940)	15 April 1958 - 22 September 1959
19	CAPT. Sandvigen, Ralph Edward, USN	22 September 1959 - 29 September 1961
20	CDR. Mehus, John Harald, USN	29 September 1961 - 28 May 1963
21	CDR. Kempf, Lawrence Albert (Larry), USN	28 May 1963 - 2 November 1964
22	CDR. Jernee, Jack Grover, USN	2 November 1964 - 18 June 1966
23	CDR. Powell, Robert Arthur, USN	18 June 1966 - 6 October 1967
24	CDR. Morris, James Haines, USN :RADM	6 October 1967 - 8 November 1968
25	CDR. Ripley, Robert Kenyon, USN	8 November 1968 - 22 January 1970
26	LCDR. Stewart, Charles Carroll, LCDR	22 January 1970 - 7 April 1970


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 10 November 2023