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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive



Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Rushmore (LSD-47)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Xray - Whiskey
NDXW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Bottom Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Somalia)


Whidbey Island Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 September 1987, at Avondale Shipbuilding New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 6 May 1989
  • Commissioned USS Rushmore (LSD-47), 1 June 1991, CDR. Bruce E. Dunscombe in command
  • Rushmore is assigned to COMSURFPAC Amphibious Group Three and is homeported at San Diego, CA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,471 t.(lt), 16,360 t.(fl)
    Length 609' 7"
    Beam 84'
    Draft 19' 2"
    Speed 20+kts,
    Complement
    24 Officers
    327 Enlisted
    Troop Capacity
    25 Officers
    475 Enlisted
    Aircraft helicopters (Flight Deck, 2 spots)
    Boats (Well Deck Capacity) up to five LCAC's
    Armament
    two (mk15 mod1) Phalanx (CIWS) 20mm Vulcan cannon gun mounts
    two (mk16) 25mm Bushmaster chain gun mounts
    six .50 cal machine guns
    Propulsion
    four Colt-Pieistick PC2.5V 16 cylinder marines diesel engines
    four 1,300kw Fairbanks-Morse O-P 38D8-1/8 Generating Sets
    two controllable pitch propellers, combined SHP 33,000

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rushmore
    10124735
    421k
    Namesake
    Mount Rushmore, showing the full size of the mountain and the scree of rocks from the sculpting and construction. Photo By Badget
    Rushmore - Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota is the location of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. A sculpture carved into the granite face of the mountain. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the sculpture's design and oversaw the project's execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son Lincoln Borglum. The sculpture features the 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). The memorial park covers 1,278.45 acres and is 5,725 feet above sea level. (Wikipedia)
    Tommy Trampp
    Rushmore 509k Rushmore (LSD-47) on the builders ways ready for launching, 6 May 1989, at Avondale Shipbuilding New Orleans, LA. Dale Hargrave
    Rushmore 56k Mrs. Meredith Brokaw, wife of Tom Brokaw of NBC News, sponsor of Rushmore (LSD-47), Christens the ship, 6 May 1989, at Avondale Shipbuilding New Orleans, LA. Dale Hargrave
    Rushmore 881k Rushmore (LSD-47) side launching, 6 May 1989, at Avondale Shipbuilding New Orleans, LA. Dale Hargrave
    Rushmore
    10124737
    542k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. ©George Barber Nicholas Tiberio
    Rushmore 71k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) steams out of San Diego Bay, 6 January 2003, as she departs on a scheduled six-month deployment.
    US Navy Newsstand photo # 030106-N-0226M-004 by PHCS Mahlon K. Miller.
    Bernard A. Cardali USS LST-308
    Rushmore 25k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) underway off the Hawaiian Islands, date unknown. USS Rushmore (LSD-47) web site
    Rushmore 66k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) steams out of San Diego Bay, 6 January 2003, as she departs on a scheduled six-month deployment.
    US Navy Newsstand photo # 030106-N-0226M-003 by PHCS Mahlon K. Miller.
    Bernard A. Cardali USS LST-308
    Rushmore 105k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) leaves Pearl Harbor, 28 June 2002, to participate in exercise "Rim of the Pacific" (RIMPAC) 2002.
    US Navy Newsstand photo # 020628-N-3228G-001 by PH1 William R. Goodwin.
    Bernard A. Cardali USS LST-308
    Rushmore 336k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) leaving San Diego, 6 January 2003.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Rushmore 303k Sailors aboard USS Rushmore (LSD-47) "man the rails" as the ship arrives at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, HI., 28 June 2004. Rushmore is in Pearl Harbor to take part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This years exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region.
    US Navy photo # 040628-N-3581D-007 Pearl Harbor (Jun. 28, 2004), by PH2 Maurice Dayao
    Robert Hurst
    Rushmore
    10124728
    (040711-N-4304S-238)
    269k USS Rushmore (LSD-47), the Australian replenishment vessel HMAS Success (AOR 304) and the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1) conduct a Refuel At Sea (RAS) operation. These ships are a few of many participating in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 11 July 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This year's exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region.
    US Navy photo #'s;
    040711-N-4304S-238 (Jul. 11, 2004) PACIFIC OCEAN,
    040711-N-4304S-262 (Jul. 11, 2004) PACIFIC OCEAN
    and
    040711-N-4304S-268 (Jul. 11, 2004) PACIFIC OCEAN by PH2 Bradley J. Sapp and
    040711-N-5055W-055 (Jul. 11, 2004) PACIFIC OCEAN by PH1 Jane West
    Robert Hurst
    Rushmore
    10124729
    (040711-N-4304S-262)
    382k
    Rushmore
    10124730
    (040711-N-4304S-268)
    233k
    Rushmore
    19124731
    (040711-N-5055W-055)
    552k
    Rushmore 380k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) moored at the Mole Pier Naval Station San Diego, CA., 8 January 2006. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Rushmore 159k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) moored pierside at Naval Station, San Diego, CA., December 2007. The stern of the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) is also visible in this photo. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Rushmore 159k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) moored pierside at Naval Station, San Diego, CA., January 2008. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Rushmore 2054k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) moored pierside at Naval Station, San Diego, CA., May 2009. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Rushmore 404k The amphibious dock landing ships USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) share a pier with the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18) at Naval Base San Diego.
    US Navy photo # 110831-N-ZC343-617 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 31, 2011) by MCC Joe Kane.
    Lee Wahler
    Bridge 180k The Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) connects with USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5) during a replenishment at sea. Peleliu is the flagship for the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group as is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise in the Pacific Ocean with Rushmore and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20).
    US Navy photo # 120802-N-LQ926-030 PACIFIC OCEAN (August 2, 2012) by MCSN Alex Van't Leven
    Lee Wahler
    Green Bay 186k A UH-1Y Huey helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Squadron (HMM) 364 (REIN) passes amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) during an exercise. Green Bay is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and, with embarked elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15 MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility
    US Navy photo.# 130329-N-BB534-278 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March. 29, 2013) by MC1 Elizabeth Merriam.
    Lee Wahler
    Peleliu
    10070594
    173k The Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5), amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20), center, and USS Rushmore(LSD-47), top, steam in formation in the Pacific Ocean April 23, 2013. The ships were part of the Peleliu Amphibious Readiness Group and were underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
    US Navy photo # 130423-N-ZM744-1427 PACIFIC OCEAN (APRIL 23, 2013) by MC3 Michael Duran.
    Robert Hurst
    Peleliu 232k The Amphibious Assault Ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5) leads the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) during a transit of the Pacific Ocean. Peleliu is the flagship for the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, on deployment in the western Pacific region.
    US Navy photo # 130423-N-ZM744-177 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 23, 2013) by MC3 Michael Duran.
    Lee Wahler
    Rushmore 325k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) passes the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) as Coronado makes her way into her new homeport at Naval Base San Diego. Coronado is the third US Navy ship named after Coronado, CA., and is the second littoral combat ship of the Independence-class variant.
    US Navy photo # 140310-N-SV210-059 SAN DIEGO (March 10, 2014) by MCC Donnie W. Ryan
    Lee Wahler
    Rushmore 227k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) foreground, waits to make its approach while the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5), left, and the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111), right, conduct a replenishment at sea with the fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) in the Pacific Ocean, 24 June 2014. The ships were en route to participate in the Rim of the Pacific 2014 exercise, a U.S. Pacific Fleet-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security of the world’s oceans.
    US Navy photo # 140624-N-HU377-117 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 24, 2014) by MC3 Dustin Knight
    Robert Hurst
    Rushmore
    10124733
    (140711-M-DP650-001)
    100k The Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector approaches USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and prepares to enter the ship's well deck to load up heavy equipment during its first mission off the coast of Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, 11 July 2014, during a Marine Corps Advanced Warfighting Experiment. The AWE is the culmination of a decade of progressive experimentation conducted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) where they are testing potential future technologies, solutions and concepts to future Marine Air Ground Task Force challenges. The AWE is taking part during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. The UHAC prototype is a ship-to-shore connector and is half the size of the intended machine. Currently, the UHAC travels at four knots using a track system with floatation-like pads that propels itself through different terrain. For its first mission, the UHAC paddled two miles off the coast and loaded up an internally transportable vehicle (ITV) aboard the Rushmore before disembarking and heading back to MCTAB to offload the vehicle.
    US Marine Corp photo #'s 140711-M-DP650-001 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 11, 2014) and 140711-M-DP650-004 by Cpl. Matthew J. Bragg
    Robert Hurst
    Rushmore
    10124734
    (140711-M-DP650-004)
    131k
    Anchorage 161k The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) participates in a simulated straits transit. The Essex ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), the San Antonio-class transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD-23), and USS Rushmore (LSD-47). The Essex ARG is underway conducting an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit integration training exercise with Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) in preparation for an upcoming deployment.
    US Navy photo # 150228-N-YK910-007 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 28, 2015) ) by MC2 Christopher B. Janik.
    Lee Wahler
    Rushmore 272k USS Rushmore (LSD-47) is conducting a simulated strait transit with the Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Essex (LHD-2) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD-23). Rushmore is underway participating in a composite training unit exercise with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
    US Navy photo # 150323-N-MD297-212 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 23, 2015) by MC3 Huey D. Younger Jr.
    Lee Wahler
    Henry J Kaiser 359k Sailors and Marines aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) watch as the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187) supplies Essex and USS Rushmore (LSD-47) during a replenishment-at-sea. Essex is underway participating in a composite training unit exercise with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group.
    US Navy photo # 150325-N-MD297-038 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 25, 2015) by MC3 Huey D. Younger Jr.
    Lee Wahler
    Rushmore 971k An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter attached to the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 lifts pallets of supplies from the flight deck of the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193) during a vertical replenishment with USS Rushmore (LSD-47). Rushmore is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
    US Navy photo # 150614-N-MD297-028 SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 14, 2015) by MC2 Huey D. Younger Jr.
    Lee Wahler
    Laramie 258k USNS Laramie (T-AO-203) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport Dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23), right, and the Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) during a scheduled deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) The Essex ARG is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.
    US Navy photo # 180904-N-PH222-0229 GULF OF ADEN (Sept. 4, 2018) by MC3 Ryan M. Breeden.
    Lee Wahler
    Rushmore
    10124736
    36k USS Rushmore (LPD-47) arming/disarming at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, 1 October 2021 Photo by John Spivey


    For more photos and information about USS Rushmore, see;
  • USS Rushmore (LSD-47)
  • USS Rushmore (LSD-47) Historical Chronology
  • Navy Fact File - Dock Landing Ship - LSD
  • Command Operational Report for Calander Year 1999

  • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Dunscombe, Bruce Edward, USN1 June 1991 - 22 January 1993
    02CDR. Poplar III, James, USN22 January 1993 - 7 October 1994
    03CDR. Touchberry, Forrest Lee, USNR7 October 1994 - 4 July 1996
    04CDR. Madsen, Craig Charles, USN 4 July 1996 - 24 April 1998
    05CDR. Williams, Thomas Robert, USN24 April 1998 - 12 March 1999
    06CDR. Howard, Michelle Janine, USN (USNA 1982) :ADM12 March 1999 - 21 November 2000
    07CDR. Fanta, Peter Joseph, USN (USNA 1983) :RADM21 November 2000 - 16 August 2002
    08CDR. Saunders, Clayton Douglas, USN (USNA 1984)16 August 2002 - 24 February 2004
    09CDR. Fox, Richard Newton, USN 24 February 2004 - 24 February 2006
    10CDR. O'Connor Cathal S., USN :RADM24 February 2006 - 18 August 2007
    11CDR. Slocumb, Calvin D., USN18 August 2007 - 12 January 2009
    12CDR. Grotewold, William Robert, USN12 January 2009 - 15 October 2010
    13CDR. Finman, Brian James, USN (USNA 1992)15 October 2010 - 3 December 2012
    14CDR. Robinson, James Tate, USN3 December 2012 - 10 June 2014
    15CDR. Stephens, Thomas Scott, USN10 June 2014 - 1 March 2016
    16CDR. DeGroot, Sarah H., USN1 March 2016 - 21 November 2016
    17CDR. Sanders, Karrey DeWayne, USN (USNA 1997) (temporary)21 November 2016 - January 2017
    18CDR. Ryan, John, USNJanuary 2017 - 25 May 2018
    19CDR. Tryon, Robert Clayton (Rob), USN25 May 2018 - 18 October 2019
    20CDR. Marling, Robin Nicole, USN (USNA 2001)18 October 2019 - 4 February 2021
    21CDR. Royse, Emily Y., USN4 February 2021 - 6 January 2023
    22CDR. Gallant, Bryan M., USN6 January 2023 -  
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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