USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
 USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) transits the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name: | Oak Hill |
| Namesake: | Oak Hill |
| Ordered: | 27 March 1991 |
| Laid down: | 21 September 1992 |
| Launched: | 11 June 1994 |
| Commissioned: | 8 June 1996 |
| Homeport: | JEB Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia |
| Identification: |
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| Motto: | Nations' Protector |
| Status: | in active service |
| Badge: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 609 ft 7 in (185.80 m) |
| Beam: | 84 ft (26 m) |
| Draft: | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Decks: | 12 |
| Installed power: | 4 Fairbanks Morse 12 cylinder opposed piston generators |
| Propulsion: | 4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW) |
| Speed: | over 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: | 2 landing craft air cushion (LCAC) or 1 landing craft unit (LCU) |
| Capacity: | 15 amphibious assault vehicles, 2 M1A1 Abrams tanks |
| Troops: | Marine detachment: 402 + 102 surge |
| Complement: | 22 officers, 397 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. Oak Hill is the second United States Navy ship to be named after Oak Hill, the home of U.S. President James Monroe.
Overview
USS Oak Hill is commanded by Commander Philip E. Knight, U.S. Navy. The ship is currently homeported at Little Creek Amphibious Base, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is assigned to Amphibious Squadron 4.[1]
Oak Hill honors the residence of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. The Monroe Doctrine was penned at Oak Hill, and subsequently delivered at an 1823 Congressional address which asserted that the Western Hemisphere was never to be colonized again. This doctrine is the inspiration for the Ship’s Motto: Nations’ Protector. USS Oak Hill is the second ship to honor the residence.[1]
Operational history
Oak Hill was commissioned on 8 June 1996 and is a Whidbey Island Cargo Variant-Dock Landing Ship.
Shortly after commissioning, Oak Hill served as command and control ship for the recovery of TWA Flight 800 wreckage.
From February to July 2000 the ship deployed with the USS Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) in the Mediterranean Sea in support of the military exercises Dynamic Mix and Noble Shirley. In May 2001 the ship was opened to public tours for Fleet Week at Port Everglades, Florida. From February to August 2002 Oak Hill was sent with the Wasp ARG and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
From January to March 2005 the vessel was sent to the Caribbean Sea as part of the Saipan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in support of a New Horizons humanitarian assistance to Haiti. From January to May 2006, Oak Hill sailed with the destroyer Roosevelt and the cruiser Vicksburg to the Persian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
From January to July 2007 the ship was a member of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) that sailed to the Horn of Africa in support of the GWOT. In March, the ship was surge deployed to the Horn of Africa to conduct maritime interdiction operations (MIO) in support of the GWOT. This deployment lasted until October 2008. From June to August 2009 Oak Hill sailed to South America in support of the multi-national amphibious exercise, Southern Partnership Station ‘09.
On 4 July 2011 the vessel participated in Independence Day activities in Boston with USS Constitution, through public tours, ceremonial guard, and training. From October to December that year, the ship was traveled to South Africa to take part in the multi-national amphibious exercise, Southern Partnership Station ’11.
In May 2014, Oak Hill was designated the flagship for New York Fleet Week at Pier 92 in Manhattan. In September, the ship was designated the flagship for the "Star Spangled Celebration" (bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812) at Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland. In October the ship participated in Operation Bold Alligator 2014.
From May to September 2015 Oak Hill completed pre-deployment certification operations with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. From October 2015 to May 2016 the ship deployed with Arlington and Kearsarge as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group to 6th Fleet and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
In June 2016 the ship completed surge deployment to 4th Fleet area of responsibility in support of the Panama Canal Expansion Ceremony. In August 2016 Oak Hill made a guest ship visit to Rockland, Maine in support of Annual Rockland Main Lobster Festival.
Oak Hill was deployed to the Texas coastline to assist with recovery from Hurricane Harvey[2]. When Irma threatened the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, it was sent along with the Kearsarge to assist there instead, and is on station in Puerto Rico to assist with recovery from Hurricane Maria.[3]
Coat of arms
Shield
The dark blue and gold represent the U.S. Navy. The eagle’s head, derived from the Coat of Arms of the Monroe family, represents both the heritage of the home Oak Hill for which the ship is named, and also the United States. The compass rose symbolizes navigation and a world-wide scope of operations. The anchor represents the trials and tribulations in the life of a sailor. A fouled anchor is the worst enemy. Gold stands for excellence, red for courage and sacrifice, and white for integrity.
Crest
The torch, derived from the Statue of Liberty’s torch, symbolizes freedom, and also refers to the protection denoted in the ship’s motto. The gold mullets record the five Battle Stars awarded to the first USS OAK HILL (LSD 7) for service in World War II. Gold signifies excellence.
Supporters
The crossed Navy and Marine Corps officer swords symbolizes the ship’s united mission with the United States Marine Corps in amphibious operations.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Oak Hill (LSD-51). |