LSD 47 Rushmore
United States Ship RUSHMORE (LSD 47) is the seventh ship of the LSD-41 WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the fourth ship of that class to serve in the Pacific Fleet. Rushmore's mission is to transport Marines with their combat equipment to areas designated throughout the world, then launch and support landing craft and helicopters during amphibious operations against hostile shores.
RUSHMORE carries Air Cushioned Landing Craft Vehicles (LCAC). LCACs are assault landing craft capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots when carrying a 60-ton payload. Using this versatile craft, RUSHMORE is able to carry out an amphibious assault against a wider range of beaches at distances that were not operationally feasible in the past.
Officially designated a Landing Ship Dock (LSD), RUSHMORE accomplishes her mission through the use of a well deck which is flooded to launch and recover landing craft. After departing the ship, the assault craft are directed toward the shore by the ship's Combat Information Center (CIC).
RUSHMORE is superbly designed to carry out her mission. With a 440-foot well deck capable of holding four LCACs, a flight deck able to land and launch up to two CH-53E helicopters, the Navy's latest diesel propulsion and engineering technology, advanced repair facilities, complete medical and dental facilities, and troop berthing accommodations for up to 627 embarked Marines, the warship RUSHMORE presents an exciting and formidable amphibious capability.
USS RUSHMORE is named after the Mount Rushmore National Monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota. RUSHMORE was built by Avondale Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Meredith Brokaw, wife of NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw, christened the ship RUSHMORE May 6, 1989. Commissioning ceremonies were held on June 1, 1991 on the banks of the Mississippi River at the River Walk, New Orleans.
The ship's first assignment was to deliver three Air Cushioned Landing Craft (LCAC) to Camp Pendleton, California from Panama City, Florida. Along the way, RUSHMORE conducted a port visit in Jamaica, traversed the Panama Canal, and visited Rodman, Panama. Camp Pendleton was the last stop before arriving at her homeport of San Diego.
During her first six-month deployment, USS RUSHMORE spearheaded the beach landing on Somalia during OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, the largest military humanitarian operation in history. OPERATION RESTORE HOPE was designed to provide food and medical relief to the starving people of Somalia.
RUSHMORE's 1994 WESTPAC deployment came almost one year ahead of schedule. She deployed with only four weeks notice and participated in OPERATION SUPPORT HOPE off the coast of Mombasa, Kenya, the USLO relocation in Somalia, and exercises with forces of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. During this deployment, RUSHMORE also was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.
RUSHMORE's 1996 deployment followed a complete and highly successful training cycle during which RUSHMORE earned the Blue "E" and the Battle "E". This deployment provided numerous international training opportunities for the TARAWA Amphibious Readiness Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit including COBRA GOLD '96 with Thailand, INFINITE MOONLIGHT with Jordan, RED REEF with Saudi Arabia, and MEUEX '96 with Kuwait. RUSHMORE demonstrated its superior adaptability throughout deployment by becoming the first LSD 41 class ship to employ Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBS) for the SPECWAR Detachment.
RUSHMORE concluded 1996 with a port visit to Mazatlan, Mexico. The ship earned its second consecutive Battle "E" in 1996.
RUSHMORE is the test platform for the "Smart Ship" program known as Gator 17. The ship was outfitted with several new technologies to reduce workload and manning levels. Information from the program aboard RUSHMORE will be used to assist in the design of the LPD-17 class amphibious ships. Installation was completed at the end of 1997.
RUSHMORE's 1999 deployment provided numerous international training opportunities for the PELELIU Amphibious Readiness Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including Operation IRON MAGIC with the United Arab Emirates and Exercise RED REEF with Saudi Arabia.
The USS RUSHMORE recently returned from her summer deployment in support of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise. Throughout the deployment to Southeast Asia, the Sailors and Marines of RUSHMORE participated in a variety of humanitarian projects as well as conducted military training with the host countries.
SHIELD: The shield is dark blue and gold, the colors traditionally associated with the Navy, representing the sea and excellence. South Dakota, the location of the Mount Rushmore Memorial for which the ship is named, is referred to by the gold and celestine escutcheon, recalling the colors of the state flag. The three silver stars represent the battle stars awarded in World War II to Lsd-14, the first USS RUSHMORE. The musket and cutlass symbolize traditional Navy values and the first amphibious operation conducted by the Navy and Marine Corps in Nassau in 1776 during the Revolutionary War. They are shown pointing down to denote nobility of purpose and restraint in the use of power, underscoring the motto. The alligator is the most powerful and traditional symbol of strength and versatility of amphibious warfare.
CREST: The mountain ridge in the crest symbolizes the Black Hills of western South Dakota, the location of the memorial. Two Black Hills Spruces, the South Dakota State tree, represent the two ships to bear the name RUSHMORE. A rope of gold and scarlet, the traditional colors of the Marine Corps, symbolizes the strong bond of the Navy-Marine Corps team and serves as a solid foundation for the mountain.
MOTTO: The motto "Nobility Power" is an excerpt from a speech made by the monument's sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, on the occasion of its dedication and describes the memorial's tribute to the nobility and power of the four presidents depicted there.
LSD 14
USS RUSHMORE (LSD-14) was laid down as HMS SWORD on New Year's Eve of 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia. She was launched as RUSHMORE on May 10, 1944. USS RUSHMORE (LSD-14) was commissioned on July 3, 1944.
Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Landing Ship Dock RUSHMORE departed Norfolk on August 5, 1944 for the Pacific where she participated in four amphibious landings: Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Palawan in February 1945, Mindano in March 1945 and Tarakan in May 1945.
After the war, RUSHMORE operated in the Far East, participated in occupied Japanese waters. She was decommissioned on August 10, 1946 and was mothballed in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
RUSHMORE was recommissioned in Charleston, South Carolina on September 21, 1950 to begin service with the Atlantic Fleet. She was finally decommissioned on September 30, 1970 and was transferred to the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet on the James River, in February 1971. RUSHMORE earned three battle stars for World War II service.
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