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USS Frederick decommissioned: Navy's last tank landing ship leaves the fleet

Hawaii Navy News

Release Date: 10/11/2002 11:28:00 AM

By JO2 Jim Williams Editor

The Navy decommissioned USS Frederick (LST 1184), the sixth of 20 Newport-class tank landing ships, after 33 years of distinguished naval service during a ceremony at Naval Station Pearl Harbor on Oct. 5. Frederick was the naval reserve force's only amphibious ship and was also the last remaining tank landing ship to serve in the active naval fleet.

Rear Adm. Robert T. Conway Jr., Commander, Navy Region Hawaii/Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said Frederick always really lived up to the ship's motto "'Fast Freddie,' always ready!"

Today Frederick steps into a final place in our naval history," Conway said at the ceremony. "This ship passes into history, but will live on in the memories of those who served aboard her."

Other speakers included Brig. Gen. Jerry C. McAbee, Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Hawaii; Rear Adm. John P. Debbout, Deputy Commander, Naval Reserve Forces, and Mike Gunjak, president of the LST Association of America. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Terry D. Scott was also a guest at the ceremony.

"Having made more than 13 major deployments to the Western Pacific and the Far East, USS Frederick has always been on point supporting our nation and our democracy," said Debbout.

McAbee also emphasized the important part LSTs have played in the history of the Navy/Marine Corps Team.

"The passing of USS Frederick from the naval reserve force signals the end of a special family of American warships - a generation of fighting ships crewed by Sailors of the world's greatest Navy," McAbee said.

The second Navy ship named to honor the historic city of Frederick, Md., Frederick was built at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego, Calif. and commissioned April 11, 1970. After commissioning, Frederick moved into the homeport of San Diego where the ship made more than 16 major deployments to the Western Pacific and Far East. A few of the more noteworthy deployments included the South Vietnam withdrawal operations in 1970 and the refugee evacuations of 1974; Operation Sea Angel, the humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh; Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1994.

Frederick's primary mission was to load and transport troops, cargo and vehicles of all types to a combat area. The ship had the ability to launch and load amphibious vehicles via the 16-foot stern gate and the 110-foot bow ramp. Originally designed during WWII, tank landing ships supported the launch and recovery of troops and equipment directly onto the beachhead in support of an amphibious invasion via a bow ramp and embarked causeways. One thousand fifty-one World War II era LSTs were built in American shipyards during the war, marking the most mass-produced platform in naval history. LSTs served a major role in the success of the two most famous amphibious landings, the Invasion of Normandy and the Inchon Landing during the Korean War.

In January 1995, Frederick transferred to the naval reserve force (NRF) and changed homeports to Pearl Harbor later that year. Recently, Frederick conducted bilateral exercises with South East Asian navies and was on standby to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout the Pacific.

Commanded by Cmdr. Brian T. Smith, the ship maintained a Navy crew of 26 officers and 218 enlisted, as well as a selected reserve force of Marines including four officers and 51 enlisted complete with all of their equipment and up to 29 tanks.

"It's the end of an era, but is also a happy day because it's a great crew that brought life to this ship and kept it going for 32 years," said Smith following the ceremony.

The Frederick can also transport 29 tanks and other combat equipment.

From Pearl Harbor, Frederick is being sold to the Mexican Navy.

"Today the crew stands down the watch, having completed preparations to turn over the ship to our Mexican counterparts where the ship will continue to combat drug interdiction and terrorism," said Debbout.