USS Juneau (LPD-10)

USS|Juneau|LPD-10, an "Austin"-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the capital of Alaska.

Her keel was laid down by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington, on 23 January 1965. She was launched on 12 February 1966 (sponsored by Mrs. William A. Egan, wife of William A. Egan, the Governor of Alaska), and commissioned on 12 July 1969.

Throughout the 1970s, "Juneau" completed five deployments to the western Pacific, including eight trips into Vietnamese waters, earning five battle stars for its efforts in the Vietnam War. "Juneau" conducted the first AV-8A Harrier landing on a Pacific Fleet LPD in February 1976. On 4 July, 1976, the "Juneau" arrived in Juneau, Alaska with a complement of Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division as part of the United States' Bicentennial celebrations.

During the 1980s "Juneau" completed seven deployments. In April 1989, "Juneau" received emergency orders to Prince William Sound in support of the Exxon Valdez oil spill clean up. She was the first naval vessel on station, and assumed the duties of command and control ship for Joint Task Force Alaska. She provided berthing, communications, transportation (both surface and air), food, medical and laundry services for over four hundred civilian cleanup workers.

After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the initiation of Operation Desert Shield, "Juneau" sailed with 12 other ships of Amphibious Group Three in December 1990 to participate in Operation Desert Storm. Joining with ships from Amphibious Group Two, "Juneau" was a member of the largest amphibious task force since the United Nations assault on Inchon, South Korea. On 24 February 1991 "Juneau" off-loaded her equipment and ammunition in record time and landed her embarked troops at Ras Al Mishab, Saudi Arabia, whence they would assault Iraqi positions in southern Kuwait.

In May 1991, "Juneau" proceeded to Bangladesh to assist in Operation Sea Angel, providing relief after a disastrous cyclone.

During her 14th deployment, "Juneau" was diverted to the coast of Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. Her embarked Marines ensured the security of shipments of food supplies to the people of Somalia.

"Juneau" was homeported in San Diego, California until 30 July 1999 when she relieved USS|Dubuque|LPD-8 as part of the forward-deployed naval forces. Since that date she has been homeported in Sasebo, Japan.

From June to September 1999 "Juneau" participated in the first SHIP-SWAP with her sister-ship "Dubuque", where each ship's crew remained in their original home ports, allowing "Dubuque" to return to the homeport of San Diego, California.

During the 2008 Myanmar Cyclone Nargis crisis and the subsequent Operation Caring Response aid mission, the "Juneau" (as part of the USS|Essex|LHD-2|6's amphibious group, along with the USS|Harpers Ferry|LSD-49|6, and the USS|Mustin|DDG-89|6), she stood by off Burma from May 13 to June 5, waiting for the Myanmar junta government to permit US aid to its citizens. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3897844.ece] However, in early June, with permission still not forthcoming, it was decided to put the group back on its scheduled operations. [http://www.pacom.mil/news/news2008/USPACOM_PRESS_RELEASE_%20008_08.pdf]

She is scheduled to SHIP-SWAP with her sister ship, the USS|Denver|LPD-9 during the third quarter of fiscal year 2008. After the swap, she is scheduled to sail to San Diego for decommissioning.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j5/juneau-iii.htm
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LPD10.htm

External links

* [http://www.juneau.navy.mil/ Official ship Web site]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LPD-10 LPD-10 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]