USS Frederick (LST-1184)

USS "Frederick" (LST-1184) was named after the city of Frederick, Maryland and Frederick County, Maryland. She was laid down on 13 April 1968 at San Diego, California, by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company; launched on 8 March 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Kleber S. Masterson; and commissioned on 11 April 1970, CDR Robert A. Shaid in command.

History

Following shakedown, "Frederick" was assigned to the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, and was homeported at San Diego. She made over thirteen major deployments to the Western Pacific and Far East. She participated in the Vietnam withdrawal operation in 1970 and the South Vietnam refugee evacuation of 1974.

"Frederick" deployed with Commander Amphibious Squadron One (COMPHIBRON ONE)in May 1983 from San Diego, California. During the deployment she visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan; Philippines; Hong Kong, due to a typhoon "Frederick" was forced to leave harbor on July 14, 1983; Thailand; Singapore; Somalia; Kenya, during the short stay at Mombasa "Frederick" was reassigned for deployment to Beirut; Beirut, Lebanon, "Frederick" was part of the Multinational Peace Keeping Force at Beirut, Lebanon from Sept 12 to October 10, 1983. "Frederick" then cruised back to San Diego making three stops along the way. The first was at Singapore. Then a short visit to Subic Bay in the Philippines. Then a relaxed port of call at Pearl Harbor. "Frederick" arrived in San Diego on November 22, 1983.

"Frederick" deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. She was part of a 13 ship amphibious task force that departed on 1 December 1990 for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. Upon arriving in the Gulf of Oman, "Frederick" along with various amphibious ships from the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets conducted amphibious exercises in preparation for an amphibious landing, if needed, in Kuwait. Upon commencement of Operation Desert Storm, "Frederick" and various elements of Commander Amphibious Group Two and Three (COMPHIBGRU TWO and COMPHIBGRU THREE) headed into the Persian Gulf and conducted one of the greatest mock amphibious invasions in modern warfare. That operation pinned down 15 Iraqi divisions, thus ensuring a quick and decisive victory for the allied forces. "Frederick" was also involved in the only actual amphibious landing of the Gulf War.

"Frederick" conducted Operation Sea Angel, humanitarian assistance for Bangladesh. In 1994, "Frederick" deployed to Somalia in support of humanitarian aid operations.

"Frederick" was transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in January 1995 and changed homeport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. As the only amphibious ship in Pearl Harbor, she conducted bilateral exercises with South East Asian armed forces, continuous training exercises with the United States Marine Corps and was on standby to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, throughout the Pacific.

Fate

"Frederick" decommissioned on 5 October 2002 and was sold the following month to the Mexican Navy as the "Usumacinta" (A-412). She was the last of her class to decommission.

"Frederick" earned one award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation and three battle stars for Vietnam service.

Sources

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LST1184.htm Naval Vessel Register entry for "Frederick"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/161184.htm navsource.org: USS "Frederick"]
* [http://united-states-navy.com/lst/lst1184.htm united-states-navy.com: USS "Frederick"]