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Bernie -> (10/11/2002 12:19:48 PM)
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Belisarius
[B]
For us non-navy buffs:
Is "gator" generic for [I]any[/I] Navy freighter, or is it referring to LHA / LHD type ships? uhm... or LSD? :p Like those Amphibious Assault Ships ? [/B][/QUOTE]
"Gator Freighter" refers specifically to the LKA class that was decomissioned back in the early 90's.
I served on the USS El Paso (LKA-117) and I am listed by the DoD as the founder and coordinator of the USS El Paso Alumni Organization.
The LKA's (not to be confused with the WWII LKA class) were originally designated as AKA's (Attack Cargo) and the designator was changed early on to LKA designating them as amphibious warfare ships. The El Paso typically carried a Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), all their vehicles and equipment, and enough supplies to last them 90 days in the field. She was 535' long with a 65' beam and capable of carrying 20,000 tons of cargo and reaching a max listed speed of 22 knots (though I was on board the day we hit 28 knots during engine trials). We also carried 4 LCM-8 boats, 5 LCM-6 boats, two gigs, two 70 ton booms (fore & aft), two 40 ton booms (also fore & aft) and eight 15 ton booms and could have all boats in the water and headed to the beach in just under two hours. She also had a good sized flight deck for vertical replenishment and airborne assaults. Armament (my department) consisted of four 3" / 50cal twin mounts (6+ mile radar locked range), two of which were later replaced with Basic Point Defense Missile Launcher systems (BPDMS), a pair of Phlanx guns (added after I left in '76) and each landing craft had mounts for four .50 cal. M2HB's. Interesting side note, during the time I served aboard her she also had an assigned sonar operator, though she had no sonar, nor any ASW gear (blame it on BUPERS). The class was also equipped with a dedicated, specially outfitted magazine compartment to store and transport "non-conventional" munitions (read into that whatever you wish).
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