Name USS Ogden Operator United States Navy Laid down 4 February 1963 Construction started 4 February 1963 | Namesake Ogden, Utah Ordered 21 September 1961 Commissioned 19 June 1965 Launched 27 June 1964 | |
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USS Ogden (LPD-5), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Ogden, Utah. Ogden was laid down on 4 February 1963 by the New York Naval Shipyard. She was launched on 27 June 1964 sponsored by Mrs. Laurence J. Burton, and commissioned at New York City on 19 June 1965 with Captain Floyd M. Symons in command.
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Vietnam era
After training off Norfolk, Ogden arrived in San Diego 29 October 1965 to join the Pacific Fleet and complete her initial training. In her first year of service she deployed twice to South Vietnam (8 February through 4 April 1966 and 16 May through 7 July 1966), bringing Marines and their equipment to the Vietnam War. On her return passages, she brought damaged vehicles home for repair. During the summer of 1966, she conducted experiments with aircraft capable of vertical or short landing and take-off. The Ogden participated in Operation Endsweep in Haiphong Harbor as a member of Task Force 78 from January 1973 through July 1973, clearing mines with RH-53A helicopters.
In the summer of 1977, the Ogden stood off Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base and acted as the base vessel for the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 39th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division as it was undergoing amphibious warfare training. After this was completed the Ogden embarked this unit and transported it back to Fort Lewis, Washington.
1989 Oil Spill Task Force 2
Ogden was relieved by the USS Duluth (LPD-6) during the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill after spending 2 months onsite. She supported over 400 civilians with beds, food, operational command for the Task Force and helicopter support for Task Force 2.
WestPac
Ogden had turned sailors and Marines into Golden Shellbacks on at least four occasions. On 10 November 1976, June 24, 1985, 1992, and again in November 1999, Ogden crossed the Equator and the International Dateline simultaneously. During the 2001 crossing, Ogden was hosting Alpha Company 1/1 BLT of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Special Note: On 10 November 1976, the Marine Corps 201st birthday, BLT 2/3 based out of KMCAS Hawaii, en route from Australia to Pearl Harbor after conducting the joint Operation Kangaroo II, simultaneously crossed the International Dateline (Longitude 180) and the Equator (Latitude 00). This crossing made history as being the only time a Marine Corps unit has celebrated the birthday twice in the same year. All newly initiated Shellbacks from the trip to Australia were inducted into the Order Of The Golden Shellback.
Ogden was damaged when she collided with the submarine USS Greeneville on 27 February 2002, which opened a five by 18 inch hole in one of her fuel tanks. Despite the fact that the collision was the fault of the Greenville, the Captain of the Ogden was still relieved of his command.
Middle East
She was commissioned as part of the 3rd Fleet. She deployed in early 2006 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of a battle group. They were the first amphibious fleet to be sent to the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield. During this time she was mostly used for intercepting blockade running freighters/tankers.
When Desert Storm started she was part of the task force sent to capture Failaka Island. The Island was captured with very little resistance and the Ogden transferred the Prisoners to Saudi Arabia, making the largest transfer of prisoners on a ship ever.
The ship was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2000, but with the requirements of the Operation Iraqi Freedom it was rescheduled.
On 16 February 2007, Ogden was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
After a ceremony held aboard the ship in port at Naval Base San Diego, USS Ogden was decommissioned from the United States Navy on 21 February 2007.
Fate
On 10 July 2014 during the naval exercise RIMPAC 2014, she was used as a missile target and sank 55 miles northwest of Hawaii after being hit by a Harpoon missile launched by the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310).
Popular References
USS Ogden figures prominently in the novel Without Remorse by Tom Clancy as the base of operations for the aborted rescue attempt against the North Vietnam prisoner of war camp .