USS RUSHMORE LSD-14 Naval Cover 1951 CORINTH

It was sent 30 Jul 1951. It was franked with stamp "prexie".

This cover is in good, but not perfect condition. Please look at the scan and make your own judgement. 

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Casa Grande Class Dock Landing Ship:

Authorized under the Lend-Lease Act as British Mechanized Artillery Transport BAPM-6

Reclassified Landing Ship Dock LSD-14, 1 July 1942

Contract awarded for LSD-14 to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 10 September 1942

Laid down, 31 December 1943 as HMS Sword at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.

Lend-Lease canceled or modified never commissioned in Royal Navy as HMS Swashway (F-145)

Launched, 10 May 1944 as Rushmore

Commissioned USS Rushmore (LSD-14), 3 July 1944, LCDR. Elith A. Jansen, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Rushmore was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns

Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates

Luzon operation

Leyte landings, Dulag, Yellow Beach, 20 October 1944 Borneo operation

Tarakan Island operation, 27 April to 5 May 1945

Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines

Palawan Islands landings, 28 February 1945

Mindanao Island landings, Zamboanga, 10 March 1945  

Following World War II USS Rushmore was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal

9 to 13 September 1945

13 to 21 October 1945

4 November to 2 December 1945

Decommissioned, 16 August 1946

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Pascagoula, MS.

Recommissioned, 21 September 1950, at Charleston, S.C.

USS Rushmore was assigned to Occupation service in Europe from 26 June to 26 September 1951

Decommissioned, 30 September 1970

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1976

USS Rushmore earned three battle stars for World War II service

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.

Final Disposition, disposed of as a target 28 April 1993

Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)

Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)

Length 457' 9" o.a.

Beam 72"

Draft

8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft)

15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)

Speed 17 kts (design speed)

Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots

Complement

Officers 17

Enlisted 237

Troop Accommodations

Officers 22

Enlisted 218

Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)

three LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or

two LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or

fourteen LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or

forty-seven DUKW or

forty-one LVT or

Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity

Aircraft (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount in open tub (w/director)

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts (local control)

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 11,720 Bbls

Diesel 160 Bbls

Gasoline 5,085 Gals

Propulsion

two Newport News Shipbuilding steam turbines

two Babcock and Wilcox oil fired D-type boilers, two drum, single furnace, single uptake, 250psi

single Newport New Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship' Service Generators

twin propellers, 7,000shp