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USS GUADALCANAL was the third IWO JIMA - class amphibious assault ship (helicopter) and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on August 31, 1994, the GUADALCANAL was subsequently laid up at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, VA. Transfered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal on March 16, 2000, the GUADALCANAL was later scheduled to be towed to New York City to serve as helicopter landing platform in the INTREPID Sea, Air and Space Museum area in September 2001. However, those plans were cancelled and the GUADALCANAL was reaquired by the Navy on February 5, 2004 for use as a target. The ship was finally sunk as a target in the Virginia Capes area on May 19, 2005.
General Characteristics: | Awarded: December 21, 1959 |
Keel laid: September 1, 1961 | |
Launched: March 16, 1963 | |
Commissioned: July 20, 1963 | |
Decommissioned: August 31, 1994 | |
Builder: Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Penn. | |
Propulsion system: Two boilers, one geared steam turbines, one shaft, 22,000 total shaft horsepower | |
Propellers: one | |
Length: 603, 65 feet (184 meters) | |
Beam: 104 feet (31.7 meters) | |
Draft: 25,9 feet (7.9 meters) | |
Aircraft elevators: two | |
Displacement: approx. 19,500 tons full load | |
Speed: 23 knots | |
Aircraft: 20 | |
Armament: two | |
Crew: 80 officers, 638 enlisted, 1,750 Marine Detachment |
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS GUADALCANAL. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
USS GUADALCANAL Cruise Books:
Accidents aboard USS GUADALCANAL:
Date | Where | Events |
---|---|---|
May 9, 1968 | off North Carolina | USS GUADALCANAL is adrift off North Carolina due to a burned out bearing in the propulsion system. |
January 27, 1976 | Augusta Bay, Sicily | USS GUADALCANAL goes aground on a peak of coral which pushes in areas on either side of the bow, but does not crack or hole the ship. On January 30, with cargo, personnel, helicopters, and fuel off-loaded to assist the effort, the ship is refloated. |
September 17, 1981 | near Sardinia, Italy | A USMC CH-53C helicopter crashes while attempting to land aboard the USS GUADALCANAL during training exercises killing all five crewmen. |
September 24, 1981 | south of Sardinia, Italy | USS GUADALCANAL and the USNS WACCAMAW (T-AO 109) collide during an underway replenishment causing minor damage but no injuries. |
USS GUADALCANAL Image Gallery:
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