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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books USS Germantown History About the Name "Germantown" Image Gallery to end of page |  |  |
USS GERMANTOWN is the second WHIDBEY ISLAND class dock landing ship and the first ship in her class to serve in the Pacific.
On September 1, 2002, USS HARPERS FERRY relieved USS GERMANTOWN as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. GERMANTOWN returned to San Diego, Ca., where she underwent a $20 million overhaul. In 2011, GERMANTOWN again shifted her homeport to Sasebo, releasing the HARPERS FERRY for departure to San Diego. GERMANTOWN remained in Japan for 10 years before changing her homeport to San Diego again in 2021.
| General Characteristics: | Keel laid: August 5, 1982 |
| Launched: June 29, 1984 | |
| Commissioned: February 8, 1986 | |
| Builder: Lockheed Shipbuilding, Seattle, Wash. | |
| Propulsion system: four Colt Industries 16 Cylinder Diesels | |
| Propellers: two | |
| Length: 610 feet (186 meters) | |
| Beam: 84 feet (25.6 meters) | |
| Draft: 21 feet (6.4 meters) | |
| Displacement: approx. 16,000 tons full load | |
| Speed: 22 knots | |
| Well deck capacity: four LCAC or 21 LCM-6 (on deck: one LCM-6, two LCPL and one LCVP) | |
| Aircraft: none, but two landing spots allow for operation of aircraft as large as the | |
| Crew: Ship: 20 Officers, 25 Chief Petty Officers, 302 Enlisted | |
| Marine Detachment: approx. 400 + approx. 100 surge | |
| Armament: two | |
| Cost: $304 million | |
| Homeport: San Diego, Calif. |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS GERMANTOWN. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
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back to top go to the end of the pageUSS GERMANTOWN Cruise Books:
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About the Ship’s Name:
USS GERMANTOWN is named after the historical Pennsylvania district of Germantown.
Now a residential section of Philadelphia, Germantown was founded in 1683. It was the site of an important battle of the American War for Independence fought on 4 October 1777 between the forces of General George Washington and General Sir William Howe. On the morning of the battle amidst dense fog, the forces of Washington repelled 9000 of Howe's troops. The Americans, however, were forced to retreat when the British ranks reformed and were reinforced.
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Short history of USS GERMANTOWN:
Ordered on March 26, 1982, USS GERMANTOWN was commissioned on February 8, 1986.
The ship played a significant role during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. The ship was in the Arabian Gulf for the entire operation and deployed for a total of nine months. GERMANTOWN departed San Diego en route to the Gulf on 1 December 1990 as part of the largest Amphibious Task Force (18 ships) to leave the West Coast since 1965. The ship participated in mock amphibious assaults in the United Arab Emirates after the start of the air war in preparation for a possible amphibious assault.
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USS GERMANTOWN Image Gallery:
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The photos below were taken by me and show the GERMANTOWN at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 23, 2010.
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The photos below were taken by Lienhard Geißler and show the GERMANTOWN at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, on May 27, 2015. The GERMANTOWN is undergoing a two-week training availability at Yokosuka.
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The photos below were taken by Shiu On Yee and show the USS GERMANTOWN at China Merchants Wharf in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, on October 15, 2015. GERMANTOWN arrived at Hong Kong for a liberty port visit on October 13.
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The photos below were taken by Sebastian Thoma and show the USS GERMANTOWN at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on November 28, 2021.
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The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the USS GERMANTOWN at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on May 29, 2022.
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The photos below were taken by me and show USS GERMANTOWN departing Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on July 22, 2024.
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The photos below were taken by me and show USS GERMANTOWN returning to Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on July 26, 2024.
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The photos below were taken by me and show USS GERMANTOWN at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on July 26, 2024.
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The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show USS GERMANTOWN departing Naval Base San Diego, Calif., enroute to Seal Beach, Calif., on October 15, 2024.
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