![]() In this concept two LST's were retained in a reserve status that would enable them to be available for active service in a few days. In response to the Congressional concern, the Navy proposed a new concept for maintaining 2.5 MEB's worth of vehicle space in the amphibious shipping fleet. The administration's proposal to transfer 15 LST's to foreign countries would have reduced the amount of lift available to transport vehicles to only 73 percent of the 2.5 MEB goal in fiscal year 1994. The LST's were relatively young in terms of their age and have impressive capabilities, as demonstrated by the interest of foreign navies in them. These ships constituted a significant part of the US amphibious shipping fleet as they transport tanks, other heavy vehicles, engineering equipment, and supplies. The 15 LST's in the administration proposal were among a total of 20 that were commissioned between 19. Two LST's would be sold to Australia one LST would be provided on a grant basis to Morocco two LST's would be leased to Spain two LST's would be leased to Chile one LST would be leased to Argentina one LST would be leased to Brazil two LST's would be leased to Venezuela one LST would be leased to Malaysia and three LST's would be leased to Taiwan. In a legislative proposal dated April 15, 1994, the administration proposed the transfer of 15 Newport-class tank landing ships to a number of foreign countries. It concluded that the Navy should maintain enough lift to transport the personnel, aircraft, landing ships, vehicles, and supplies for 2.5 marine expeditionary brigades or MEB's. In 1993, as part of its Bottom-Up Review, the Department of Defense examined the amount of amphibious lift that would be required to fight two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts. In 1994, Frederick deployed to Somalia in support of humanitary aid operations. The Frederick was also involved in the only actual amphibious landing of the Gulf War. That operation pinned down 15 Iraqi Divisions, thus ensuring a quick and decisive victory for the allied forces. Upon commencement of Operation Desert Storm, USS FREDERICK and various elements of COMPHIBGRU TWO and COMPHIBGRU THREE headed into the Persian Gulf and conducted one of the greatest mock amphibious invasions in modern warfare. Upon arriving in the Gulf of Oman, the Frederick along with various amphibious ships from the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets conducted amphibious exercises in preparation for an amphibious landing, if needed, in Kuwait. The USS FREDERICK was part of the 13 ship amphibious task force that departed on 1 December 1990 for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. Frederick's lift capacity includes 29 tanks and over 350 troops and their equipment. ![]() Two ten-ton booms offload cargo to boats or a pier. Troops and equipment can also be transported via helicopter. These ships can launch amphibious vehicles via a stern gate as well as land vehicles to a beach or causeway over a bowramp. The Tank Landing Ship (LST) mission is to load and transport cargo, vehicles of all types, and troops to a combat area. Off-loading amphibious vehicles directly into the water. This feature enables her to operate with modern high-speed amphibious forces. The conventional flat bottom hull was redesigned to include a destroyer-type bow enabling the ships to attain speeds in excess of 20 knots. Necessary for the attainment of the 20-knot speeds of contemporary amphibious squadrons would not permit bow doors. Were replaced by a 40-ton bow ramp supported by two distinctive derrick arms. The traditional bow doors, which have characterized LST's construction since the first vessels of this type were built during World War II, The Newport-class Tank Landing Ships are larger and faster than earlier LSTs, and represent a complete departure from the previous concept of Amphibious Tank Landing Ships.
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