U.S.S. SCHENECTADY [LST 1185]

U.S.S. SCHENECTADY
(LST 1185)

INTRODUCTION

From the drawing board to the high seas.
Keel laying, construction, launching and commissioning.

USS Schenectady - The first piece of steel is welded.
Keel laying ceremonies in SanDiego, 2 Aug 1968

USS Schenectady - on the ways at National, Aug. 1968 - May 1969

USS Schenectady - Time to taste salt water for the first time.

USS Schenectady launching ceremonies, 24 May 1969.
Sponsored by Mrs. Charles E. Goodell, wife of the New York Senator who was appointed to served the term of Sen. Robert Kennedy who had been assasinated.

USS Schenectady-1970, prior to commissioning

Officers and crew members of the new ship are assembled on the quarterdeck or other suitable area. Formal transfer of the ship to the prospective commanding officer is done by the Naval District Commandant or his representative. The transferring officer reads the commissioning directive, the national anthem is played, the ensign is hoisted, and commissioning pennant broken. The prospective commanding officer reads his orders, assumes command, and the first watch is set.

The new captain, CDR David E. Sigsworth
addresses the commissioning crew, 13 June 1970

U.S.S. SCHENECTADY (LST 1185]

Schenectady, A county and city in New York.

LST-1185: displacement: 8,342 tons (full load); length: 522' 3"; beam: 69'5"; draft: 15'; speed: 20 knots; complement:. 231; armament: 4-3"; class: Newport. Schenectady (LST-1185) was laid down on 2 August 1968 by tbe National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif.; launched on 24 May 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Charles E. Goodell; and commissioned on 13 June 1970, Comdr. David E. Sigsworth in command.Assigned to Amphibious Squadron (PhibRon) 9 and homeported at San Diego, Schenectady conducted training exercises and trials through the summer. In October, she got underway to accompany Defiance (PG-95) and Surprise (PG-97) to Panama. Detached on the 19th, she returned to San Diego on the 29th and, for the next six months, participated in further training exercises along the southern California coast.

On 5 May 1970, the LST departed San Diego and headed west to participate in Operation "Keystone Oriole," an operation involving the withdrawal of Marine Corps units from Vietnam. Diverted en route to avoid typhoon Carla, she arrived at. Danang, R.V.N. on 24 May; loaded; and departed again on the 25th. From Vietnam, she proceeded to Hong Kong, then to Subic Bay, whence she headed east to Pearl Harbor and San Diego.

Arriving at the latter on 19 June, Schenectady remained on the west coast into the fall and, on 1 October, departed San Diego with six other units comprising PhibRon 5. On the 14th, she joined the 7th Fleet. Four days later, she arrived at Yokosuka. Upkeep in Japan and training operations in the Ryukyus followed. From there, she moved into the Trust-Territories; conducted survey operations; and returned to Okinawa to load diesel-electric generating plants for delivery to the government of the Philippines for use in its rural electrification program. [Dictionary of Naval Fighting Ships, V:728]

Former crew members may be interested in this culmination of the history of the
USS Schenectady (LST-1185). The following is the USS Schenectady Crew List.

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