USS Racine (LST-1191)

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Career (US) United States Navy ensign
Name: USS Racine (LST-1191)
Namesake: Racine, Wisconsin
Ordered: July 15, 1966
Builder: National Steel & Shipbuilding Co.
Laid down: 13 December 1969
Launched: 15 August 1970
Acquired: June 17, 1971
Commissioned: 9 July 1971
Decommissioned: 2 October 1993
Fate: Inactive reserve, Pearl Harbor
General characteristics
Class and type: Newport class tank landing ship
Displacement: 5,190 tons (light),
8,792 tons (full)
Length: 522 ft (159 m) overall,
500 ft (150 m) at the waterline.
Beam: 70 ft (21 m)
Draft: 19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion: 6 diesel engines, 16,000 brake horsepower, two shafts, Twin Controllable Pitch Screws
Bow Thruster - Single Screw, Controllable Pitch,
Speed: 20+ knots (37+ km/h)
Capacity: 19,000 sq ft, (1767 m²), capacity of 29 tanks or 30 AAVs.
Troops: Marine detachment: 360 plus 40 surge
Complement: 14 officers, 210 enlisted
Armament: 4 three-inch/50 caliber guns in two twin-barrel mounts
1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts.

The USS Racine (LST-1191) was the second ship to bear the name of the Wisconsin city. She was capable of a sustained speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). Her ability to adjust her draft, accompanied by her unique bow-ramp design, helped bring a new degree of responsiveness to the amphibious fleet.

Racine was laid down by the National Steel & Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., 13 December 1969; and launched 15 August 1970; sponsored by Mrs. Edwin B. Hooper, wife of Vice Adm. Edwin B. Hooper USN (Ret.), Director of Naval History; Racine was placed in commission 9 July 1971, Comdr. Daniel W. Anderson in command.

She remained at Long Beach, completing her fitting-out until 9 August, when she departed for San Diego. Racine underwent tests and participated in exercises off the west coast until 8 June 1972. At that time, she steamed out of San Diego for a South American cruise with a group of NROTC Midshipmen. She visited Valparaiso, Chile; Callao, Peru; and the Canal Zone, returning to San Diego 17 July. On 13 September, she embarked on a tour of duty with WestPac. She remained in the Far East, shuttling men and material between Vietnam and various American bases in the area, until 26 April 1973, when she weighed anchor for San Diego. Racine arrived at San Diego 17 May 1973.

Racine was decommissioned on 2 October 1993 and, as of 2004, remains in inactive reserve at Pearl Harbor.

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Newport-class tank landing ship