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USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) honors the residence of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. Monroe often traveled to and from the capitol on horseback carrying his state papers in his saddle bags. The Monroe Doctrine was penned at Oak Hill, and subsequently delivered at an 1823 congressional address which asserted that the Western Hemisphere was never to be colonized again. It further stated that any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be perceived as a direct threat to the U.S. This doctrine continues to shape our national policy, and is the inspiration for the ship’s motto: “Nations’ Protector.”  In 1830, Monroe went to live with his daughter in New York and upon his death a year later, Oak Hill passed out of family hands. USS Oak Hill is the second ship to honor the residence, and serves as a fitting monument to President Monroe and an important part of American History.

General Characteristics of Ship:

Class and type

Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship

Displacement

  • 12,314 tons (light)

  • 19,600 tons (full)

Length

609 ft 7 in (185.80 m)

Beam

84 ft (26 m)

Draft

21 ft (6.4 m)

Decks

12

Installed power

4 Fairbanks Morse 12 cylinder opposed piston generators

Propulsion

4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW)

Speed

over 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph)

Boats & landing
craft carried

2 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) or 1 Landing Craft Utility (LCU)

Capacity

15 amphibious assault vehicles, 2 M1A1 Abrams tanks

Troops

Marine detachment: 402 + 102 surge

Complement

24 officers, 397 enlisted

Armament

 

 

 
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