USS Raleigh (LPD-1)

• First of Her Class: USS Raleigh (LPD-1) was the lead ship of the Raleigh class of amphibious transport docks, representing a new generation of amphibious warfare vessels for the U.S. Navy. • Commissioned in the 1960s: Raleigh was commissioned on September 8, 1962, at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, marking the beginning of over 30 years of service. • Vietnam War Service: She saw active duty during the Vietnam War, transporting Marines and equipment, and conducting amphibious landings in support of U.S. military operations. • Operation Steel Pike I: In 1964, USS Raleigh participated in Operation Steel Pike I, the largest amphibious exercise ever conducted at the time, off the coast of Spain. • Humanitarian Missions: Raleigh was involved in several humanitarian missions, including disaster relief in Haiti after Hurricane Cleo in 1964. • Space Program Support: The ship served as a secondary recovery vessel for the Apollo space missions, ready to assist in the recovery of astronauts returning from space. • Modernization: Raleigh underwent significant upgrades in the 1970s to improve her amphibious warfare capabilities and crew accommodations. • Lebanon Deployment: In 1982-1983, Raleigh supported U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, landing Marines as part of the multinational force in Beirut. • Cold War Operations: Throughout the Cold War, she participated in numerous NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments, strengthening alliances and U.S. presence overseas. • Decommissioning and Fate: After more than 30 years of service, USS Raleigh was decommissioned on December 13, 1991, and eventually sunk as a target during a naval exercise in 1994.