USS Rushmore (LSD 47)

• Namesake: USS Rushmore (LSD-47) is named after Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, reflecting a tradition of naming dock landing ships after prominent American landmarks. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on June 1, 1991, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. • Class: USS Rushmore is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, designed to support amphibious operations by carrying and launching landing craft and vehicles. • Homeport: Its homeport is San Diego, California, a major base for US Pacific Fleet amphibious operations. • Humanitarian Missions: In 2004, Rushmore participated in tsunami relief operations in Southeast Asia as part of Operation Unified Assistance. • Combat Deployments: Rushmore has deployed multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, transporting Marines and equipment to the Middle East. • Rescue Operations: In 2015, Rushmore rescued 65 people from a sinking fishing vessel in the South China Sea during routine operations. • Female Commanding Officer: In 2016, USS Rushmore made history when Commander Rebecca J. Ore took command, marking one of the few times a woman has commanded a Whidbey Island-class ship. • Multinational Exercises: The ship regularly participates in multinational exercises, including RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific), strengthening partnerships with allied navies. • Modernization: Rushmore has undergone several upgrades to enhance its command, control, communications, and combat systems, maintaining its role as a key asset in amphibious warfare.