USS Shadwell (LSD-15)

• World War II Service: USS Shadwell (LSD-15) was commissioned on 24 January 1945 and served during the final months of World War II, participating in the Pacific Theater. • Namesake: The ship was named after Shadwell, the Virginia estate of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States. • Class: Shadwell was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, designed to support amphibious operations by carrying landing craft and vehicles. • Okinawa Landings: She supported the Okinawa campaign in 1945, providing essential landing craft and logistical support for one of the largest amphibious assaults in history. • Survived Kamikaze Attack: On 29 May 1945, Shadwell was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa, causing damage but not sinking the ship. • Post-War Decommissioning and Recommissioning: She was decommissioned in 1947 but was recommissioned in 1950 due to the outbreak of the Korean War, serving in the Atlantic and Caribbean. • Role in Cold War Exercises: Shadwell participated in numerous training exercises and amphibious operations during the early Cold War, helping to develop modern amphibious assault techniques. • Conversion to Fire Test Ship: After being decommissioned a final time in 1970, she was transferred to the U.S. Navy's Fire Research Detachment and used as a full-scale test platform for shipboard firefighting techniques. • Unique Firefighting Research Platform: As the Navy's primary fire research ship, Shadwell played a key role in improving fire safety and damage control procedures for generations of sailors. • Final Fate: After decades of service to both the fleet and as a fire research platform, USS Shadwell was finally sunk as a target in 2017 during a live-fire exercise.