Class Description
Twenty ships of the Newport tank landing ship class were built to replace the traditional bow door design LST.
The Newport class has higher speeds and trimmer lines than the LSTs of World War II. The vessels have two huge derricks used to extend and retract a bow ramp. The 110-foot (34 m) ramp has a 75-ton capacity.
The Newport class is the first amphibious ship to be fitted with an internal side propulsion unit located below the waterline near the bow. The bow thruster allows the bow to be pushed from side to side while the stern remains nearly stationary.
This class of LST also has a stern gate. It allows them to load and launch amphibious assault vehicles, and permits sterngate matings with Landing Craft Utility (LCU) units.
Read more about this topic: Newport Class Tank Landing Ship
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