USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)

Amphibious Command Ship

United States | 1970

"USS Blue Ridge LCC-19 was commissioned in 1970 and still maintains an active presence in the modern U.S. Navy fleet."

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) serves the United States Navy (USN) in the command ship role. She represents the lead-ship of the two-strong Blue Ridge-class developed during the 1960s. Named after the Blue Ridge Mountings of Appalachians, the class is used to support USN fleet actions through "Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence" (known through its short-form "C4I"). USS Blue Ridge, despite her Cold War-era origins, continues to serve the USN fleet today and fights under the motto of "Finest of the Fleet".

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) was ordered on December 31st, 1964 and saw her keel laid down by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on February 27th, 1967. The vessel was launched to sea on January 4th, 1969 and was formally commissioned on November 14th, 1970. She homeports out of Yokosuka, Japan and, through modernization and general maintenance, is expected to serve the American fleet into the 2030s.

The ship has a displacement of 19,610 tons and an overall length of 634 feet with a beam measuring 108 feet and a draught down to 28.9 feet. Power is from 2 x Boiler units feeding a single geared-steam turbine driving a single propeller shaft under stern. Aboard is an operating crew of 842 which can be increased to over 1,440 with a complete complement of command staff and enlisted personnel. Armament is self-defensive in nature, comprised of 2 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs), 2 x 25mm "Bushmaster" chain guns, and up to 8 x 12.7mm Browning air-cooled heavy machine guns. The warship also carries the Mark 36 SRBOC chaff rocket system as well as 2 x Sikorsky SH-60 "Seahawk" navalized helicopters. The latter are launched and retrieved via the stern-based helipad.

The ship has a unique profile with its centralized bridge superstructure followed by a stand-alone, radar-equipped tower further aft. Helicopters are seated along the aft-section of the top deck and the various defensive armament systems dot the structure from bow to stern. A single exposed mastwork is seated over the bridge superstructure.

Since commissioning, the Blue Ridge has been a constant figure in American actions overseas, both in war time and in peace time. It was present during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and managed an active existence during the tumultuous 1980s, seeing the collapse of the Soviet Union in the process. She took over flagship duties from USS Oklahoma City (CL-91) in December of 1979. Since then, the warship has participated in numerous training, humanitarian, and fleet support actions for her time at sea. Most recently, she was stationed in support of Japan following the events of the 201 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).

2 x Boilers feeding 1 x Geared turbine developing 22,000 horsepower to 1 x Shafts.
Propulsion

23.0 kts
26.5 mph
Surface Speed

13,035 nm
15,000 miles | 24,140 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).

842
Personnel
Complement

635.0 ft
193.55 meters
O/A Length

108.0 ft
32.92 meters
Beam

26.8 ft
8.17 meters
Draught

18,875
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).

4 x 25mm Bushmaster autocannons
2 x Phalanx CIWSs (Close-In Weapon Systems)
8 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs)

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).

Up to 2 x Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk or similar helicopters.

Ships-in-Class (2)
Notable series variants as part of the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) family line as relating to the Blue Ridge-class group.

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19); USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.