According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 25, 2020, the US Navy Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) began its southbound transit from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, June 25, 2020, after conducting maritime security operations alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78).
According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 25, 2020, the US Navy Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) began its southbound transit from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, June 25, 2020, after conducting maritime security operations alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78).
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A Mark VI patrol boat, assigned to Commander Task Force (CTF) 56, approaches amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) during expeditionary training in the Arabian Gulf May 27, 2020. (Picture source U.S. DoD)
While in the Black Sea, the Oak Hill and Porter conducted maneuvering operations at sea with the Bulgarian corvette BGS Reshitelni (13), Romanian frigate ROS Regina Maria (F222), Turkish corvette TCG Kinaliada (F-514), before conducting additional operations alongside multiple cutters from the Georgia Coast Guard.
Oak Hill is part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which also includes the flagship Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), which are operating in the Mediterranean Sea.
Oak Hill entered the Black Sea on June 18, where it joined Porter to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners and demonstrate the collective resolve to Black Sea security. Oak Hill’s entrance represented the fourth time a U.S. Navy ship has entered the Black Sea in 2020. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with international law, including the Montreux Convention.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
The USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy, it was commissioned on 8 June 1996. A dock landing ship (also called landing ship, dock or LSD) is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles.
The Harpers Ferry class of the United States Navy is a class of dock landing ships completed in the early 1990s. Modified from the Whidbey Island class, the design sacrifices landing craft capacity for more cargo space, making it closer to an amphibious transport dock type, but was not designated as such. The Harpers Ferry Class provides an increased cargo capacity and reduces the number of air cushioned landing craft carried from four to two. As well as 340 crew members, the ships have capacity for 500 troops.
The USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) is powered by 4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25,000 kW). It can reach a maximum speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h). The ship is armed with two 25 mm Mk 38 cannons, two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Close-In Weapon System, two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile surface-to-air defense missile systems and six 12.7mm M2HB machine guns.
