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USS Trenton (LPD 14)

USS TRENTON was the eleventh ship in the AUSTIN - class of Amphibious Transport Docks and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name. TRENTON was decommissioned on January 17, 2007, at Norfolk, Va., and transfered to the Indian Navy. For the following months US Navy sailors trained their Indian counterparts in the handling of the ship. On June 22, 2007, the ex-TRENTON was officially recommissioned as INS JALASHWA at Norfolk, Va.

Commissioned in March 1971, TRENTON took part in numerous humanitarian operations, including the evacuations of American civilians from Liberia in 1996 and from Lebanon in 2006. In addition, in 1991, TRENTON was responsible for evacuating the U.S. and Soviet ambassadors and 193 foreign nationals from Somalia. During her final deployment in 2006, the ship took part in maritime security operations off the Somali coast of eastern Africa.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS TRENTON. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS TRENTON memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS TRENTON Cruise Books:

• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1974
• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1986
• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1989-90
• Mediterranean and Arabian Sea Cruise Book 1998
• Mediterranean and Arabian Sea Cruise Book 2006

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Accidents aboard USS TRENTON:

Date	Where	Events
June 28, 1971	off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba	A steam valve in TRENTON's number two engine room ruptured, killing four sailors instantly and severely injuring six others. The injured men were "medevaced" first to Guantanamo Bay and thence to the burn ward of the Army Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX. There, two of the six subsequently died as a result of their injuries. TRENTON returned to Guantanamo Bay for interim repairs and then made her way back to Norfolk on one engine, arriving on July 6, where repairs were completed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
January 17, 1977	Barcelona, Spain	An LCM-6 from TRENTON carrying marines and sailors from shore back to TRENTON and USS GUAM (LPH 9), collided with the merchant vessel URLEA which was entering the port of Barcelona. The LCM-6 capsized. 49 servicemen were killed in the accident. A sculpture was erected near the Columbus Monument in the port of Barcelona to remember the servicemen killed in the accident. The photos below show the sculpture and were taken by me in Barcelona on April 3, 2023.
April 27, 1981	Alexandria, Egypt	During a five-day port visit, the USS TRENTON and USS JACK (SSN 605) are slightly damaged when the JACK, moored alongside, surges against the TRENTON in a sea swell.

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History of USS TRENTON:

The third TRENTON was laid down at Seattle, Wash., on 8 August 1966 by the Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co.; launched on 3 August 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Richard J. Hughes, and commissioned on 6 March 1971, Capt. Karl R. Thiele in command.

TRENTON got underway on 9 April for the east coast and reached her home port, Norfolk, Va., on 12 May. The amphibious transport dock remained in port until 1 June when she departed Hampton Roads for shakedown training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. However, on 28 June, her shakedown cruise was interrupted by an accident that killed 4 of TRENTON's crew. 2 more died later as a result of injuries received during the accident.

TRENTON returned to Guantanamo Bay for interim repairs and then made her way back to Norfolk on one engine, arriving on 6 July. After repairs at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, she completed shakedown training off the Virginia Capes and in the Guantanamo Bay operating area. On 9 November, the ship returned to Norfolk and remained there through the end of 1971.

On 17 January 1972, TRENTON rounded Cape Charles and headed north to participate in Exercise "Snowy Beach." She arrived off Reid State Park, Maine, three days later and participated in the cold weather amphibious exercise until the 23d when she headed home. On 4 February, she stood out of Hampton Roads bound for the Gulf of Mexico in company with PONCE (LPD 15). The two ships reached New Orleans on 9 February and, for the next six days, served as "hotel" ships for ROTC and military participants in the Mardi Gras Festival.

TRENTON returned to Norfolk on 20 February and resumed her east coast-West Indies routine. Following amphibious training at Onslow Beach, N.C., and sea trials near Norfolk, she visited the Caribbean in April with other units of Amphibious Squadron (PhibRon) 4. She then devoted the rest of the early summer to exercises and training at Onslow Beach and at Norfolk before preparing for her first Mediterranean deployment.

The ship departed Norfolk on 28 July, embarked marines at Morehead City, N.C., on the 29th, and headed across the Atlantic on the 30th. She reached Rota, Spain, on 10 August and, with the other units of PhibRon 4, was incorporated into the 6th Fleet as Task Force (TF) 61. She spent the remainder of the year and most of the first month of 1973 in the Mediterranean. During that six-month period, TRENTON participated in six amphibious landing exercises (Phiblex's), most of which were conducted in cooperation with the military services of foreign nations. In September, she conducted a landing exercise at Timbakion, Crete, with units of the Italian Navy. Greek and Italian ships joined her later that month for Phiblex 3-73 conducted at Alexandroupolis, Greece. In mid-October, troops of the French Foreign Legion provided the opposition for a landing exercise at Corsica. TRENTON visited Izmir, Turkey, in mid-September and, in mid-December, concluded her exercise schedule at Porto Scuda, Sardinia, with Phiblex 6-73. On 16 January 1973, she headed home; and, 10 days later, she entered the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Va.

On 1 March, TRENTON shifted to the administrative command of PhibRon 10. On the 27th, she embarked marines at Morehead City and headed for Onslow Beach, where she participated in Exercise "Exotic Dancer VI." On 7 April, the warship headed south to Vieques Island, near Puerto Rico. From 10 to 14 April, TRENTON joined other Navy ships in Exercise "Escort Tiger XIV," which consisted of training for disaster assistance to the island countries of the Caribbean. During this Caribbean cruise, she visited Maracaibo; Venezuela, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands before embarking the marines at Vieques on 3 May. After a port visit at Ponce, Puerto Rico, TRENTON carried her marines to Guantanamo Bay for a four-day exercise. On 14 May, she departed the Caribbean and, after disembarking the marines on 17 May, reached Norfolk on the 18th.

On 11 June, TRENTON steamed out of Hampton Roads for northern Europe. She reached Kiel Germany, on the 22d, and, for the next week, participated in the annual "Kiel Week" naval celebration. Early in July, she visited Portsmouth, England, and, at mid-month, put into Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The amphibious transport dock bade farewell to Europe at Rotterdam on 21 July and headed back to the United States.

TRENTON spent the remainder of the summer conducting drills in the Virginia capes operating area and in preparation for her second Caribbean deployment of the year. On 1 October, she shifted from PhibRon 10 to PhibRon 8. On the last day of that month, she embarked marines at Morehead City and headed south. For the remainder of the year, she cruised the Caribbean, visiting ports in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and in the Netherlands Antilles as well as conducting amphibious exercises at Vieques Island. The amphibious transport dock returned to Norfolk on 14 December.

During the first four months of 1974, TRENTON conducted operations out of Little Creek and Norfolk and prepared for duty in the Mediterranean. On 10 May, she embarked marines at Morehead City and put to sea. Ten days later, she reached Rota, Spain, and joined the 6th Fleet. For the next six months' she cruised the Mediterranean, visiting ports and conducting exercises. In July, TRENTON participated in the evacuation of 286 refugees from strife-torn Cyprus to Beirut, Lebanon. While with the 6th Fleet, she participated in four amphibious exercises. One Operation -- "Good Friendship/Double Effect" -- included ships of the Turkish Navy. On 20 October, she steamed out of Rota to return to the United States. She arrived in Norfolk on 31 October and operated in the western Atlantic through the end of 1974.

On 7 March 1975, she embarked marines at Morehead City and headed south. After an amphibious assault exercise at Onslow Beach from 8 to 10 March, she continued south to the Caribbean. During the two-month cruise, TRENTON participated in four exercises, two of which -- "LantReadEx 2-76" and "Rum Punch" -- were held in cooperation with units of the British and Dutch navies. She returned to Norfolk on 28 April. In May, she hosted a class from the Naval War College, conducted a midshipman training cruise for the Naval Academy, and returned to Onslow Beach for joint service Exercise "Solid Shield." During the early summer, TRENTON prepared for overhaul. On 14 August, she headed north to New York, moored at the Coastal Drydock & Repair Co. on the following day, and commenced a nine-month overhaul.

On 12 May 1976, TRENTON completed her overhaul and, following loadout at Little Creek, Va., she deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 6 July for refresher training. Returning to Norfolk on 17 August, the ship's next three months was spent in preparation for a forthcoming Mediterranean deployment. On 15 November, TRENTON, with embarked elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team 1/6, formed Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-76 and operated with the Sixth Fleet until she returned to Norfolk on 12 May 1977.

Following post-deployment standdown which ended on 30 June, TRENTON spent the remainder of 1977 conducting midshipman training cruises, engaging in amphibious exercises, and participating in COMPTUEX 3-77, which involved units of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.

The year 1978 found TRENTON embarking elements of Battalion Landing Team 1/2 and deploying to the Caribbean from 30 January to 7 March to participate in Atlantic Fleet Readiness Exercise 1-78. The succeeding four months were spent in preparations for a return to the Mediterranean. The ship, with embarked elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team 2/8, departed Morehead City on 27 July, as part of Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 2-78. The remainder of 1978 was spent with the Sixth Fleet in that sea. TRENTON closed out her 1978 Mediterranean tour with MARG 2-78 and arrived home on 8 February 1979. Through the spring she ran amphibious certifications - including 29-30 March 1979 launch-and-recovery trials that re-certified her to handle amphibious vehicles underway - then shifted into a heavy maintenance phase that extended into early 1980.

The 1980 operating year began with overhaul/repair work and then pivoted to crisis support during the Mariel boatlift. In May-June 1980, TRENTON operated from Guantanamo Bay - part of the multi-service effort to manage mass arrivals from Cuba (the boatlift ran 15 April-31 October 1980) - before returning to Atlantic training. In late summer and early autumn, she deployed north for NATO Exercise TEAMWORK '80 in Norway's fjords and then made northern European port calls consistent with that exercise's termination routing. Contemporary records place TRENTON at multiple "Northern Europe" liberty ports following the event.

TRENTON deployed with SIXTH FLEET in January 1981, embarking BLT 2/8 for the standard Marine Amphibious Ready Group (MARG) pattern of amphibious landings, helo operations, and allied drills. A notable five-day port visit to Alexandria, Egypt culminated in a minor alongside incident on 27 April 1981, when the submarine USS JACK (SSN 605) surged against TRENTON in heavy swells. Damage was slight and both ships resumed schedule after inspections. TRENTON completed the cruise and returned to Norfolk in July 1981, having spent extended periods at sea south of Crete for contingency presence related to the Lebanon situation.

Through 1982, TRENTON again deployed "east of Suez", her Mediterranean-Indian Ocean cycle taking her across Suez to the Arabian Sea for presence operations that reflected U.S. post-hostage-crisis and Iran-Iraq War maritime posture. The ship's command history for the year records two commanding officers, a sequence of overseas port calls, medical outreach alongside routine amphibious work, and a discrete period of presidential support operations, before she rotated back to the Atlantic Fleet.

The ship spent early 1983 in North Atlantic training that included a documented northern call at Dundee, Scotland (21-24 March 1983), then sortied from Norfolk on 17 October 1983 for the Mediterranean but was diverted en route to the Caribbean for Operation URGENT FURY (the 25 October 1983 intervention in Grenada). After completing Grenada tasking with the amphibious force, she transited to the Eastern Mediterranean and took station off Beirut for multinational force support, cycling logistics at Larnaca, Cyprus, and repairs at Haifa, Israel into early January 1984.

During 1984, TRENTON continued SIXTH FLEET employment tied to the Beirut endgame and amphibious readiness. Her 1984 command narrative closes the long 1983–84 deployment sequence - Beirut presence, logistics and shipyard work in the Eastern Med, turnover and redeployment - before the ship returned stateside for upkeep and routine certifications.

After an Atlantic training year, TRENTON deployed again in 1986 as MARG 2-86 under PHIBRON TWO. She on-loaded Marines at Morehead City, North Carolina on 7 May 1986 and reached Rota, Spain for turnover 21-23 May 1986. That summer she worked the Western and Central Med: Palma de Mallorca liberty (31 May-6 June 1986); Capo Teulada anchorage, Sardinia for Exercise TRIDENTE phases; a Palermo, Italy port visit bracketed by serials; underway replenishments with USNS NEOSHO (T-AO 143) and USNS PAWCATUCK (T-AO 108); VERTREPs with USNS RIGEL (T-AF 58); and a northern swing culminating in Venice, Italy. Public-affairs entries note a reception in Marseille, a Turkish press embark during DISPLAY DETERMINATION, and the 20,000th accident-free deck landing on 19 September 1986. She returned to Norfolk in late fall after turnover.

The 1987 operating year was dominated by workups and short-notice exercise tasking. Her command history highlights SOLID SHIELD participation in April 1987 when the originally designated LPD fell out and TRENTON filled the role, followed by additional certifications and local operations from Norfolk as she reset for future forward employment.

TRENTON's 1988 deployment carried her from the Med to the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War's violent final phase. The ship embarked what her command history describes as the largest helicopter detachment ever carried by an LPD for extended operations, necessitating on-the-fly reconfiguration of spaces to support sustained flight activity. She participated in U.S. Gulf operations that spring, including the 18 April 1988 maritime battle Operation PRAYING MANTIS, the day U.S. forces struck Iranian naval and oil-platform targets in response to USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG 58) being mined. TRENTON's role was within the amphibious/contingency architecture that ringed the operating area while surface action groups engaged. The ship closed the year with turnover and the long transit home.

After Atlantic workups, TRENTON deployed on 11 October 1989 as part of MARG 1-90, "inchopping" to SIXTH FLEET via a port call at Rota, Spain (25 October-4 November), and spending the holiday period at Naples, Italy (21 December-2 January) where the ship saw in the New Year alongside before resuming scheduled Med operations. In early 1990, TRENTON visited Toulon, France; Villefrance, France; Augusta Bay, Italy; and Haifa, Israel before continuing onward to Rota for washdown and redeployment steps before returning stateside on April 11 to reset.

Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, TRENTON executed a rapid turn: on 14 August 1990 she became the first amphibious ship to depart Naval Station Norfolk for the Middle East, transiting via the Med and Suez Canal to join coalition maritime and amphibious forces for Operation Desert Shield in the North Arabian Sea/Gulf of Oman. Through the autumn she operated with the amphibious task force and coalition naval units, cycling logistics in theater while maintaining Marines, landing craft, and helicopters at high readiness for potential operations along the Kuwaiti littoral.

The tense turn of the year set conditions for two defining events. First, on 2-6 January 1991, TRENTON and USS GUAM (LPH 9) executed Operation EASTERN EXIT, a non-combatant evacuation from Mogadishu, Somalia, as the Somali state collapsed. Launching long-range CH-53E helicopter sorties at night with a combined SEAL/Marine force, the ships evacuated 281 people - including U.S. and other diplomatic personnel - over 5-6 January, then disembarked the evacuees in Oman on 11 January 1991. Second, as Operation Desert Storm began on 17 January 1991, TRENTON returned to Gulf duty, transited the Strait of Hormuz in early February, and supported the coalition's maritime campaign and amphibious deception posture through the cease-fire, remaining in the region for post-war security tasks before eventually retracing her route home.

In 1992, with the Balkans crisis deepening, TRENTON shifted to Adriatic duty in support of Operation Provide Promise, serving as a sea-based platform during early humanitarian and monitoring phases while NATO moved from airspace monitoring toward enforcement over Bosnia. Her role reflected the amphibious force's flexibility: helicopter and small-boat operations, at-sea command-and-control support, and periodic port and logistics calls associated with Sixth Fleet presence.

During 1993, TRENTON remained Atlantic-based for maintenance, inspections, and certifications to prepare for a new forward cycle. This reset positioned her for rapid deployment into evolving UN and coalition missions around the Horn of Africa.

TRENTON deployed in January 1994 with a Sixth Fleet amphibious group that was soon tasked to support Operation CONTINUE HOPE off Mogadishu during the UNOSOM II period. Through February-March 1994 she operated off Somalia with USS INCHON (LPH 12), USS PORTLAND (LSD 37) and other amphibious units, providing afloat staging for helicopters, landing craft, and Marines during the UN drawdown and relief protection. She then resumed Mediterranean operations and returned stateside later in the year for upkeep and routine certifications.

Through 1995, the ship cycled training and certifications while the Adriatic air and maritime operations - Deny Flight and Provide Promise - moved toward armistice and implementation under the Dayton-Paris peace process. TRENTON's amphibious readiness work that year kept her aligned to surge on short notice for stabilization or evacuation tasks amid shifting European contingencies.

In April 1996, TRENTON redeployed to West Africa during Liberia's renewed civil war. She arrived on 19 April 1996 on "Mamba Station" off Monrovia and, with USS GUAM and USS PORTLAND, supported Operation ASSURED RESPONSE - the evacuation and protection of U.S. citizens and designated foreign nationals. Across late April into May she served as an afloat helicopter and small-boat base, cycled evacuees to safe havens, and provided command-and-control and logistics for the Marine air-ground task force before standing down as the embassy situation stabilized.

TRENTON spent 1997 stateside in a deliberate maintenance-and-readiness cycle - yard work, inspections, and at-sea periods off the Virginia Capes - to restore full amphibious certifications and to integrate updated communications and navigation fits typical for the era. She returned to routine embarkation drills with Marines and landing craft, deck-landing qualifications for rotary-wing detachments, and amphibious control ship rehearsals that kept her ready for crisis response.

In 1998, TRENTON continued Atlantic training interspersed with planned availabilities and inspections, building toward another extended Sixth Fleet period. Her crew focused on well-deck operations, LCAC and AAV handling, and the tactical communications upgrades that underpinned joint operations in increasingly complex littorals.

By March 1999, TRENTON was in the Mediterranean with the WASP (LHD 1) Amphibious Ready Group, remaining on station as NATO's Operation ALLIED FORCE began on 24 March 1999 against Yugoslav military infrastructure and forces tied to the Kosovo crisis. While carrier and land-based aviation conducted the air campaign (24 March-10 June 1999), TRENTON's role reflected the amphibious force's mission set: afloat staging for Marines and special-mission detachments, logistics and medical capacity, and a contingency platform for potential evacuations or demonstrations along the Adriatic littoral. After the air campaign ended and the tasking eased, she completed post-deployment transit and close-out maintenance as the decade drew to a close.

TRENTON opened 2000 already working-up with the WASP Amphibious Ready Group and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. She sailed from Norfolk on 18 February 2000, and over the next 173 days worked a busy Mediterranean program - ten liberty ports and five major multinational amphibious exercises - before returning to Norfolk on 8 August 2000. The exercise sequence is well recorded: a Spanish PHIBLEX on Spain's Atlantic coast (4-12 March 2000), DYNAMIC RESPONSE 2000 around the Balkans (18 March-13 April 2000), DYNAMIC MIX 2000 in Greece and off Sardinia (20 May-6 June 2000), the Partnership for Peace COOPERATIVE PARTNER in the Black Sea (19 June-1 July 2000, for which TRENTON split from the ARG and embarked four helicopters), and NOBLE SHIRLEY with Israeli forces (5-14 July 2000). Ports included Bari and Ancona (Italy), Corfu and Mykonos (Greece), Barcelona (Spain), La Maddalena (Italy), Haifa (Israel), Rota (Spain), and - after entering the Black Sea - Odessa, Ukraine for four days of liberty in mid-June. The deployment underscored the Sixth Fleet's post-Dayton routine of NATO readiness, presence, and interoperability.

After post-deployment stand-down and local training in 2001, TRENTON re-entered the forward rotation with the 22d MEU in early 2002. The ship deployed 22 February-30 August 2002, shifting from the Mediterranean to Fifth Fleet waters to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The WASP ARG/22d MEU team spent extended periods off the Horn of Africa - training blocks in Djibouti are noted for July - while sustaining maritime security tasks and amphibious readiness before backhauling to the Med and home.

Stateside through 2003, TRENTON kept up certifications and changed command at sea on 5 September 2003, a routine marker between forward cycles.

In 2004, she joined the SAIPAN (LHA 2) Expeditionary Strike Group for work-ups that presaged the Navy's new ESG construct combining amphibs with surface combatants. The group executed a Group Sail (15-19 March 2004) and an ESG/MEU Integration evolution beginning 2 April, followed by urban-training support ashore in May. That autumn the ESG conducted a live-fire SINKEX off the U.S. East Coast (12 November 2004), part of a broader readiness syllabus ahead of deployment.

Early 2005 found the ESG in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico for New Horizons humanitarian/civic-assistance tasks - SAIPAN, TRENTON, and OAK HILL (LSD 51) delivered Seabees, MPs, and about 1,200 tons of supplies to Haiti in early February, with logistics pulses via Guantanamo Bay and port calls at San Juan and Curacao. The group returned to Norfolk on 9 March 2005. Under the Fleet Response Plan, the ESG then surged across the North Atlantic in late May, visiting Oslo (6 June) and Rotterdam (13 June), before shifting to the Adriatic for Adriatic Engagement 2005 and calls at Split and Durres in late July. The routing continued into the central Med - Augusta Bay (2 August) and Rota (8 August) - a classic blend of allied engagement and at-sea training before the ships headed home.

In mid-2006, TRENTON deployed to the Mediterranean and North Arabian Sea for maritime security operations, but her most visible mission came when war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah. Beginning 20 July 2006, U.S. forces executed a large-scale evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon by sea and air. TRENTON loaded evacuees at Beirut and on 24 July disembarked more than a thousand U.S. citizens at Mersin, Turkey, who were then processed onward via Incirlik Air Base. Other U.S. Navy ships shuttled evacuees to Cyprus. By 29 July, the final scheduled ship movement departed Beirut. The episode - one of the largest overseas evacuations of Americans in recent decades - highlighted the amphibious force's utility as a stable, mobile platform for rapid non-combatant evacuation. TRENTON made her final homecoming to Norfolk on 21 September 2006 to prepare for transfer.

The U.S. Navy decommissioned TRENTON on 17 January 2007, at Norfolk and immediately transferred her to India under Foreign Military Sales. She commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS JALASHWA (L41) on 22 June 2007 after refit and crew training at Norfolk. From then onward the ship served under Indian colors, based at Visakhapatnam.

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